20 Things to Do in the Winter in Oregon & around the Northwest

When winter hits it’s easy to just wrap yourself in that cozy afghan that you grandma crocheted, to turn on a movie and tune out to the wild weather outside. I have to admit that I fall into this trap more often than I like to admit, but I always regret a day wasted inside.

Kramer Vineyard's Glowing Grapes

Helped harvest earlier this month out at Kramer Vineyards. Picked Chardonnay grapes and wandered the vineyards with other volunteers! Don’t worry, I did survive the Tough Mudder and will tell all of you about it later this week!

Summer at Willamette Valley Vineyards

This past weekend, I attended the Wine Blogger’s Conference in Portland, Oregon. As part of a wine excursion, I visited Willamette Valley Vineyards just south of Salem and snapped this photo as the sun was just beginning to set.  For more about the wine conference, check out my wine blog: Oregon Winette.    

Fire & Wine

Photo from the North Willamette Wine Trail. Tasting wine on the back patio at Ardiri Winery & Vineyards.

Snow, Rain & Wine

Three things I inevitably – and sometimes joyfully – look forward to each winter is snow, rain & wine. Unless one of the three stop me from enjoying the others, such as with this photo. I attempted to take my family out wine tasting while they were in town last weekend, yet the weather like

Best Photos of 2011

Wow is 2011 really almost over? I can hardly remember what happened last week then last April, so lets take a look back at my favorite blog photos from 2011. What month’s photo is your favorite? Comment below or on my Facebook page. April – One of my first photos on my blog May –

Wineries Without Walls

Bringing the wandering winos of Lane County in from the cold, Wineries without Walls at the Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce spreads holiday warmth for palate pursuers around the area. In a cozy tasting space with a beautiful brown and black marbled counter balanced on top of wine barrels just 15 minutes west of Eugene,

Tasting Wine Older than Me: 1974 Stag’s Leap, 1977 Grgich Hills, 1976 Chateau Montelena

Lifting our glasses for a toast, my heart pounded as the rich, red liquid – 14 years my elder – awaited its fateful tasting high in the air. Cameras flashed to catch the 1974 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon’s historic opening both for its age and story, while I fidgeted with excitement and salivated for a

Fireside Wine

One of my favorite winter activities is finding a great fire and glass a wine. Something about the flames are hypnotic and a deep red wine just the perfect relaxation tool on a cold night.

Napa Vineyard

My Napa trip is almost over, but look for more stories from the journey to come.