Posts by Cougar Digital

By April Zawada The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and I cannot wait to soak up the magic of the season. It’s time to slow down, enjoy time with family and friends with holiday music, food and of course, wine! Traditional Thanksgiving cuisine is custom-made for Oregon wines. In fact, I’m…

One of my favorite things about winemaking is experimentation. I love hearing from other winemakers about some of their tips and tricks to extract the most out of each harvest to showcase the vintage. Some conversations center on the yeast or yeast derivatives. In others, it’s about equipment, presses and press programs. A common topic…

Ready to “geek out” on all things oak, toasting and barrels in general? Here you go! The choice of oak forest affects the wine’s mouthfeel, aging potential, and flavor profile, allowing winemakers to tailor barrel selection and the barrel aging process to achieve a desired style. The type of oak used in barrels can significantly…

Last night April and I arrived back home after the conclusion of the 38th International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) here in McMinnville, Oregon. It was our first time as a featured winery participant. Certainly participating in IPNC made it special, but what was even more meaningful was that participating in an IPNC was a goal…

We are beyond excited to share our latest Wine Enthusiast ratings with you. We are especially happy for the 2022 Syrah to receive 93 points and Editors Choice. Look for the 2022 Syrah to be featured in the October printed issue of Wine Enthusiast! 2022 Syrah, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA – 93 points…

Pinot Noir wine is highly popular for several reasons: These attributes contribute to Pinot Noir’s widespread popularity among both casual wine drinkers and serious enthusiasts. Before ending this blog, and because it’s one of the top five questions in the tasting room, we thought we would add a short description of what’s meant by a…

By April Zawada Our Violet Vines’ house-made Pinot noir salt has been a foodie favorite, with jars selling out regularly in our tasting room in Carlton, Oregon. It is a brilliant royal ruby color and great on grilled steaks! Today I am showcasing this savory salt with a grilled Filet Mignon and our recently released…

We’ve made no secret about our love of the northern Willamette Valley! Its Pinot noir and Chardonnay are world-class, with more and more varietals thriving in this exceptional wine-growing region. April and I had a dream to produce amazing Pinot and Chardonnay but we got the opportunity to experience cooler-weather Syrah and Cabernet Franc also…

We’re pleased to announce that James Suckling has awarded our 2022 Estate Pinot Noir, Single Clone Pommard “Cooper Block” an outstanding 93 points. If you haven’t experienced its exceptional flavor profile yet, join us for a tasting. “Made solely from Pommard clone grapes, this elegant, well-balanced beauty is trim and light but packs plenty of…

By April Zawada I love hearty soups that can stand only as a complete meal. This one is especially savory and as a bonus it is low in carbs and high in protein! It is my go-to most beloved soup and a family recipe shared to me by one of my Italian friends over twenty…