Posts by Cougar Digital
Violet Vines’ 2023 Vintage Summary
That’s a Wrap What a whirlwind six weeks! Grapes arrived at the Violet Vines winery from August 27th through October 16th, and the good news is that the 2023 vintage fruit is fully processed and doing their thing in the winery! By processed, that means hand-sorted and at a minimum, fermentation’s started. Some wines are…
Read MoreV2 Uncorked
In the Vineyard At our estate vineyard in Sheridan, the fruit is off the vine and the crew is transitioning their efforts to the last of the planting, prepping the ground for our new Pinot noir Clone 114 block, which will be planted in two weeks. In Milton-Freewater, the last of the wire went up…
Read MoreThe Wine Bottle Closure Debate
Corks vs Screw Tops One of the topics most hotly contested in the Zawada household or between April and I is the use of corks versus screw caps. Here’s a summary of our debate and we welcome your feedback! Brian’s Thoughts Screw Top Pro’s: Easy to open, no corkscrew required; less expensive from a wine-making…
Read MoreNot All Yeasts – And Malo Bugs – Are The Same!
As we prepare for the 2023 harvest, we not only focus on the grapes but also on the different organisms that perform the real work once the grapes arrive in the winery, turning the grape juice into wine. I won’t make this a dissertation on yeasts or other beneficial bacteria in winemaking, but one thing’s…
Read MoreViolet Vines’ Estate Soils
Ever read the book, Wine Wars? They use a term to classify those that truly value and promote terroir as “terroirists” (not terrorists). Well, I happen to be in the terroirist camp! In my opinion, “terroir” is very real and can be a game-changer when the right varietal is planted in the right terroir. To me, terroir…
Read MoreWhat is the “Tasting Outlook”?
Violet Vines guests are invited to experience our wines – and service – at our tasting room in Carlton, OR. You can book a reservation online (Wednesday through Sunday) or just stop in if you’re in the area. Separate from the Carlton tasting room, we also offer an amazing wine tasting and vineyard tour experience…
Read MoreViolet Vines’ Guest Winery – Arabilis Wines
Each month, guests visiting Violet Vines’ tasting room in Carlton, Oregon get the opportunity to not only experience our wines, but also a select winery’s wine that had a significant influence on our journey. Starting on July 26th, Violet Vines will serve Arabilis Wines’ 2021 Pearlstad Vineyard Chardonnay as part of a Chardonnay showcase for…
Read MoreV2 Uncorked
At the Vineyard At long last, planting is complete, in both the Willamette Valley and in the Rocks! The last acre of vines at the estate vineyard in Sheridan, Albariño, is in the ground! We’re incredibly excited about this fruit—other Albariños in the valley are an outstanding representation of this traditional Spanish grape. In total,…
Read MoreNE Ohio Couple Opens Boutique Winery in Heart of Pinot Noir Country
Ever wonder how Violet Vines came to be? Marc Bona with Cleveland.com recently wrote an article about our journey west, “to Oregon, the heart of Pinot Noir country, to grow grapes and make wine.” Read the full story here.
Read MoreWhat’s in a Name?
When I think back of why we named our winery “Violet Vines” circa 2019, I was a huge Pinot noir fan, specifically Oregon Pinot noir’s. Because of this preference, and as we were exploring names for our winery and brand, we were reminded of violet being a shade of purple (as in purple grapes). When…
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