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By Brian Zawada Ever read Dr. Suess’ iconic children’s book, Green Eggs and Ham as a child (or to a child)? As a refresher or for those that haven’t: The important premise within the book centers on  It hit me that I am a lot like Sam-I-Am in our tasting room in Carlton when out-of-town…

By Brian Zawada I spend a lot of time “talking up” The Rocks District and the amazing wines sources from this postage stamp-sized American Viticultural Area (AVA) tucked just south of Walla Walla, Washington on the Oregon side of the border.  When I talk about the Rocks District to those familiar with some of the…

By Brian Zawada In the world of wine, few concepts are as quietly powerful – and as often misunderstood – as tension. It’s not a technical term you’ll find in textbooks, but in conversations among sommeliers, winemakers, and passionate drinkers, tension is often used to describe the electric, almost magnetic quality that makes a wine…

  When you swirl that glass of wine, I’m sure you’ve noticed those clear streaks of liquid that are falling gradually back into the wine? Those clear streaks are called wine legs, or tears of wine. They form due to the interaction of alcohol, water, and surface tension in a phenomenon known as the Marangoni…

By Brian Zawada Oregon’s Willamette Valley has earned its reputation as one of the premier Pinot noir winegrowing regions in the world, thanks in part to its diverse soils, cool climate, and an array of Pinot noir clones that contribute to the complexity of its wines. Among these, the Dijon clones (113, 114, 115, 667,…

By April Zawada Could it be that we are what we drink?  Some believe that our choice of wine is directly linked to our personality traits.  Find out if your human characteristics reflect one (or some) of these wine varietals below! As for me, I most definitely match my wine preference! The “Elegant and Graceful” Pinot…

When it comes to enjoying wine country, there’s something truly special about bringing along your furry friend. At Violet Vines’ tasting room in Carlton, Oregon, we believe that wine tasting should be an experience for the whole family – including your four-legged companions! Our tasting room is not only a haven for wine lovers but…

Having just finished bottling six new wines last week (five of our 2023 Pinot noir’s and our inaugural 2023 Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (GSM), the topic of bottle shock comes to mind? Is it a real thing? Is it a great movie starring the late Alan Rickman? Well, I think it’s both. Bottle shock (sometimes people call it…

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…