The Hands of Harvest
Here's a short video containing several dozen photographs from last Fall's wine harvest in the Willamette Valley...best viewed in full-screen, HD mode...enjoy....
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February 07, 2011
January 06, 2011
Most Popular/Favorite Posts from 2010
Here's a list of the most viewed (and implied read) posts from last year, along with my favorites published in 2010. One thing is clear about this site: most of those visiting seek wine reviews or tasting notes. Even still, a significant number of visitors read my "Perspective" posts, which focus on relevant topics that go beyond how a wine tastes. A heartfelt thanks to all of you who visited BeyondtheBottle.com in 2010. I hope you enjoyed reading about my experiences with Oregon and Washington wine. I also hope my coverage helped enhance your own enjoyment of a wine,...
November 15, 2010
Photos: Belle Pente's biodiversity
When it comes to wine, there are tasting rooms, there are wineries, and then there are farms. Belle Pente Vineyard and Winery is a true farm, with a range of biodiversity that might surprise those who visit, including me. I arrived expecting to find rows of grapes, but instead came upon a diverse collection of animals grazing in the pastures surrounding the Belle Pente estate vineyard. Case in point, a small herd of Scottish highland cows with two six month old calves. Their moms were highly attentive to anyone approaching the fence, especially with a camera pointed at them...
November 09, 2010
Photos: The birds and the bees in the vineyard
A watchful eye and a handy shotgun were some of the approaches taken to keep birds away from ripening fruit at Brick House Vineyards. This year's harvest in the Willamette Valley suffered from a severe bird problem. Up close, you could see the damage from clusters picked clean of fruit. From a far, you could hear the shotguns, canons, and bird calls throughout the day. While birds were being scared away, honeybees didn't seem affected by all of the noise, as was evident by this one enjoying a taste of Brick House chardonnay the day before it was harvested....
November 07, 2010
Photos: Chardonnay fruit at Belle Pente and Brick House
The fruit at both Belle Pente and Brick House tasted absolutely delicious on the vine. I am looking forward to opening a bottle of each 2010 Chardonnay a year from now. Chardonnay in Belle Pente Vineyard Chardonnay in Brick House Vineyard Related Links More coverage of Belle Pente Vineyard More coverage of Brick House Vineyards...
November 04, 2010
Photos: Filling the bins with fresh picked fruit
Here are two of my favorite shots from the Belle Pente Vineyards harvest last month. It was amazing seeing how quickly these bins filled with fresh picked fruit. The pace this crew undertook to pick the fruit and load each bin was humbling. Thank goodness there are folks like the ones who worked this vineyard to bring this harvest in and eventually bring the fruit to our tables. Again, I am humbled by their hard work harvesting. Filling the bins with fresh picked fruit Clean clusters of delicious Pinot noir...
November 03, 2010
Photos: Friends sorting Brick House Pinot noir
For a number of harvests now, several of Doug Tunnell's longstanding friends travel from distant lands to lend a hand picking grapes, sorting fruit, and doing whatever else that is needed. As old friends do, there was a lot of back and forth between Doug and his mates, which made for good fun as they worked a long day from the vineyard's rows to the barn's sorting table, processing bin after bin. I observed that there is more than just fruit that goes into Brick House wines; friendship plays an important part in crafting each bottle. Related Links More coverage...
November 02, 2010
Photos: An afternoon at Brick House Vineyard
Upon arriving at Brick House Vineyards to shoot one afternoon during harvest, Doug Tunnell and Melissa Mills invited me to first sit down with the rest of their crew to have a glass of wine as they finished up a late lunch. That's what it is all about - taking pause and soaking it all in before getting back to work. I like that approach and appreciated the kind welcome from Doug and Melissa, who were such gracious hosts throughout my stay. Grace is a word that aptly describes Brick House wines, ones that I am a big fan of...
November 01, 2010
Photos: Picking Pinot at Belle Pente
In yesterday's post and photo, I described how steep this vineyard was to climb and how out of shape I was trying to ascend it. Here are a couple of shots captured as the crews quickly harvested Pinot noir in this section of the Belle Pente estate vineyard. For more photos of harvest and other wine-related scenes, click on any photo or the Flickr module in the right hand column. Hope you are enjoying these images from harvest in the Willamette Valley. B>Related Links More coverage of Belle Pente Vineyards...
October 31, 2010
Photos: Sunrise on Belle Pente Vineyard
With the sun about to rise over the horizon, I raced past the crew that had started picking Pinot noir at the bottom of the Belle Pente vineyard to find a high point from which to shoot. As I ascended the hillside, it dawned on me how steep this vineyard was and how bad of shape I was in. I instantly gained respect for those picking fruit, a group of men and women, young and old, who would quickly and methodically move up these slopes, without ever seeming to pause for a rest. I arrived to take this shot out...
October 30, 2010
Photos: Harvest in the Willamette Valley
For three pristine days this month, I had the privilege of visiting several producers in the northern Willamette Valley, who were all at their peak of harvest activities. At each location, crews were hand picking tons of Pinot noir in the vineyard, while teams in the winery were hand sorting countless bins of fruit. It was a truly connective experience each day walking the rows and tasting the fruit at sunrise, following the harvest through early afternoon, and then finally watching clusters being sorted well past sunset. During harvest, the day's work is clearly never done until the last bin...
August 20, 2010
IPNC 2010: Saturday, July 24 (Day Two)
What an amazing second day this turned out to be. From the morning pairing seminar to the alfresco lunch to the evening salmon bake, it was a day that exceeded expectations on a number of fronts. Here is a summary of my experiences, thoughts, and impressions from Day Two of the International Pinot Noir Celebration 2010. The Grand Seminar Another breakfast of fresh berries...arrive too late for the bacon and sausage...stomach is craving protein...alas, the "Wine is Food" grand seminar offers a mid-morning brunch of lamb and pinot...four wines matched to four preparations...shoulder, loin, leg and shank...winemaker and chef collaborate...Ray...
August 14, 2010
IPNC 2010: Friday, July 23 (Day One)
What a terrific first day this turned out to be. From the morning's opening ceremonies to the evening's grand dinner event, it was a day that offered a variety of learning experiences, meaningful connections, and outstanding meals. Without further ado, here is a summary of impressions from this amazing Friday at IPNC 2010. Opening Ceremonies Fruit of the rambling vine for breakfast...fresh raspberries, blackberries, marionberries...pastries galore...welcome from Dr. Thomas Hellie, president of Linfield College...quotes winemaker who claimed, "Pinot noir is the tuning fork of the soul"...still resonates with me even now...Ray Isle, MC for IPNC, talks about the "communal bond,...
May 29, 2010
Connections: WillaKenzie Estate
A couple of years ago, I wrote how WillaKenzie stood out amongst its peers for the approach they took online. Anyone visiting their website's homepage is immediately connected to the sense of place that is WillaKenzie Estate. The ariel shot of their vineyards along with interactive descriptions of varietal plantings, sustainable practices, and wine products offers a terrific means toward understanding the who, what, and where behind this Oregon producer. Even better is the way WillaKenzie Estate integrates what it offers online with that provided offline in their tasting room. For example, the same ariel photo from their site's...
February 07, 2010
Connections: Oregon Vines and Family Roots
For anyone who has been following my posts these last couple of years, it should be readily apparent that I am biased toward Oregon wine. That said, this bias may not exist for reasons solely associated with my subjective taste preferences. In the last year, I have come to realize my personal journey with wine, especially that comprised of Oregon fruit, may be just as much about my past as it is about my palate. While I am a Texan by birth and an Okie by childhood, both branches of my family tree have firm roots in the state...
January 01, 2010
Connections: Washington Wine Report
When it comes to blogging about the people and places producing wine in Washington state, there is one site that stands out for its focused, in-depth coverage: Sean Sullivan's Washington Wine Report. With his independent blog, Sean's mission is "bringing Washington wine to you and bringing you to Washington wine". Having followed the Washington Wine Report since its launch in June 2007, Sean has clearly fulfilled this mission, at least with this reader. In fact, Sean's success in connecting me to Washington wine is best articulated in a couple of recent posts on his blog. The first piece, Best...
November 28, 2009
Connections: Scott Paul Wines
It's only fitting that Scott Paul Wines serve as the inaugural post for my new "Connections" series. This Carlton-based producer truly epitomizes what it means to connect consumers to the larger context offered in wine, especially that which exists between the old and new worlds of winemaking. How does Scott Paul accomplish these connections? First and foremost, Scott Paul has distinguished itself for pouring and selling an ever expanding portfolio of Burgundy wines alongside their Oregon pinot noirs: Cuvée Martha Pirrie, La Paulée and Audrey. Not only does this approach offer a constructive frame of reference to each tasting...
October 25, 2009
Introducing "Connections" on BeyondtheBottle.com
BeyondtheBottle.com's genesis arose from the notion that wine was something more than just a beverage, that in each bottle opened a story should be shared about the people, places, and period supporting its creation. It is this story that serves to connect us to something larger and deeper, not only about ourselves but also the world we inhabit. To this day, it amazes me how this notion is lost on many producers, who craft a quality wine, yet come up short in terms of sharing a story behind their product. Far too often, there is little, if anything, offered...
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Recent Posts
- The Hands of Harvest
- Most Popular/Favorite Posts from 2010
- Photos: Belle Pente's biodiversity
- Photos: The birds and the bees in the vineyard
- Photos: Chardonnay fruit at Belle Pente and Brick House
- Photos: Filling the bins with fresh picked fruit
- Photos: Friends sorting Brick House Pinot noir
- Photos: An afternoon at Brick House Vineyard
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