When it comes to the ancient art of making wine, it might seem that not much has changed in the past few hundred years. The most notable wineries consistently cling to methods that have been time-tested. So you’d be forgiven for not associating viticulture with state-of-the-art technology. But a boutique vintner out of Southern Oregon named James Devitt fused his passions in great wine and complex electrical engineering to create a unique auto-topping system for filling wine barrels. For winemakers, it could just be the next big thing.

When we last left off on the way up to the Pacific Northwest, I was somewhere around Weed, California, sipping on the suds at Mt. Shasta Brewing Company. It’s been a long journey. Since then, we’ve sampled so much beer and tasted unimaginable amounts of wine. I’m happy to report that Southern Oregon is a veritable wonderland of all things alcohol. Within these lush, verdant hills you’ll find more vineyards and breweries to count. And far more than can possibly be experienced in any one tour. Which means one thing: many happy returns!

I’m hitting the open road in search of craft. And not just any road, either. This is the Oregon Trail. It’s got history and it’s going to take me from the bustling crowds of the Bay Area all the way to the sparse, lush landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Along the way, I’m going to hit up a number of small-yet-significant purveyors of fine wine, beer and booze. The unexpected adventure is often the most exciting. I can hardly wait to see what surprises await…

As the old cowboy saying goes, “You can’t reason with a kickin’ mule.” Serving as a reminder of this axiom, Kick Ass Cabernet is a deep and complex blended red wine with a full flavor–which, at a price point of under $20–defies reasonable expectations.

California’s Central Coast is home to a surprising ensemble of world class vineyards. Often overshadowed by their neighbors to the north in Napa and Sonoma, this fertile stretch of real estate situated along the majestic Pacific is actually a perfectly primed climate for grape-growing. Winemaker Joshua Klapper recognized the allure of this region, choosing the rolling hills of Santa Maria as home for La Fenêtre Wines, which he started in 2005.

The wondrous Willamette Valley of Northern Oregon has put itself on the map when it comes to lip-smacking Pinot Noir. With literally hundreds of vineyards now peppering the lush hillsides of the region, it’s easy to find a wine that is perfectly suited to your particular tastes. Penner-Ash Wine Cellars (15771 NE Ribbon Ridge Rd) in the bucolic town of Newberg offers a stupendous 2010 Pinot which is a steal at $45 a bottle. Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, the juice carries all of the exquisite complexities indicative of the region. With a strong, front-loaded presence of tannins, your tongue will immediately pick up on the tones of dark fruit and chocolate before noticing the lingering flavors of spice and tobacco that remain in the finish, ever-so-slightly. They offer tastings from Wednesday thru Sunday afternoon on location at their serene, picturesque winery. If you can’t make it to [...]

Enjoy great music, food, wine and sunshine at the Wente Vineyards Estate Winery (5565 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA 94550) on Wednesday, July 15th at 6pm.Check out up-and-coming artists Young Digerati, The Mumlers, and The Front Porch Band featuring Karl Wente, all while sipping on some fabulous Wente Vineyards wines. To enter to win two (2) Discover the Music Discover the Wine concert tickets follow these simple directions: Post a comment under the “Contest Alert” Post on Wente Vineyards Facebook Page and let us know one of your favorite bands you think would pair best with the smooth, rich and complex Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay.