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Catoctin Breeze Vineyard- Thurmont, MD
Rarely do I find wineries in Maryland or Virginia that are both scenic and make good wine. Of the obscene amount of wineries in the two states, only a handful make truly tasty vino. Many do not even grow their own grapes, but rather prepare blends from purchased juice. Some that do grow their own grapes produce a product that is only palatable when you substantially lower your expectations- for instance, it’s a cold beverage on a hot day. Catoctin Breeze Vineyard is an outlier. Situated on a beautiful piece of land in the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains, they produce a genuinely good product. To have a quality wine,…
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Ponzi Vineyards- Sherwood, OR
It is my firm belief that Willamette Valley produces the best Pinot Noir in the United States. Not that I don’t have a lot of love for California, but my wine loyalty lies further north. Almost all of my favorite wineries are located scattered across various AVAs in this small corner of the world; while I would be hard pressed to pick an absolute favorite, my short list would absolutely include Ponzi. It is a wine I am always excited to see on a menu, and its tasting room did not disappoint. Surprisingly modern, their tasting room perfectly complements their wines. Concrete and wood works well with nearly floor to…