The 2025 Barrel Weekend is all about tasting wines from the past, present and future. This annual weekend event has been reimagined for its 47th anniversary, letting the wineries along the Wine Road focus on more than just tasting wines from the barrel. And, giving tasters new opportunities for exploring and learning about wine. More Tasting Options With wineries pouring wines from past (library wines), present (current release wines) and future (barrel samples), attendees have more choices and can choose what they most enjoy or what they seeking to restock their wine cellars. As you look through the online Barrel Weekend program, you’ll discover wineries pouring wines from one, two or all three of the category options. This information lets you, the ticket holder, design the tasting path that suits your palate preferences. If you love tasting only barrel samples and possibly buying wine futures, you can still do that. But, if you prefer to taste wines that are currently availabl

Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling Takes Top Honors November 15, 2024 — Winners have been announced in the 2024 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging,Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Sparkling Wine. Coming in at 97 points, judges praised the wine for its “Mouth watering citrus and honeysuckle”; “Lingering tropical finish”; and “Perfect bubbles.” They also called it “Well balanced.” With a record number of entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine. In other competitions, terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challenge, judges taste wines alongside other wines of the same appellation. W

Entry by May 20th to take advantage of the  Early Entry Discount (extended by 1 full week)   International Women’s Wine Competition, judged entirely by wine industry professional women. NOTE *** This competition is not limited to Women Winemakers! We encourage and welcome ALL Wineries to enter Enter Here   Congratulations Best of the Best 2023 New Clairvaux Vineyard Petite Sirah Poor Souls Block 2020   ENTRY DEADLINE: MAY 30th (extended) Competition Judging: June 11th - 12th Wine Shipments Due: June 3rd $10 Discount for Early Entry (May 20th) - Plus - $5 Discount or Entry Online. (enter online below) Shipping Labels  Enter Online   Paper Entry Form  Award for Best Woman Winemaker Congratulations on having a woman winemaker at your winery! We would love for you to send us an email to register her at the time of entry. At our competition, we judge wines based on their own merit, regardless of the gender of

2022 Sunset International Wine Competition Awards Best of the Best and Best Red Wine to Wapato Point Cellars’ 2018 Cabernet Franc Santa Rosa, Calif., — June 14, 2022—Boasting a record number of entries, the 2022 Sunset International Wine Competition awarded Best of the Best and Best Red Wine to a Cabernet Franc from Wapato Point Cellars (Manson, Wash.). Judges raved: “Beautiful oak”; “Blackberry”; “Righteous herbal”; “Focused.” This is the first time a Washington State wine has taken top prize at this prestigious competition. “It was unexpected but well deserved,” says Debra Del Fiorentino, founder and president of Wine Competitions Management & Productions. “We had some really great wines in the final sweepstakes rounds, and Wapato Point Cellars swoops in and takes it all. Results like this are why competitions are so valuable.” To win Best of Show Red Wine, the Wapato Point Cab Franc ha

by Steve Fredricks Last month I was impatiently waiting for my favorite Philly Cheesesteak as I overheard another sandwich lover describing the success of his investment in Dogecoin to his friend. He was touting Dogecoin as a “sure investment” based on his study of the price trend, and was looking forward to spending his yet unrealized gains. I couldn’t help but be reminded of reading about confirmation bias while studying psychology and behavioral economics. Confirmation bias is the tendency to place greater weight on the variables which support the future that most benefits us and to discount information that does not. Mr. Philly Cheesesteak failed to acknowledge the speculative nature of Dogecoin. I hope his friend didn’t choose to invest; shortly after overhearing that conversation, Dogecoin dropped 40 percent. Markets, in reality, are complex beasts with many evolving variables and more determining factors than just today’s price and direction. Histor

GET TO KNOW MANVEER SANDHU, OUR DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING! We sat down with Manveer back in 2020 to ask him some questions, and we’re sharing that interview with you now: You have a degree in neurobiology. Why were you drawn to winemaking? Had you ever considered an alternate career path in the sciences? When I first studied at UC Davis, I was a pre-med major and dedicated myself to that career path — decided early on in high school. In my junior year, as most college students do, I needed a part-time job to help pay for my living expenses. I started working at Dr. David Smart’s Viticulture lab (at the university) and became fascinated with grape growing and winemaking. I took a few classes in viticulture and enology and fell in love with the science, culture and art of winemaking. From that point on, I was determined to explore winemaking as my future. Was coming to Rack & Riddle a major switch in your winemaking career or was sparkling always your primary wine foc