Blueberry Bourbon Smoked Ribs have incredible rich and savory flavors that will wow your guests next time you smoke ribs. This is a fun smoked rib recipe to try if you want to change up from traditional BBQ flavors. Blueberry season has officially arrived in the Pacific Northwest. I friggin love blueberries. To me, they’re…
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12 Wines for Spring Sipping
I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of various styles that we think will work, then write about the best pairing. But often…
A Taste of Idaho Wines. Yes, Idaho!
Last fall I had the opportunity to discover a new-to-me region of wine, located just outside of my own backyard. It might be surprising to many, but this region has a lot more in common with its well known neighbors than you might suspect. And it’s definitely a region I’ll be keeping a close eye…
Vindulge nominated for an IACP Award!!!
Last week I found out some of the most humbling and exciting news of my blogging career. Vindulge was nominated for an IACP Digital Media Award for Best Recipe-Based Blog. IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) is an organization comprised of professionals from all aspects of the culinary industry, and a committee of industry professionals was…
Goodbye 2016! Sparkling Wines to Welcome the New Year
Hey 2016, get ready to say your last goodbye! Bubbly is probably our favorite thing to drink around here, and (almost) every Friday you can catch my weekly bubbles toast over on Instagram. We friggin’ love our sparkling wine! Yes, even with ribs. But we’re about to embark on the evening where even those…
Milestones – ROCO 2013 ‘RMS’ Brut Sparkling Wine
Rollin Soles (the man behind Argyle Winery’s reputation for amazing sparkling wine) is back making bubbles with the release of the 2013 RMS Brut Sparkling Wine. Spoiler alert: it’s awesome! A legend. At least by Oregon sparkling wine standards that is. I’m talking about Rollin Soles; the man behind the first sparkling wine facility…
Feast Portland is Coming Soon!!!
One of the annual culinary highlights of many a Portland foodie is coming next week. Feast Portland: September 15-18, 2016 What is Feast? Now, in case you’re not a Portland foodie, or have just been hiding under a rock (like I was the last few years), it is, from what I hear and read, one…
Show me the heat!
Refreshing summer white wines It’s usually around this time of the year when you see articles about things to help you “beat the heat,” whether it’s drinks, cocktails, activities, you name it. We started the summer out on a hot note. In May and even early June we saw some high numbers here in Portland…
Judging at the 2016 Cascadia Wine Competition
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being one of the judges at the Cascadia Wine Competition, held at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Oregon. I’m always excited to be part of events like this to taste new wines I may have otherwise overlooked. It’s also a great opportunity to…
Weekend Wine Love – March Favorites
Wow, this month has sped by!!! I’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone share some of my favorite wines from the month. I had intended to share them this weekend in a post called weekend wine love, along with some favorite wine reads from the week. Then Easter happened. And kids. And sleep. Just…
Collard Greens with (homemade) Smoked Turkey Leg
Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey is probably the most exciting thing to ever happened to greens. Smoked turkey leg infuses these perfectly cooked greens with amazing flavor. This is a delicious side dish with southern roots. First things first. Things are going to be pretty quiet around here this week. I’m in Hood River, OR, all…
Portland Dining Month Kicks Off Today – Win a Gift Certificate!
Portland Dining Month begins today, with more than 120 restaurants offering three-course dinners for $29 throughout the entire month of March. And I’m giving away 2 gift certificates so you can get in on the action! This is an incredible deal and an excellent opportunity to explore some of the restaurants on your Portland dining…
Portfolio
In addition to this blog, I am a frequent contributor to several publications, wine judge, and speaker. Our recipes have been featured on a number of popular food sites. Here is a few places we have been. To request my media kit please email me at [email protected] Selected Published Works Traveling Wine Country with Children Wine…
Smoked Sausage and Lentil Soup
Smoked Sausage Soup with Lentils and Vegetables has a deep smokey and savory flavor, it is completely soul-soothing and the perfect soup for a cold and rainy afternoon. A Tried & True Soup Recipe To Feed A Crowd A couple of weeks ago our team at Ember and Vine catered the largest event we’ve cooked…
What Cole Danehower did for me as a wine writer
This past Saturday Lady Hill Winery hosted a memorial for Cole Danehower, who passed away in August after battling late-stage pancreatic cancer. You can read more about Cole’s life and a thoughtful tribute to him here. I’m not here to write about his life, or explain what he meant to the wineries and winemakers of…
IPNC 2015 — Photo Preview
IPNC, the International Pinot Noir Celebration, has been on my bucket list since I moved to Oregon in 2006. I finally got to attend this year! This three-day event, held every year in July on the campus of Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, lived up to its hype. The event is described as a “mecca…
Friday Favorites – It’s BBQ competition time… almost
A weekly roundup of my favorite things from the week in the categories of wine, food, travel, and occasionally lifestyle. FOOD BBQ Competition Prep This is it. We’re down to the last week before our first major barbecue competition — The 8th Annual McKinley Springs BBQ Showdown & Benefit — next weekend and we couldn’t…
Oregon AVA Spotlight – The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater
Geology freaks get excited. There’s a new-ish wine region in Oregon, and it’s not what you think. Though the region is technically 100% located in Oregon, you won’t find your typical Oregon wines here. Meaning no Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris. Instead, you’ll find bold reds, like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, among a few others….
Washington State Wine Country Photo Preview
One of the biggest misconceptions I often hear about the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is that it’s all green and rainy. Those who have never spent a good deal of time here often wonder how there is such a burgeoning wine industry, and question how big red grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and more can grow in…
2015 Passport to Sip Giveaway!
Any wine loving Pacific Northwest residents in the house? Anybody planning to visit the PNW to do some wine tasting anytime between now and the end of the year? If you answered yes to either question I have a fun giveaway for you today. In lieu of a Friday Favorite post I want to give…
BBQ Corner (part 18) — Spring 2015, Passion vs. Obsession
By contributing writer Sean, aka “the hubby” Passion vs. Obsession – Not a clinical definition As spring 2015 begins I can’t help but think about how exciting it is to see the frigid winter behind us and a fresh start to the warming months ahead. This year is especially exciting as change approaches because Team…
February Bubbles Challenge – Franciacorta Sparkling Wines from Italy
For this month’s bubbles challenge we bring you to Italy. And no, we’re not talking Prosecco. These sparkling wines come from the Lombardy region, produced from grapes grown within the boundaries of the territory of Franciacorta about an hour east of Milan. When it comes to bubbles and Italy most people associate the country with…
Recent Articles — Sicilian Meatballs on Wine4.Me
I’m obviously still on a high from my recent trip to Sicily. Anytime I travel to a new city or country I get inspired to try new recipes at home. But there’s something about Italy that inspires me more than any other country I’ve visited. And Sicily is no different. “When I recently visited Sicily,…
Grilled Chestnuts, and Wine to Impress
How to make your own Roasted Chestnuts on an outdoor grill. You know the famous Christmas song, “Chestnuts roasting on your Weber grill… ?” Oh wait. Those aren’t the lyrics? Well, they are in my house, because we just can’t hold back from any opportunity to use the grill or smoker, even in the wintertime….
