Author Archives: Bill Ward

About Bill Ward

James Beard Award winner Bill Ward has been covering wine for the better part of a century (the 21st). His “Liquid Assets” column runs in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Linkin’ logs: 5-23-13

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Bill Ward

Spanning the tubes to give you wine-world wise news: • My friend Reid just put in a fantabulous 800-bottle cellar, much of which he built himself. I probably shouldn’t show him these cellars, lest he get a big ol’ dose … Continue reading →

Posted in Actual News, Funny(ish) stuff | Leave a comment

Wines of the Week: May 20-26

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: OK, it’s not exactly prime season for petite sirah. But the 2010 Van Ruiten Lodi Petite Sirah ($17) is a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious grilling wine, for both the cook and the people enjoying the fruits of his/her labors. It’s got a … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines | Leave a comment

That’s the spirit

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Bill Ward

Nice wine quotes from spiritual leaders: “If God forbade drinking, would He have made wine so good?” — Cardinal Richelieu “There are thousands of wines that can take over our minds. Don’t think all ecstasies are the same.” — Rumi … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Judgment calls

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Bill Ward

I had a really swell time judging 140-plus wines at last week’s Riverside International Wine Competition. Hard to beat the combination of great people and fascinating wines. It’s a special treat for me because of the opportunity to sample mostly … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, Experiences, U.S. Wines | Leave a comment

Wines of the Week: May 13-19

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: Classic viogniers smell almost as strong as stargazer lilies. Really good viogniers also have verve and vibrancy that almost belies all that floral glory. The 2011 Domaine de Gournier Viognier ($11) has the prototypical aromatics and spicy midpalate, but when its elusive fruit comes to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Malbec: a primer

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Bill Ward

What a journey. Malbec was famed as the “black wine” of the Middle Ages; was a longtime staple in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux; became a non-factor in the former and fell out of favor in the latter after a … Continue reading →

Posted in South American Wines | Leave a comment

Wines of the Week: May 6-12

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: Were a genie to appear and grant me one wine-y wish, I would ask for an unlimited supply of DRC. But if it were narrowed to being about the wine world, I would opt for a proliferation of lesser-known white European grapes … Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon Wines | Leave a comment

Art for wine’s sake

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Bill Ward

Oh joy. There’s good news to be found on the wine front today: A little Champagne can improve our memories. I might have read this before and just forgotten, thanks to a lack of bubbles. But most of the good … Continue reading →

Posted in Actual News, Funny(ish) stuff | Leave a comment

Wines of the Week: April 29-May 5

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: For my biennial look at rosé (truth be known, I’d love to write about it semi-annually, especially in cooler months). I was able to talk to the charming, savvy Charles Bieler. Almost as fortuitously, I was able to taste … Continue reading →

Posted in Down Under Wines, French Wines | Leave a comment

Mark Vlossak, unleashed

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Bill Ward

Mark Vlossak is whip-smart and quip-prone. He’s incisive and insightful. So when the conconter of all those delicious St. Innocent whites and pinot noirs opens up, a writer is best off getting out of the way. We had a wonderful lunch together recently, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon Wines, Wine People, Winemakers | 1 Comment