Guido popped in to Portalis on a Monday in early February — his first trip to Seattle and to the U.S. for that matter. Salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. Friendly, funny, low-key, but into his wines. We tasted an unusual Moscato Bianco, a dry (as a bone!!) & still version of the better-known sweet bubbly: Moscato … Continue reading Meet...

  There are plenty of good reasons visit France's Languedoc-Roussillon. First of all, it's off the beaten path. You can visit a part of France not overridden with tourists. Second, it's full of rustic landscapes and medieval history, a wonderful mix! Last, it's low-key but still full of the culinary excellence at the heart of … Continue ...

The region around Rome is known as Lazio,and it's full of grapes and subregions>you've most likely never heard of. I can remember traveling in Italy with my sister in the summer of 1987 and landing in Frascati with the son of the proprietor who ran the little hotel we were staying at in Rome and … Continue reading Lazio's Cooperativa Agri...

This year Jon, Julie & Jens are picking the wines they'd like to get this holiday season. Here they are with a little tidbit as to why: JENS: There are a lot of wines that would happily drink this holiday season, but these would be top of my list for 2018: This wine is a … Continue reading Holiday Gift Picks // 2018

Art Credit: Ryan Kirby, "Double Date" Its not the bird as much as what we eat with it (sweet potatoes & heaven-forbid marshmallows, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, etc.) that causes the wine challenges with a turkey dinner. Many of these sweet & salty combos can make wines taste tart. Heres your down & dirty guide … Continue reading...

A lovely gentleman named Fernando Rojo sells Jens several lines of wines from Spain to J. Strecker Selections. For the last couple of years he has made parts of the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, a lifelong dream of mine. I had so much fun following him this year on Facebook, that I decided to … Continue reading Fernando & the Cami...

There's no theme to this list of sale wines except we need their places at the shop. Enjoy! Domaine de Nalys 2012 Chteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Southern Rhne, France // Reg $45.99 | 25% OFF = $34.49 This wine is at its prime, and we're on our last case. We've been direct importing Domaine du Nalys since … Continue reading Summer Sale 2018...

My girls are taking part inPanpapanpalya(one of the worlds largest gatherings of dancers, dance educators, and artists of all ages) through their Kaleidoscope Dance Company, and luckily for me, it takes place this year in Adelaide, Australia… handily an hour or less from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Adelaide Hills wine producing regi...

The sun is out. The evenings are warm. The gardens around Seattle are at their height of bloom and beauty. If you aren't sitting in some fresh air enjoying a glass of wine, you should be! Need some suggestions? Here's a great spring varietal list from Wine Folly> for under $20 a bottle. Or stop … Continue reading Wines for Spring!...

I am chicken "sitting" as my new home has a coop and my friends farm had over flow for the winter. Our chickens right now are holding out on us- but in Eastern Washington, it is below freezing for February/March. (I wouldn't want to do much either!) Fresh eggs are delicious. Not having been an … Continue reading Food+Wine // Fresh Eggs!...

Here are some wine gift suggestions for the moms in your life: Champagne Henriot NV Rosé Champagne, France // Reg $79.99 | Mixed Case $63.99 Guardian Cellars 2015 Angel Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39 Domaine Chevallier 2015 Chablis Burgundy, France // Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39 Remo...

25% OFF on selected rosé & more!! It's that time of year… We have 3 containers arriving in the next 2 months (via J. Strecker Selections, our local direct import company), and we need shelf space! You lucky dogs!! Sale wines include: ChÃ-teau de la Bigotière Muscadet 2016 Reg $14.99 | 25% OFF = $11.24 … Continue reading Annua...

And in honor of the great work coming out of WA State, we are doing a series on WA winemakers! (All WA wine are 10% off the bottle price thru March!!) Starting with… Denise & Brett Isenhower |As Isenhower CellarsAs | Walla Walla, WA Both pharmacists, Brett & Denise moved from Colorado to WA State in 1998, … Continue re...

Are you ready for an adventure? It's a new year- time to expand the horizons! Southern Italy hosts beautiful, lesser-known varietals (and regions) at reasonable prices (on both accounts). From the Amalfi Coast to the "heel" of the boot to the bounties of Sicily, Southern Italy has so much to offer with wine, cuisine, culture … Continue readin...

Here they are… Our favorite wines for this holiday season: JENS, owner and wine-buyer for Portalis Wines and J. Strecker Selections, its direct import company. A native German, he is oriented towards the Old World, but he can easily be distracted by well-crafted wines from the New World: Franchetto 2011 Lessini Durello Spumante Riserva VENETO...

It's not the bird as much as what we eat with it (sweet potatoes & heaven-forbid marshmallows, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, etc.) that causes the wine challenges with a turkey dinner. Many of these sweet & salty combos can cause wines to taste tart. Here's your down & dirty guide to a wine that tastes … Continue reading Turkey Di...

World Wide Syrah The bold, luscious red varietal- Syrah- is grown world wide.As  Originally from the South Eastern part of France, it has migrated toAs  several regions with success!As  Tales have been told of it originating from Iran, Sicily and other Mediterranean delights, however, DNA analysis concludes that it is a cross of Dureza and … ...

On the spectrum of New World wine country (IE: Australia, United States, New Zealand, South America), it is not necessarily a time punch card as it is so much a style of wine. Argentina has the classic fruit driven, higher alcohol wines with mild outlining characteristics of New World wine. As the fifth LARGEST producer … Continue reading New...

Sustainability is not a new concept- especially for families in Old World countries (ie- Italy, France and Spain)!As  Here in the States, we have many laws and regulations for labeling "sustainable", "bio-dynamic", and "organic" however the Old World has lived for centuries practicing sustainability.As  Besides few consistent regulating laws (yet) ...

As many of you know, Portalis owners, Jens Strecker and Julie Howe, expanded their business in 2011 to including importing.As  As the liquor laws in Washington State transformed, so did the ability for smaller producers- cooperatives and families- to have a chance at fair representation in Washington.As  As Jens watched some of his favorite produce...

To truly grasp South African wines, one has to understand why wine would be in South Africa.As  Not only a hot intense climate but also an area of vast trade and fluctuation in populace and politics.As  Viticulture was established hundreds of years prior to South Africa thanks in part to Romans and travelers.As  So why […]

The Ballard Wine Elves are counting down the days.As  Here are Jens' and Jaci's favorites for gifting.As  At my house Santa always brings me a bottle for my stocking! Hint, hint- don't forget to buy something fun for yourself too!. Here is our gift suggestions that wouldn't be a disappoint in the stocking! — Jens […]...

My niece was born this month and I have been preparing meals for the new little family. Thankfully, it is harvest time (even for grapes too)! Admittedly, I am excited for fall (beyond my beautiful niece's presence).As  I can't say that I love one season more than another.As  Yet when it comes to cooking, the […]

How is it that the marshy, maritime region of Bordeaux came to fruition?As  Cold wet winters and springs with the Atlantic to the west, autumn humidity and spring time frost- does not seem too appealing as a viticulture area.As  Yet the evidence is found in the area that dates back to 4th century AD!As  The […]

Mount Vesuvius- Campania, Italy Soils layered with molten rock, pulverized pumice, stones, ash and clay, Mount Vesuvius vineyards offer character and diversity. An eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 decimated Pompeii, Herculaneum and the surrounding areas. The volcanic soils are ideal for vineyards in an area of vast biodiversity including pine tr...

Shuffling through the wine shop- restocking, straightening, and above all, we check vintages. So- it may seem basic, but here we go: What's in a vintage? The vintage on the bottle is the year that it was in the vineyard. That eventual fermented juice could spend a few years in a barrel, but the vintage […]

Scuttlebutt http://www.scuttlebuttbrewing.com Everett, Washington– (Everett, Washington) — Home brewers of the 90's, Scuttlebutt owners are Everett classics.  A Father's day home brewing kit turned into a retirement investment. Now they produce almost 200,000 gallons of beer a year! Scuttlebutt Tripel 7 Belgium  —  $1.59 12 fl oz ...

Whether you are gathering for Fathers day or not- a fun list of BBQ pairings for any upcoming events as the weather is getting warmer and the dance cards are filling up! –Jaci Brisket and Braised | Truant Four Bikers Zinfandel  (Paso Robles, Califonia) — Reg $25.99 | Mixed Case 20% $20.79 — Complement that […]

PNW Seafood Growing up actively fishing, clamming, crabbing and covered in tide-flat, one become a bit of a seafood snob!  The PNW is blessed with an abundance of delicious and seasonal treats.  Here we present some of our favorites with pairings. My cousins, siblings and I would spend HOURS on the beach at Samish Island […]

Grüner Veltliner Austria, Burgenland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, New Zealand Aromatic white flowers, lentils, fresh watercress and celery salt.  White peach, poached pear, lime blossoms, fresh cracked wheat and caraway Spicy dishes, game, artichokes, asparagus

Sauvignon Gris  France (Bordeaux), New Zealand, USA (California), Chile, Australia Purportedly a mutation of Sauvignon Blanc and also known as Fié Gris, only 2% of the white varietals in Bordeaux are Sauvignon Gris.  Close to extinction, the varietal is briny, crisp, dry and high in citrus fruits. Lightly roasted meats, white meats, fish, oysters a...

Grenache Blanc France (Southern Rhone), Spain (Catalunya), USA (California) Stone fruits- warm green and gold apples, with citrus blossom and peel, mild minerality, medium body and medium acidity.  Typically blended with other varietals in Southern France. Roasted poultry, baked meat pies, pasta dishes

Arneis Region: Roero, Piedmont is the home of Arneis- “the little rascal”.  Almost near extinction because of its difficulty to cultivate- Arneis had a resurgence in the 80’s. Tasting Notes: Seafood wine- white flowers and chamomile with pears, apricots and hints of honey. Pairing:  Antipasti, risottos and pastas, pizza, poultry and fresh seafood!

Vinho Verde Vinho Verde is the DOC of the Minho region of Portugal.  This northern most region is cooler with rainy climates with strong Atlantic influences.  The blend for Vinho Verde tends to be a combination of Loureiro Trajadura (Treixadura), Avesso, Pedernã (Arinto), and/or the Alvarinho. Very light in color and alcohol, it is always […]

Melon de Bourgogne | Muscadet Zesty and crisp white wines in the Atlantic end of the Loire Valley. Originally cultivated in Burgundy, the vines are now only found in the Loire Valley as of the end of the 18th century.  It is a  a cross between Pinot blanc and Gouais blanc. Tart Lemon and lime, […]

Grillo Grillo is a Sicilian white grape variety most famous for its role in the island's fortified Marsala wines. It is still widely planted on Sicily despite Marsala's fall from fashion, and is now used most commonly in a variety of still white wines, both varietal and blended. Fresh, lemon, quince, cashews, almond, subtle apple […]...

Cortese Gavi, Piemdont.  Near the Ligurian coast (the southeast corner of Piedmont), this wine a natural accompaniment to seafood. Tasting Notes: Bone-dry & crisp with mineral and tart lemon- citrus-y notes. Pairings: Lobster, crab, tuna,  sardines, cabonara, asparagus with poached eggs.