Jenna Olson

Fox Restaurant Concepts, long recognized for the group’s commitment to innovation and its laser-focus on the guest experience, continues to expand its offerings. This year, the group launched its 11th proprietary Pinot Noir, Fox Block Eleven Panther Creek Cellars, a collaboration between the group’s sommelier and VP Beverage Director Regan Jasper and Panther Creek’s own Oregon winemaker Tony Rynders.  

Company officials say retail outlet will be relocated to Woodinville, Wash., in 2018  

When I gave up my vote in The Associated Press poll a few years ago, I was thrilled. No longer would I have to wake up early Sunday morning to put together a list of 25 college football teams that would almost certainly get me yelled at by the fanbases of every school ranked lower than No. 1.  

Wines of the Week – Published July 30, 2017, White Wines for Summer Seafoods
Part 1 of a 4-Part Series
By Chuck Hill
I have been judging oyster and seafood wines for more than 30 years, and this is the 14th year of reporting on tasty white wines for seafood under the WinesNorthwest.com banner.
Our first week’s tasting of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon wines was paired with delicious crab cakes and a Louie-style shrimp salad. A few Pinot Gris and Riesling wines were sampled in a follow-up tasting.  

Wines of the Week
Published July 18, 2017

Pinot Noir and Copper River Salmon
Part 4 of a 4-Part Series (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
By Chuck Hill

Part of the fun of enjoying Pinot Noir is the wide variety of tastes that evolve from this single grape. Some tastes are dependent on ripeness of vintage, some on clonal selection and plenty more from winemaker intervention like oak aging and other treatments.  

I had the opportunity over a two week period to taste a wide variety of Oregon Pinot Noir vintages. First up was the Northwest Wine Encounter at the Semiahmoo Resort in Washington State just over the border from Canada. It was a focused wine event with 80 or so enthusiasts in attendance and a small number of winemakers from Oregon, Washington and British Columbia pouring. I went because Consulting Winemaker Tony Rynders was pouring the 2014 Panther Creek Cellars Kalita Vineyard Pinot Noir. Since 2013 when the Bacchus Wine Fund acquired the iconic winery founded by Ken Wright in 1986 and Tony Rynders took over the winemaking duties, the Kalita Pinot Noir has become one of the featured single vineyard wines in the Panther Creek lineup…  

Wines of the Week
Published June 21, 2017

Pinot Noir and Copper River Salmon
Part 1 of a 4-Part Series
By Chuck Hill
For many wine lovers, Pinot Noir is their red of choice – offering ripe and fruity aromas and flavors, as well as the most versatility in pairing with food. Whether serving roasted chicken, meats from the grill, or pasta with a hearty sauce, Pinot Noir enhances the flavor of the food and adds character without overpowering the dish. My choice of rich Copper River salmon from Alaska gives Pinot Noir a chance to mingle with a superstar of the seafood world and create a perfect match of food and wine.  

Top Washington, Oregon and Canadian Winemakers from DeLille, Gehringer, Leonetti, Northstar and Panther Creek (Tony Rynders) Featured

BLAINE, Washington, June 21, 2017 — April 28-30, 2017 marked the second annual Northwest Wine Encounter weekend at the Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa, just south of the Canadian border in Blaine, Washington.  

Panther Creek
June 15, 2017
Panther Creek utilizes the talents of superstar winemaker, Tony Rynders.

One of the oldest wineries in the Willamette Valley, Panther Creek was founded in 1986 by Ken Wright. The winery focuses on signature blends as well as single vineyard designate wines. Panther Creek utilizes the talents of superstar winemaker, Tony Rynders, who leads Tendril and is a former winemaker at Domaine Serene. Tony has spent over 20 harvests spanning the globe, from France to Australia. He is truly one of the best Oregon winemakers out there.

Read More http://www.washingtonwineblog.com/blog/2017/6/15/panther-creek  

Oregon’s modern-day wine industry truly began to bear fruit a decade after the first Pinot Noir was planted in southern Oregon in 1961, expanding into the Willamette Valley in the 1970s.

Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/living/food-drink/wine/article142688854.html#storylink=cpy