Sean P. Sullivan Northwest Wine Report

21/10/2025

A note to subscribers

I posted yesterday about my Fall Subscriber Drive asking readers who have not subscribed already to please do so. For people who have subscribed:

1. Please make sure the credit card associated with your subscription is up to date.

If your credit card has changed since your last renewal, please update it by going to:

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You should receive an email notification when your credit card is expiring, when your subscription is about to renew (one week prior), when it has been renewed, and when there is a problem renewing your subscription. Additionally, wineries submitting wines for review receive an email notification after the reviews are published. If you are not receiving these notifications, see below.

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If you have questions about whether your subscription is active or not or other questions, please message me.

Again, each and every one of you who has subscribed is mission critical to this business. Without your subscription, I quite literally cannot continue to do. Thank you for your support!

21/10/2025

Raising a glass to a Mariners season for the ages.

20/10/2025

I need your help. If you read Northwest Wine Report and have not subscribed already, please do so now during my Fall Subscriber Drive.

Northwest Wine Report is 100% subscriber funded. It is my primary source of income. The only way that this site will be able to continue is if you support it.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “That’s what KEXP, KUOW, or whoever always says. I don’t support them, and they still keep going.”

Well, first, you should support them if you enjoy their content. Second, I am a micro-business of one. Without your support, I literally can’t keep doing what I am doing.

These are challenging times throughout the wine industry, and Northwest Wine Report is no exception. Many local businesses that have closed recently were subscribers to my site. That has had a real financial impact on my business.

Periodically, I look at where things are and whether I can continue to keep the lights on here. Suffice to say, between now and the end of the year, I need more people to subscribe for this site to continue in 2026.

Northwest Wine Report plays a vital role in elevating the visibility and credibility of Northwest wines on both regional and national stages – highlighting the wine region, new, emerging trends, and standout producers and wines. This site is and always has been a labor of love. That said, I can only continue forward with it if it makes some semblance of financial sense to do so.

Subscribing gives you access to:

Subscriber-only articles (most new content is now paywalled)
Growing season summaries
Growing season markers
Appellation information
Newly published blind-tasted wine reviews
A web-searchable database of Pacific Northwest wine reviews

Join us! Subscribe now. A link to do so is in the comments.

To those who have already subscribed, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I ask for your continued support. Each and every one of you is mission critical to this business, truly. Without your subscription, I quite literally cannot continue to do what I do. Again, thank you!

Note: Subscribers don’t really get a tote bag, just full access to the site and my sincere gratitude.

19/10/2025

Starting here, paired with “The Companion.” Delicious, well-priced wine as always.

19/10/2025

Saturday night folks! A rainy evening here in Seattle. What's everyone opening up tonight?

18/10/2025

My contribution. A consistently tasty Chianti Classico. Enjoying it with my wife.

18/10/2025

Friday night folks! Two questions tonight.

1. What are you opening up?

2. Who are you sharing it with?

If you haven't already, make sure to check out my articles from this week:

Pacific Northwest summer weather and an early look at fall and winter

Sparkman Cellars and Sigillo Cellars join forces

Matías Kúsulas will take Washington to new heights (Wine Reviews October 17th 2025)

Link in the comments.

Go!

UPDATE: Mariners win! Mariners win!

17/10/2025

Matías Kúsulas, head winemaker at Gard Vintners and sister brands Contact and Slope Life, has one of the most fascinating backstories in the wine industry – as in, the entire wine industry.

Originally from Chile where he was in the special forces, Kúsulas worked 15 vintages before coming to Washington in 2016, including stints in New Zealand, France, and South Africa.

At Northwest Wine Report, a look at Kúsulas's career to date, as well as new reviews from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cynthian, Domaine Lumineux, Gård, Karvalé, King Estate, Northstar, Secus, Soos Creek, Soter, Spring Valley, and Upchurch.

Matías Kúsulas, Gård Vintners by Richard Duval 45+ wines reviewed below, including the latest from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cynthian, Domaine Lumineux, Gård, Karvalé, King Estate, Northstar, Secus, Soos Creek, Soter, Spring Valley, and Upchurch. Matías Kúsulas, head

16/10/2025

Gorgeous stuff from the folks at LIMINAL Wines.

Thanks to Sean P. Sullivan Northwest Wine Report for these fantastic scores for our fall release wines, which are coming soon (next week)!

16/10/2025

Quote of the month (thus far): "A bottle of wine does not care where it's sold."

15/10/2025

Sparkman Cellars, one of Woodinville’s best-known wineries, and Snoqualmie-based Sigillo Cellars have joined together to form a partnership. The ownership team includes the two original winery owners as well as others in what remains a family-run business.

“The family just got bigger,” says Chris Sparkman, who founded Sparkman Cellars with his wife, Kelly.

Story at Northwest Wine Report.

Sparkman Cellars, one of Woodinville’s best-known wineries, and Snoqualmie-based Sigillo Cellars have joined together to form a partnership. The ownership team includes the two original winery owners as well as others in what remains a family-run business. “The family just got bigger,” says Ch...

14/10/2025

Grüner paired with a scary movie tonight.