Barrel Dork: Zero Snobbery Wine Education
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, my newsletter makes wine fun, approachable, and exciting. Join now to boost your wine confidence, discover incredible bottles, master food and wine pairings, and create the home wine collection of your dreams. Each week, you’ll get wine lessons, bottle recommendations, and everything you need to elevate your wine journey. Plus, you’ll receive my free Food & Wine Pairing Cheatsheet — your go-to guide for effortless pairings. Ready to dive into the world of wine? Join now!
The 5 Expert Tips for Pairing Wines With Desserts 🍷🍰
Hey Wine Lovers! With events like Memorial Day Weekend and Father’s Day right around the corner (and warmer summer months coming), you may be bringing patio furniture out of winter storage and gearing up for gathering with loved ones in the weeks ahead. For me personally, I love hosting this time of year and experimenting in the kitchen with delicious wine and food pairings to impress friends and family. I’m especially eager to experiment more with dessert pairings, especially as Berry Season...
Trading in Pinot for Piña Coladas 🍷➡️🍹 [The Barrel Dork Digest]
Hi Wine Friends — This Barrel Dork is trading in Pinot for piña coladas! I’m sneaking away this coming week to soak up some much-needed sunshine in the Caribbean for my 15-year wedding anniversary — My husband and I are headed back to the British Virgin Islands, where we honeymooned at the iconic Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda. We’re ready for warm breezes, salty swims, and our first scuba dive in 10+ years! So, heads-up: I’ll be pressing pause on next week’s wine newsletter while I’m...
Spring Into Wine: Fresh Sips for the Season🍷 [The Barrel Dork Digest]
Wine Digest:03/28/2025 Hi Wine Friends — I had an absolute blast hosting yesterday's live online workshop on The Art of Micro Winemaking! Huge thank you to everyone who showed up. If you have ideas for future topics, I'd love to hear from you! Just hit Reply and let me know what wine topics you’re curious about — I’m always looking for new ideas for upcoming workshops. Now that spring is creeping in and the days are getting warmer, I’m finding myself reaching for lighter, fresher reds (and...
Que Syrah, Syrah🍷 [The Barrel Dork Digest]
Wine Digest:03/21/2025 Hi Wine Friends — Before you log off for the weekend, don’t forget to register for next week’s Micro Winemaking Workshop! 🍷 If you've ever been curious about how small-batch wines are made—or what it really takes to build an indie wine brand—this free workshop is for you. I'll be pulling back the curtain on my own journey with Flipturn Cellars, sharing what makes micro winemaking so unique, and giving you an inside look at the hands-on hustle behind every bottle. 📅...
What It’s Really Like to Start a Wine Brand from Scratch—Join My Free Workshop!🍷
Hi Fellow Wine Lover! When I started making wine in 2020, I had no winery, no vineyard, no cellar experience, and no roadmap—just a deep love for wine and a determination to carve my own path. I sourced one ton of Syrah from Yakima Valley, made 50 cases in a shared space, and Flipturn Cellars was born. Now, I make 250 cases a year right here in Oregon, managing every part of the process—from vineyard contracts to winemaking, bottling, marketing, and selling. Being a micro winemaker means...
🍷 Celebrating Women in Wine + A Special Workshop Coming Soon! [The Barrel Dork Digest]
Wine Digest:03/14/2025 Hi Wine Friends — Wednesday's class, Women in Wine: The Art of Micro-Winemaking, co-hosted with my friend Diana of Augustina Cellars at Ora et Labora Wine Shop in Portland was a huge success! We had 13 guests who joined us for a deep dive into the world of small-batch winemaking: From hauling grapes to bottling and everything in between, we shared the real stories behind building an indie wine brand. It was a night full of great wine, great conversation, and lots of...
🍷 Bordeaux Blends 101 & My First Wine Judging Experience! [The Barrel Dork Digest]
Wine Digest:02/28/2025 Hi Wine Friend — Last week was a fun wine milestone for me—I officially stepped into the role of a wine judge for the first time for the 2025 Portland Seafood & Wine Festival! I had the incredible opportunity to taste through a whopping 90 wines (both white and red) and help determine the best of the best. After 7 hours of tasting, collaborating, and discussing with fellow judges, I’ve got some fun stories and insights to share. If you’re curious about what goes down at...
Sluggish Ferments, Aged Barbera, and Should You Stock Up on Prosecco? 🥂 [The Barrel Dork Digest]
Wine Digest:02/07/2025 xxx Hi Wine Friend — There are so many good reasons to pop open a great bottle of wine this week—Super Bowl Sunday, Galentine’s, Palentine’s, Valentine’s... oh my! So, what are you excited to open? Hit Reply and let me know. And if you need to stock up, I’ve got you covered: Now through February 14th, I’m offering 10% off when you order 2+ bottles from Flipturn Cellars—no code needed! Just mix and match your faves, and the discount applies automatically:...
The Barrel Dork Digest: From Additives to Panna Cotta Pairings: Exploring Wine’s Many Layers🍷
Wine Digest:01/24/2025 xxx Hi Wine Friend — It’s been a little quiet on social media for both Barrel Dork and Flipturn Cellars lately, as January tends to bring a slower pace for wine lovers. With many people practicing Dry January—or just cutting back after the holiday season—I’ve found myself scaling back too. While I’m not fully embracing Dry January, I’ve been enjoying a “damp January,” limiting my wine indulgences to dinners and events (and keeping things dry at home). That said, I’m...
The Barrel Dork Digest: Behind the Scenes of Wine Blending & Weekend Wine Inspo 🍷
Wine Digest:01/17/2025 xxx Hi Wine Friend! It’s an exciting (and very busy!) time here in Oregon as I prep for spring bottling season for Flipturn Cellars. My white wines from the 2024 Harvest are nearly finished with fermentation and aging, and now the hustle begins. From coordinating bottling dates and ordering glass and corks to designing labels and getting them approved by the TTB, a lot is happening behind the scenes to bring these wines to life. I’m also working on new wine guides and...
Dry, Damp, or Soaking Wet? How Are You Sipping This January?🍷
Wine Digest:01/10/2025 xxx Happy New Year Wine Friend! I hope your holidays were filled with delicious food, fantastic wine, and meaningful moments with loved ones. My husband, Tony, and I just returned from two incredible weeks abroad. We visited family in London and got to meet our brand-new nephew, George! From there, we headed to Iceland, where we explored Reykjavik and the stunning Golden Circle. A highlight was celebrating New Year’s Eve (and my birthday!) at Sky Lagoon, sipping...
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, my newsletter makes wine fun, approachable, and exciting. Join now to boost your wine confidence, discover incredible bottles, master food and wine pairings, and create the home wine collection of your dreams. Each week, you’ll get wine lessons, bottle recommendations, and everything you need to elevate your wine journey. Plus, you’ll receive my free Food & Wine Pairing Cheatsheet — your go-to guide for effortless pairings. Ready to dive into the world of wine? Join now!