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Christina Kelly,
Avalon Wine Senior Editor

Christina Kelly spent the first half of her career as a journalist for daily newspapers and magazines. She left daily journalism to work in corporate marketing/communications, but as a passionate wine enthusiast, she continues to write about the Northwest wine industry (since 1997) for many national publications.

Christina is a multiple fellowship winner to the Professional Wine Writers Symposium in Napa, including 2012. Christina has written for Avalonwine.com for the past 12 years. She can be reached at winewriter@comcast.net.

Jean Yates
Avalon Wine Owner

Jean first worked with the Oregon wine industry in 1989, when she helped develop marketing brochures for wineries in the South Willamette. She then started Avalon, and has supported the industry through her wine shop and web site ever since. Jean enjoys promoting Oregon and Washington wines and bringing Northwest wines to the notice of the wine-loving public across the country. She previously worked in high tech marketing and research in Silicon Valley.

Jean built and continually updates the Avalon web site, writes our Wine Club Newsletter, numerous e-mail articles on NW wine, and articles for the web site. Her twenty five years of experience working with NW wineries and winemakers gives Avalon a deep knowledge of the industry. She's judged NW wine at various competitions since 1997. Jean's favorite activity is photography, and many of the images on the Avalon web site are hers. She's from NC via Palo Alto, and lives in the South Willamette wine country.

April 22, 2011, at 3:20 pm

Two Biggies – Homer and La Source

Two of the real “biggies” of Oregon Pinot noir are here. Shea’s Homer Pinot noir is their very best wine bottled as the “home run” of the lineup.  Evening Land La Source is the third vintage of Pinot noir from a winery whose iconoclastic owner is reinventing the way you think about Oregon wine. Shea’s [...]

December 18, 2010, at 11:54 am

Lynn Penner-Ash’s Secret Wine – Dusky Goose

It’s easy to think that Lynn Penner-Ash was born with a wine thief clutched in her hand – she looks about thirty years old, but she’s been making wine in Oregon for 22 years. And from the start, her wines were great. Her Rex Hill Goldschmidt, Seven Springs and Maresh Vineyard Pinots, in particular, helped [...]

September 30, 2010, at 8:20 am

Oregon Wine – No more wine from Avalon?

If House bill H.R. 5034 is passed in Congress, Avalon might as well pack up and go home. This bill would limit consumer choice and essentially ban us from shipping wine. Here’s a good article about it I haven’t ever used our blog to push any kind of political thing, but this is pretty bad [...]

May 5, 2010, at 2:16 pm

Brick House NYTimes, New Wines

Brick House big story in NY Times – new wines presale – BOULDER BLOCK – the one they went gaga over – http://cot.ag/dg0Boh

May 5, 2010, at 2:12 pm

0regon’s 09 Vintage – David O’Reilly

David O’Reilly on 2009 Oregon vintage: “very ripe year – gorgeous, soft, approachable wines” His Owen Roe wines here:  http://cot.ag/duB7O5

May 5, 2010, at 2:09 pm

O’Reilly’s 2009 Pinot noir Released

David O’Reilly on 2009 O’Reilly’s Pinot noir: “amazingly textural” NEWRELEASE PRICE $14.80 any 12 http://cot.ag/cMi3CP

April 25, 2010, at 12:38 pm

JUST up – Evening Land Vineyar…

JUST up – Evening Land Vineyards 08 Estate – followup to Wine Spec Top 100 #97 http://cot.ag/aiLHkI

April 23, 2010, at 12:42 pm

“Ayoub is everything those of …

“Ayoub is everything those of us want if we prize small, handson winegrowers who focus on one special place.” Wine Spec http://cot.ag/cgg5dQ

April 23, 2010, at 9:27 am

Price reduction – 92 pt Parker…

Price reduction – 92 pt Parker was $45 now $28.75 in 12 or more btls ROCO PN 06 – Argyle winemaker’s personal label http://cot.ag/9R4wOJ

April 23, 2010, at 9:00 am

JY Belle Pente Murto PN 07 – 1…

JY Belle Pente Murto PN 07 – 1 of 3 best from 25 ’07 PN judged -Cherries, roses silky elegant Sublimely Burgundian http://cot.ag/99n6jb

April 22, 2010, at 3:00 pm

2009 OR Rose “Glass” White Pin…

2009 OR Rose “Glass” White Pinot from special block of Temperance Vyd – unique, yummy $17.05 in any 12 btl ordr http://cot.ag/cW3Rtj

April 22, 2010, at 2:00 pm

HIGHLY REC – Soter Min Sprs 07…

HIGHLY REC – Soter Min Sprs 07 $46 any 12 btls – best of big tasting OR Pinots yesterday – exciting – prev was $65 http://cot.ag/bX8PQV

April 22, 2010, at 1:01 pm

Evening Land 7 Springs Pinot 0…

Evening Land 7 Springs Pinot 08 – new vtg of Wine Spec Top 100 LAFON! $34.16 in any 12 btls http://cot.ag/9y27ec

April 22, 2010, at 12:01 pm

Sexy steal Walla Walla ZIN $20…

Sexy steal Walla Walla ZIN $20.66 in any 12 btls – decadent, velvety, FAT http://cot.ag/9mj4VV

April 22, 2010, at 11:02 am

Under $20 OR 2008 Pinot we Rec…

Under $20 OR 2008 Pinot we Rec highly – Carriere Provocateur(Troublemaker) $18.86 in case order – BIG, BURGERCENTRIC http://cot.ag/9fCzv8