"I've completely fallen in love with Cruess wines over the internet. AKA, I've never been in person and never met them - but I first tried their wines on a recommendation from my friend Trent last year as part of the #SupportOurWineries campaign, and I am so incredibly glad I did.  Alissa and Anthony are the definition of a passionate, small producer who is making incredible wines that you'd never really get the chance to stumble upon yourself. They do everything in a very minimal, authentic way. So when you have their wines, you really get to taste the complexity and character of the place and the varietals. And let me tell you - THESE WINES ARE SO FREAKING GOOD.  For people that enjoy trying something new, I love their white wines which are quite unique - a Roussanne and a Fiano. For people looking for a terroir-driven Pinot to maybe drink side-by-side with an Oregon Pinot, their Pinot is a beautiful expression of Sonoma fruit. And their GSM (Rock Smash) is one of my husband's favorites. You really can't go wrong with any of Cruess's wines."

"Starting from scratch is one thing. Going into a brutally tough industry afterwards is another. If you want to drink wines made with a vision in mind taste what Cruess has to offer. Cruess Wine has evolved with Alissa and Anthony and if you want to see how that can be reflected in wine, start drinking now.    I was fortunate enough to sit down with Alissa and discuss the wines made by her husband, Anthony. One thing became clear to me, their wines are about a lifestyle and they are the passion behind them. It takes commitment and a certain mindset to leave your careers to follow your heart and then make wines with your vision in mind. My recommendation? Grab some bottles, a couple of glasses, sit back and enjoy the ride with them. I call shotgun. "