The mysterious little black purse

Of all the senses, it's the sense of smell that can have the most powerful effect on memory.

For Deborah Castillo, it was the smell of leather, roses, fruit, and tobacco - the smell of "an old lady's purse". Those were the smells in red wine that brought back the memories of her great-aunt Feliciana.

So, when it came time to Deborah and Sam to name their winery, it made sense to honor Feliciana. They'd make the dark, rich wines in a Spanish style that evoked the memories of that little black purse in the back bedroom.

Today, Castillo de Feliciana - the castle of happiness - is home to a family-run Oregon winery. Sam and Deborah own it, daughter Kara leads sales and marketing, and son Christopher is the winemaker.

One more thing: Castillo de Feliciana is the closest winery to the Oregon/ Washington state line you'll find. Leaving the winery, you turn left out of the driveway, and you'll hit the state border in a few hundred feet - even before you hit the first stop sign. A great reminder that there are great Oregon wineries in the Walla Walla Valley.