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Napa Valley winemaker Doug Shafer says, "I've seen these celebrity wines come and go, but Kyle is the real deal. He's into it." Wine Spectator senior editor Tim Fish agrees noting, "The wines MacLachlan makes prove the point."

Kyle moved to Hollywood in the 1980s to take on starring roles in such classics as Dune and Twin Peaks, but by 2005, he couldn't shake a compelling urge to return to his home state of Washington to start a winery of his own.

Actor and vintner Kyle MacLachlan returns to Twin Peaks for a wine tasting at Snoqualmie Falls and shares the story of how he got into winemaking with 425 magazine writer and photographer Rodrigo DeMedeiros. Photos: R. DeMedeiros

“The winery’s name is a playful nod to MacLachlan’s theatrical career, borrowed from one of Shakespeare’s most famous stage directions in Act III, Scene 3 of The Winter’s Tale, ‘Exit, pursued by a bear.’”

Read why actor Kyle MacLachlan stands out against a “mega-watt” list of celebrity vintners and why he visits Walla Walla frequently to collaborate on his vineyard sources, barrels and blending with his winemaker and friend Daniel Wampfler.

Actor and Pursued by Bear vintner Kyle MacLachlan explains why opening a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla, a place he describes as “the mecca of Washington wine,” was significant to him and describes what sets the tasting room apart from others

In “Straight Talk With Wine Spectator," the Twin Peaks star and founder of Washington wine label Pursued By Bear speaks with senior editor Tim Fish about his favorite roles over the years, making wine on his home turf, and the meaning behind his label.

The actor-slash-winemaker (and one of the Pacific Northwest’s most talented exports) talks about what keeps him coming back to Washington (besides blending trials at his Walla Walla winery) and how, even in his wines, there are notes of coffee.

Separated at birth? Stephen Colbert and Kyle MacLachlan could be brothers. The two friends chat about “Portlandia" and growing up in Yakima, then Kyle walks Stephen through a wine tasting—that's blueberry, pencil lead, and wet stone you're smelling in that glass...

The “Twin Peaks” icon and owner of acclaimed wine brand Pursued by Bear tackles our speed round of questions. His favorite wine book? “Educating Peter," by Lettie Teague.

In a flagrant violation of my cherished prejudices, I have developed an enthusiasm for a boutique wine label created by actor Kyle MacLachlan. I have to admit the name kind of won me over. It’s hard not to root for a wine named after the most famous stage direction in history...

Kyle MacLachlan is a versatile leading man, best known for his role as special agent Dale Cooper in “Twin Peaks.” ...The Emmy Award-nominated actor has given fans plenty to adore. Now, he’s giving them something to pour.

We loved him in Dune, an impossible book to turn into a movie, but he endeared himself to us in Sex and the City, every woman’s excuse to buy more shoes. So what made Kyle decide to retreat to the wilds of eastern Washington State to grow grapes?

However, it was acting that really introduced him to fine wine. When he grew up in Yakima, Washington’s fertile farms were used to grow fruit and the wine industry was really just getting started.

… These new release wines have been held back a bit and are both showing beautiful dark fruits, wonderful viscosity and tension. A downright awesome Syrah, the 2013 Pursued By Bear ‘Baby Bear’ Syrah (WWB, 93) has gobs of dark fruits and really nice range.

Kyle MacLachlan could be a cruise director. As he leads me and a caravan of friends and family around Walla Walla, Washington, for two days... his energy doesn’t flag once.

The Desperate Housewives actor splits his time between New York and L.A. with his wife (entertainment executive Desiree Gruber) and one-year-old son, and makes wine in his home state of Washington. MacLachlan released his first vintage, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend, in 2005.

From his role in the TV series “Sex and the City” to his sideline as a winemaker, Kyle MacLachlan pursues his career on two very different tracks. How he balances the two is what Tracy Smith went to find out.

“Wine is about people. It's about people coming together. It's about sharing, it's about a conversation, it's about a story," said MacLachlan. Prentice and the Twin Peaks actor talked about MacLachlan's career while sharing a glass of vino.

Kyle MacLachlan has proven that no matter how big a star you become, there’s something special about coming home again. MacLachlan... keeps a connection to his home in Washington through winemaking.

MacLachlan has become an advocate and evangelist for the unique properties and flavor profile of Washington state wines. He is personally involved in every aspect of Pursued by Bear, in partnership with winemaker Dan Wampfler.

The star of Twin Peaks and co-owner of Pursued by Bear Wine chats about his passion for winemaking... and the time his wine was featured in an episode of Desperate Housewives...

“Wine has always played a significant part in my life,” says actor Kyle MacLachlan, “Even when I was auditioning for the role in Dune, my first film with David Lynch."

Actor and Washington vintner Kyle MacLachlan's résumé includes Desperate Housewives, Portlandia, Sex and the City and the cult classic film Blue Velvet, but he's also known by our readers as the owner of Washington state's Pursued by Bear wine label.

Coop is debonair and complicated, cheery but with a brooding underside, an old spirit with a youthful grin, the soul of straightforward elegance, a bit of a Romantic, and a man who certainly knows his dark-red velvet...

On a Sunday afternoon in March, a timid line of eager and excited fans lined up outside Vine Wine, a charming wine shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Inside, Kyle MacLachlan poured tastings of his 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and Baby Bear Syrah... It was damn fine wine.

Washington native Kyle MacLachlan's label, named for an obscure Shakespearean stage direction, makes a fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon that has garnered high praise... The 2008 Pursued by Bear Cab earned a 91 from Wine Spectator...

"You know, this is a damn fine glass of wine." Actor/winemaker Kyle MacLachlan drops some Eastern Washington wine knowledge on the tasting room. From Twin Peaks to Wine Feats, Kyle's project 'Pursued by Bear' is no act...it's the real Mc-Lachlan.

“Portland is a pretty phenomenal city,” MacLachlan said during a recent phone interview. The Northwest native was calling from New York, to talk about his Washington state winery... and revisiting “Twin Peaks.”

“Winemaker” is an important facet of MacLachlan’s identity... Pursued by Bear started as a hobby, but it has organically grown into a delicious representation of Washington wines.

He’s learned a lot in the last decade, not the least of which is how to handle the respect that comes from earning glowing reviews in Wine Spectator. Because his is no vanity project. It’s a damn good glass of wine.

We can confirm that Pursued by Bear’s Kyle MacLachlan will be blushing this spring. But don't let the “celebrity rosé” tag fool you: The Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet star has plenty of wine cred.