Category: Wine/Wineries

Beyond brews: McMenamins has history in wine, too

Beyond brews: McMenamins has history in wine, too

Edgefield and McMenamins are names most Oregonians associate with beer and pub-style food. But wine? Yes, they do make wine. In fact, pretty good wine. When you think of Oregon wine, pinot noir comes to mind. But there is a burgeoning syrah scene in the Northwest, and one of its most enthusiastic fans is McMenamins […]

April 20, 2014 | 0 Comments More
Mahonia Vineyard making mark in Portland

Mahonia Vineyard making mark in Portland

I had the pleasure recently of visiting with John Miller, owner of Mahonia Vineyard, and Travis Henry, Mahonia’s vice president who handles sales and marketing, and getting a chance to learn more about their operation and their wines. This small producer in South Salem has been growing and making wonderful wines for more than 20 […]

December 5, 2012 | 0 Comments More
Unoaked Oregon chardonnays let delicate flavors shine

Unoaked Oregon chardonnays let delicate flavors shine

Sometime in the past couple of years, I’ve come to appreciate drinking chardonnays that aren’t drenched in oak, which can mask some of the more delicate flavor notes of chardonnay. Fermenting in oak can add a golden color and flavors of butterscotch or toast to the wine. But with shifting American palates, more and more […]

October 28, 2012 | 0 Comments More
Portland event Monday showcases Spanish wines

Portland event Monday showcases Spanish wines

I usually limit the topic of my wine column to Oregon wines, but since this rare occasion to learn more about Spanish wines is happening in Portland, I’m giving myself some leeway. Wine from Spain is hosting Great Match Portland, a dynamic evening full of wine tasting and seminars that highlight Spanish wines and winemaking […]

October 28, 2012 | 0 Comments More
Port-style Oregon wines catching on

Port-style Oregon wines catching on

When the weather turns cool, fortified wines such as Port make wonderful fireside sippers and there are a few Oregon wineries that have been experimenting with Port-style wines with great success.

October 5, 2012 | 0 Comments More
Oregon Grenache worth seeking out

Oregon Grenache worth seeking out

One of the wonderful things about living in Oregon and having friends who enjoy wine is that we all love to talk about our favorite wines and recommend them to others. You can’t be blind to the overwhelming love and devotion to pinot noir, pinot gris and riesling in Oregon, but there are many of […]

September 21, 2012 | 0 Comments More
Best buys in Oregon wines

Best buys in Oregon wines

It’s amazing to consider how much of the world market share of wine that Australia has grown to capture in the past decade. I thought about that lately when browsing the wine aisle of our neighborhood Winco and noticed how many value-priced wines from Australia were crowding the shelves. According to data from the World […]

September 15, 2012 | 1 Comment More
Oregon Viogniers rare but out there

Oregon Viogniers rare but out there

If you enjoy white wines, particularly fruit-forward wines that are highly aromatic with floral notes, Viognier, a grape variety common in France’s Rhone region, may just be what you’re looking for. Although the acreage planted with Viognier grapes in Oregon (a mere 210 acres in 2011 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture) makes it […]

September 15, 2012 | 0 Comments More
Corvallis science pub explores wine, viticulture

Corvallis science pub explores wine, viticulture

One of the perks of living in a wine-producing state with a famous wine-growing region like ours is that there are all sorts of free classes to help expand your knowledge of wine and viticulture. One of these events is planned for 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 at the Old World Deli & Cafe in Corvallis. As part of a series of Science Pubs, the Corvallis event will explore what it takes to produce great wines despite the occasionally less-than-deal growing conditions that Oregon provides and what winemakers, both professionals and home hobbyists, must keep in mind as they turn juice into wine.

November 12, 2011 | 1 Comment More
Parmesan Crisps with Goat Cheese, Fig and Prosciutto Spread — Perfect Pairing for Bubbly

Parmesan Crisps with Goat Cheese, Fig and Prosciutto Spread — Perfect Pairing for Bubbly

Easy to make, and served on top of Parmesan crisps or just plain crackers, this spread has a wonderful flavor combination of sweet green figs, creamy goat cheese and salty prosciutto. It’s the perfect appetizer to serve whenever you’re thinking of popping a bottle of sparkling white or rosé. You’ll be amazed at how great […]

July 15, 2011 | 8 Comments More
Illahe 2008 Tempranillo Dessert Wine — Cure for a Sleepless Night

Illahe 2008 Tempranillo Dessert Wine — Cure for a Sleepless Night

Forget the sleeping pills. For a sleepless night, draw a dark ruby ripple of sweet plum-flavored Illahe Tempranillo Dessert Wine past your lips. Let it bathe your tongue in nectar, dark as the night. And carry you away on moonlit wispy clouds to the stars. Before you know it, the glass will be empty and you’ll be snoring away.

June 2, 2011 | 0 Comments More
H5O Bistro & Bar to Host Winemaker's Dinner with Sokol Blosser Winery

H5O Bistro & Bar to Host Winemaker’s Dinner with Sokol Blosser Winery

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="2" orderby="title"] Just in time for that special date or girls night out, join H5O bistro & bar this Thursday evening for an exciting wine dinner with Sokol Blosser Winery.

May 31, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Memorial Day Wine Tour of South Willamette Valley Wineries

Memorial Day Wine Tour of South Willamette Valley Wineries

Instead of sticking close to home this Memorial Day, I decided for a change to head South with my wine buddies to the Eugene area for a change of pace and visit King Estate, Sweet Cheeks, Domaine Meriwether and Benton-Lane. This allowed us to take the less-traveled portion of Highway 99 from Monroe back to Salem via Monmouth and the Willamette River Bridge just south of Monmouth on a day that we knew I-5 would be clogged with people returning from the weekend vacations.

May 31, 2011 | 2 Comments More
Domaine Drouhin Oregon — Beautiful Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay

Domaine Drouhin Oregon — Beautiful Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay

Parlez-vous français? No? Well, that’s OK. English is perfectly fine at Domaine Drouhin Oregon, the U.S. outpost of the famed Maison Joseph Drouhin of Beaune, France. According to Domaine Drouhin, the first seeds for what would become Domaine Drouhin Oregon were sown in 1961. Robert Drouhin, head of Burgundy’s legendary Maison Joseph Drouhin, was visiting […]

April 3, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Elk Cove Vineyards

Elk Cove Vineyards

Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston has a beautiful setting and focuses on making excellent pinot noir and pinot gris. It’s La Bohème Pinot Noir has been served twice at the White House during President Clinton’s term.

March 5, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Torii Mor

Torii Mor

Torii Mor is a small winery in Dundee that focuses on vineyard-designated Pinot Noir and has a tasting room that is Japanese influenced in its decor. The tasting room is open year-round and the outdoor spaces are wonderful settings for picnics.

March 4, 2011 | 0 Comments More
King Estate

King Estate

King Estate is the largest producer of Pinot Gris in the U.S. and is located near Eugene. The tasting room is open year-round and has a wonderful restaurant.

March 4, 2011 | 2 Comments More
Grüner Veltliner and Oregon, a Grü-Vee Combination

Grüner Veltliner and Oregon, a Grü-Vee Combination

Oregon may be known for its pinot noir, but the mild climate here makes it a perfect place to also grow cool-climate white varieties such as grüner veltliner, which is starting to take root in Oregon with a handful of vineyards and wineries now growing and making this wine that is developing a strong following among white wine lovers. And many of those vineyards are in our part of the valley. Grüner veltliner is a white grape variety closely associated with Austria, where it is the nation’s most important varietal in terms of quality and volume produced. Grüner veltliner is a white wine known for its food-friendliness.

February 22, 2011 | 1 Comment More
Yaquina Head and Lighthouse

Yaquina Head and Lighthouse

Just outside of Newport, Yaquina Head Lighthouse is a picturesque stop along the coast.

February 16, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Redhawk Winery

Redhawk Winery

Redhawk Winery is in West Salem and is noted for its affordable and good pinot noir.

February 16, 2011 | 1 Comment More
Ponzi Vineyards

Ponzi Vineyards

Ponzi Vineyards, just outside of Portland, is one of the most notable in Oregon and has a tasting room in a wonderful setting.

February 16, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Stunning Vistas and Amazing Wines Await You at Elk Cove Vineyards

Stunning Vistas and Amazing Wines Await You at Elk Cove Vineyards

Besides being stunningly beautiful, Elk Cove is one of the oldest and most respected wine producers in Oregon. They were founded in 1974 by Pat and Joe Campbell and their focus is on producing hand-crafted, estate-grown wines. Their wines have graced the tables of White House state dinners on more than one occasion. What you’ll find at Elk Cove is a primary focus on Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. But they also make excellent Viognier and Riesling.

October 17, 2010 | 0 Comments More
Anne Amie Vineyards

Anne Amie Vineyards

After our initial taste of the 2007 Prismé, Pinot Noir Blanc, Vic utters, “Quelle surprise!” while scratching the phrase in his notebook.

We three tasters look at each other as if to say, “Can we just linger here with this bottle for the rest of the day and order in the butter-poached lobster in truffle cream sauce?”

September 18, 2010 | 5 Comments More
2010 Memorial Day Weekend Willamette Valley Wine Tour

2010 Memorial Day Weekend Willamette Valley Wine Tour

Every year on the weekends around Memorial Day and Thanksgiving, vineyards and winemakers in the Willamette Valley invite the public to taste their latest wines in their cellars or tasting rooms. Many of these are boutique wineries that cannot operate tasting rooms year ’round, so this is your chance to discover newer and smaller producers.

Wine tasting ranks almost as high as outdoor activities in Oregon and it does get you out in nature, too, off the main roads and into the rolling hills of the vineyards.

June 6, 2010 | 4 Comments More
Willamette Valley Vineyards Why I Love Oregon Pinot Noir Contest

Willamette Valley Vineyards Why I Love Oregon Pinot Noir Contest

For those of you who love Oregon Pinot Noir but have never been here, now’s your chance. One of our favorite wineries, Willamette Valley Vineyards, is sponsoring the “Why I Love Oregon Pinot Noir Contest”.
All you have to do is tell them why you love Oregon Pinot Noir in approximately 100 words. The contest deadline is June 30. The writer of the best response, chosen by the winery staff, will win a trip for two to Oregon Wine Country. Read our blog post for a link to their contest.

May 7, 2010 | 0 Comments More
King Estate — A Jewel in Oregon’s Crown

King Estate — A Jewel in Oregon’s Crown

The beautiful rolling hills around the Lorane Valley south of Eugene may not be as well known outside of Oregon as the Willamette Valley to the north is, with its name made synonymous with the rise of Oregon Pinot Noir, but it’s the home of America’s leading producer of premium Pinot Gris, King Estate.  Unlike […]

November 10, 2009 | 3 Comments More
The Stuff of Pork – These Little Piggies Are Full of Fall Flavor

The Stuff of Pork – These Little Piggies Are Full of Fall Flavor

My inspiration for this post was simply a desire to braise some pork in the wonderful cider from Wandering Aengus Ciderworks in Salem. I settled on combining some ingredients and methods from the recipe mentioned in the previous paragraph with another for Stuffed Pork Chops with Roasted Apples and Calvados from Saveur Magazine. Amazingly, all the ingredients came from Oregon.

October 26, 2009 | 0 Comments More