Because we live in Oregon we stuck with cool wines that are abundantly available here.  You can find these specific wines and these general grapes and styles anywhere.

We think a hallmark of a good summer wine is it can be enjoyed with or without food.  A porch swing, outdoor concert, or picnic summer wine should be as good paired with just a glass and friends as with a meal.

Check out our segment on KGW’s Portland Today and then keep reading for more details on these perfect for summer wines.  Y’all will have to forgive the fact that I am feverish in this video and have lost my voice – darn awful summer cold.

Summer Wines – Rose

While we think rose can be a year round wine, it comes into its own as a summer wine.  Just the array of colors reminds of summer gardens in full bloom.  We selected:

2017 Duck Pond Fries Family Cellars Rose of Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $20

Ballerina pink with light floral and and strawberry notes. Crisp, refreshing, citrusy and light.

See Rose Roundup for some other rose recommendations.

Summer Wines – Pinot Gris

We love pinot gris for summer wines because it is fruity and rich but still has refreshing acid.  While most made in Oregon fit this description, this grape can also be tart and citrusy.

Buyer’s Tip: If you want stone fruit and richness ask your wine steward for an Alsatian style Pinot Gris.  If you want tart and citrusy ask for an Italian style Pinot Gris aka Pinot Grigio. 

We selected:

2017 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris Willamette Valley $19

Rich with stone fruit and melon.

Summer Wines – Pinot Noir

Red wine lovers, don’t despair!  You can have your summer wine and your red wine too!  Pinot Noir typically has less drying tannin than bigger reds like Cabernet Sauvignon.  This makes it much more sippable for summer.  If you find one that says “Whole Cluster” this will be lighter with fresher fruits and less tannin. It can even be served slightly chilled!

Buyer’s Tip: Pinot Noir is a good choice for a red summer wine. Even better, look for one that says “Whole Cluster” on the label.

We selected:

2017 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $24

Raspberry, cherry, vanilla, and juiciness.

What are some of your favorite summer wines?

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Horse or Wine?

Instilled Regard 

Nautical Dawn 

Velvet Fury  Yup not  , 

Playing Favorites 

Vino Rosso   Seriously  NOT 

Chance Meeting 

Promises Fulfilled 

Whole Lotta Love 

Magnum Moon 

Black Diamond 

Vesper Bell 

Credit David Shaerer

2018 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Auction – by the numbers

Total earnings – $800,000, not the $250+ million of the Kentucky Derby but not bad.

Average price per bottle – $124

Top 5 Lots:

• Antica Terra “Alder Creek” Pinot noir (5 cases): $33,000
• Zena Crown Vineyard “Barrel and Foot” Pinot noir (5 cases): $24,000
• Alexana Estate Winery “By A Landslide” Pinot noir (5 cases): $20,000
• Hyland Estates “The Perfect Pair” Pinot noir (10 cases): $20,000
• Bethel Heights “Vesper Bell” Pinot noir (5 cases): $19,000

Let’s unpack that $33,000 bid.  That equals $550 a bottle, $110 per glass, $22 per swallow.

And they’ll do it all again next year – April 6, 2019.  You have to be wine trade to attend but if that happens to describe you, ask for a ticket.  It is a jolly good time. www.willamettewines.auction.

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photo credit Oregon Wine Press

2015 R Stuart & Co. Autograph Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

A soft, fruit forward Pinot Noir with lots of acid.  Enjoy now or see where it goes.  Expect sweet cherry, candied raspberry, cinnamon, a bit of blueberry and dried strawberry.  Long refreshing finish $60

2015 Erath Estate Selection Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

A fruit forward Pinot Noir with blueberry and raspberry aromas sweetened with cinnamon and floral notes and grounded with dusty minerality.  The fruit becomes plum, strawberry, and red delicious apple on the palate where it is met with a citrusy acidity and a bitter little bite of black pepper on the finish.  Well rounded and well structured. $34

2015 Arbor Brook Vineyards Estate 777 Block Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains

Quote of the tasting, “It’s a little weird but I dig it.”  A complex layering of inviting fruit, spicy pepper, and something herbaceous.  Warm cherry pie filling and candy apple meets white pepper and dried oregano on the nose.  The savory notes take center stage on the palate with a long peppery finish and a grippy, yet fine textured tannin. $55

2015 Durant Vineyards at Red Ridge Lark Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

Light, elegant, and feminine.  The nose is raspberry, red currant, floral, mineral, and woodsy spicy lavender.  Floral notes show strongest on the palate where they are deepened with the flavors of cherry vanilla cola.  A juicy acidity appears mid palate to add some lift and spreads across the long spicy finish.  Store it or pour it.  Lovely either way. $30

2015 Kramer Vineyards Rebecca’s Reserve Pinot Noir Yamhill – Carlton

Spice and earth define this Pinot Noir.  Aromas of tangerine zest, cherry, dried mint, and orange scented tea leaves get a hint of fall with warm mulling spice like cinnamon. Black pepper and green cardamon make an appearance on the palate as well as fresh cool forest flavors and sassafras.  Sturdy structure and a long, earthy finish. $48

2015 Longplay Jory Bench Reserve Lia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains

The tastes of autumn.  Dried orange peel, cinnamon, cloves, red fruit compote and brown sugar entice the nose.  The palate does not disappoint as these aromas are joined with a little strawberry lift and a minty sweetness that lingers on the finish.  Ready to drink in its youth. $38

2015 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

Seductive, elegant, understated, and stately.  Light fresh bing cherry, toasted oats, and a dried woody herb – maybe tarragon with that fun little whiff of licorice.  The flavors meld and concentrate on the palate with a dash of white pepper, a floral essence, and a springy acidity. Approachable even in its youth. $32

2015 Bradley Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir Elkton

There should be a glass of this wine waiting by the leather chair in your library.  Masculine aromas of tobacco, dusty minerality, smoked meat, toasted wood, and thyme.  The palate speaks to you in a deep voice and promises cocoa, stewed blackberries, orange zest, and just a hint of cherry.  $32

2015 Torii Mor Reserve Deux Verres Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

A sultry wine with a depth and maturity beyond its age.  Leather, plum sauce, dried fruit, and smoke meld on an already well integrated palate.  A bright cranberry flavored acidity keeps it fresh.  Sweetened notes of strawberry, toast, cola, vanilla, and marzipan on the nose. $38

2015 Knudsen Vineyards Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

Rich, saturated, and ready to tuck in and enjoy this winter.  A nose of dusty minerality, earth, bark, roasted coffee, walnut skin, leather, and dried flowers.  Concentrated cherry and plum swirl with cola, milk chocolate, smoke, and coconut on a substantial structure with a zingy acidity.  $70

2015 William Rose Pinot Noir Oregon

Wild and fresh with blueberry, mint, green peppercorn, oolong tea leaves and rainforest on the nose.  The palate begins with sour cherry that ripens midway and becomes jammier and darkens to blueberry through the finish.  The green peppercorn makes a spicy encore and a fresh acidity keeps everything lively. $28

2015 Whitetail Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir Umpqua Valley

Big, dark, and brooding in appearance, structure, and flavor. A complex nose of cherry and blackberry, marzipan, coconut, toast, leather, coffee, and tobacco.  Mixed berry essence and sweet pipe tobacco are carried on substantial, yet balanced tannin and acid. $23

A version of this article appeared in Oregon Wine Press.

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The Austins offer a glass of their wine to one of the many llamas on their property.  Photo by Andrea Johnson

This is merely part of the story at Rain Dance Vineyards as told by owners Celia and Ken Austin III, a layered narrative full of practical choices with whimsical outcomes — whimsy guests get to experience at their Chehalem Mountains tasting room.

The Austins initially moved to their current property almost 40 years ago to find a quiet place to raise their family. A desire to protect the land urged the couple to expand the acreage to 120, 73 of which are now planted to vines on four estate sites.

But before grapes, there were animals, more than 125 championship llamas. Ken discovered on a wilderness trip how these creatures make excellent pack animals. “I guess we were lazy,” he laughed. Llamas help protect livestock from coyotes and dogs. They also are great at eating blackberries, poison oak and Scotch broom back until the plants die — and, let’s face it, they are way better behaved than goats. So, in 1991 Rain Dance Ranch was established.

A visit to the tasting room includes an introduction to Oscar and Bonzi, the ranch’s PR llamas. They’re particularly taken with guests who feed them — and, of course, you will feed them. What a childlike delight to feel their soft little chins against your palm. From the patio, the females appear in the field, sometimes frolicking with their babies. After shearing, they boast a funny hairdo described as a “poodle cut” — it looks more like a crew-cut/dreadlock combo, but llamas don’t mind.

You may already own a Rain Dance llama souvenir if you have a Pendleton blanket. If not, you can buy one at the tasting room along with other llama-inspired and wine country gifts, including examples of Ken’s beautiful woodwork.

Bill Stoller of Stoller Family Estate snagged one of Ken’s first large pieces, a black walnut table on display at the winery. Ken also made the chef’s table and private dining table at Jory inside The Allison Inn & Spa. His work often comes with a story or a small surprise. “The chef’s table at Jory has one bullet and two bullet holes,” Ken explained with a mischievous smile.

The Austins’ Oregon roots run deep through five generations. A-dec, a longtime employer in Newberg, was started by Ken’s parents.

The Allison started as a dream of Ken’s mother, Joan Austin, and the family still owns and operates the local treasure. The small vineyard established at the hotel in 2008 was a precursor to Rain Dance Vineyard, planted just a year later. The family’s stewardship of the land and an evaluation of one of their parcels for a vineyard site made grapegrowing an obvious enterprise — with or without llamas stuffed with blackberry shoots. The initial plan was to sell the fruit through closely nurtured grower-producer relationships with quality wineries such as Adelsheim, Alexana, Anam Cara, King Estate and Edgefield.

After the first year of selling fruit, one client declined to purchase a block, a fortuitous event.

“We then approached Alexana about producing wine for us [under] our own label because we felt the fruit was too good to go to waste,” Ken explained.

In 2015, Rain Dance transformed into more than just a ranch, with the release of their first wine, Rain Dance Estate 2013 Pinot Noir.

Production started and remains small, with 700 to 800 cases a year. At Celia’s request, they also offer a Gewürztraminer, plus a Riesling, Chardonnay and rosé of Pinot Noir. All see some level of wood and are highly extracted for structure and texture.

They could probably grow more fruit but have opted to nurture native oaks and Madrones, not to mention plant white oak seedlings, black walnuts and maples, with plans for western Ponderosa pines, as well. A wildlife corridor will also be added to their new vineyard, Foothills.

A vintage truck rests in front of Rain Dance Vineyards’ tasting room in Newberg. Photo by Andrea Johnson

A visit to Rain Dance offers a real treat, with the Austins’ passions on full display. Feed their llamas. Drink their wine. Enjoy Celia’s gardens. Relax by the fireplace in Ken’s handcrafted rocking chair. And check out one of Ken’s classic cars on site.

So much to see, do, sip and shop, Rain Dance is a must-stop.

This article originally appeared in Oregon Wine Press.

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Note that not only did these wines past a blind tasting selection but we also tasted them again 6 days later with no preservation or refrigeration between. We literally shoved the corks back in and set them on a counter.  Many held up quite nicely.  I don’t know that you necessarily want to hold these 15 years and hope they change for the better but it will be a long time before their bright beauty fades if stored properly.  Those with an (*) kept their shape. Big Table Farm, Calamity Hill, and Reustle Prayer Rock held up the best to our countertop challenge.

*2014 Reustle Prayer Rock Winemaker’s Reserve Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir Looking for a soft, supple Pinot to sip fireside?  Aromas of soothing fresh mint, tea leaves, and toasted oak are joined by melty milk chocolate on the palate.  Finishes with cherry so incredibly bright you have to go back for more. 340 cases; $39

2014 Cubanísimo  Rumba Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Reminiscent of fall flavors – juicy baked apple seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice with notes of cranberries and bramble fruit.  A smooth and delightful experience. 560 cases; $25.

* 2014 Left Coast Cellars Right Bank Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Cherry cherry boberry – but in a very sophisticated format.  The cherry flavor presents as  simmered, concentrated, and fruit leather.  Notes of raspberry, eucalyptus, and slate round out the profile.  Full and rich with enough tannin to hold its own with lamb, the flavors blossom into a long balanced finish.  275 cases; $42

2014 Bluebird Hill Cellars Zenith Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with notes of cherry and white pepper.   Tart, savory, and spicy with a hint of salinity.  Light and bright with a long flavorful finish. 38 cases: $32

*2014 Brandborg Vineyards and Winery Hundredth Valley Elkton Pinot Noir  A little shy at first, give it a minute and this wine will reward you with cherry, forest floor, dried tea leaves, and a vanilla tinged finish.  Approachable, yet nuanced and perfect for pairing. 162 cases; $30

*2014 Calamity Hill Garden Shed Red Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir This wine is tantric.  It does not stop and you don’t want it to.  Raspberry, mint, unsweetened cocoa powder and cola on the nose.  The chocolate notes repeat on the palate with cran-raspberry juice.  Big and balanced it bursts, melds, and lingers. Yes, please. 45 cases; $29 PS You may need to get there before us if you want any.

*2014 Aubichon Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Notice the cherry, clove, mushrooms, dried herbs and tobacco.  Did you miss it?  Try again, it’s all there just blended so beautifully you may forget to dissect it.  Go ahead and enjoy this pure drinking experience. 71 cases; $50.

2014 Kramer Vineyards Heritage Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir A base of cherry wood centers this wine and allows space to build layers of cranberry, orange zest, spice, blueberry, and rich soil.  Acid and tannin take a practiced spin around the dance floor performing in perfect rhythm. 125 cases; $45

2014 Duck Pond Fries Family Cellars South Salem Hills Cuvee Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Pretty, fruity berry flavors – marionberry, boysenberry, lingonberry are warmed with cinnamon and marzipan.  Rose leaf tea and lilies add to the feminine mystique.  A full palate that grows throughout the finish. 146 cases; $28.

*2014 Coeur de Terre Vineyard Heritage Reserve Estate McMinnville Pinot Noir Timid in the beginning this savory, complex Pinot opens up with blackberry, plum sauce and leather. The finish is long and flavored with dried culinary herbs. 728 cases; $36.

*2014 Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Expressing the delicate nuance of Pinot Noir, fresh and lively strawberry, raspberry, rose petals and dried sage with an acid burst and a deeper cola undertone. 2000 cases; $42.

*2014 Armonéa Russell Grooters Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir The unmistakable and gorgeous presence of blueberry from beginning to end melds with bay leaf, white floral notes, and rich earthy undertones.  Concentrated and smooth on the palate with balanced acidity and a long finish. 275 cases; $40

*2014 Hawkins Cellars Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir Pinot gets uber masculine and offers a full olfactory experience that makes you want to lean in and breath deep.  Meat, leather, cranberry and coffee on the nose lead to dark cherry, black licorice and coffee grounds on the palate.  Bright but with enough muscle to grip you tight, hold you steady, and finish long. 160 cases; $32.

*2014 Alloro Vineyard  Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir From the first aromatic encounter to the last lingering flavors, this wine delivers a consistent strain of bramble berry.  Bready notes of baguette mix with notes of cedar, earth, leather and mushrooms to create a complex experience.  Rich and full with a long finish. 1600 cases; $35

*2014 Joleté Cuvée Select Willamette Valley Pinot Noir  Rosé-like quaffability… plus. Bright and light with cherry, spice and cranberry.  Easy to pair or sip on the patio. 290 cases; $30

*2014 Dobbes Family Estates Grand Assemblage Willamette Valley Pinot Noir The dark and brooding stranger that is so attractive you have to tap his shoulder and introduce yourself. You are glad you did when his face crinkles with a welcoming, approachable grin. Aromas of cranberry, slate, stone, orange zest and tobacco fill your nose.  The palate presents an undercurrent of mature red fruit, tobacco, and baking chocolate.  A Pinot to go with steak. 2800 cases; $28 No, Joe Dobbes,  I was not thinking of you when I wrote this note, but you do have a nice smile.

2014 Spindrift Cellars OSU Woodhall III Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir The softer side of Pinot with aromas of plum, cranberry, floral, and the vanilla spice that comes from fresh cut wood.  On the palate ripe strawberry, sour cherry, and a long gentle finish that quiets and fades like the last notes of a musical performance or the last drops of a still and steady rain. 168 cases; $26

#drinkinginoregon #drinkinginor #drinkinginthenw

A version of this article appeared in Oregon Wine Press.

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The article, of which I am still quite proud, was called Appellation Pinot.  In it I interviewed winemakers from all of Oregon’s AVAs to discover the varied expressions of Pinot Noir. Mr. Adelsheim felt my efforts were “premature” and suggested waiting until a three vintage study was completed by an OSU (Oregon State University) enologist.

I learned that Adelsheim Vineyard had released a Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir, not to highlight the differences of the AVA’s  three main soil types ,but to highlight the AVAs commonalities.  I thought David was finally ready to define Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir.  Nope, not really. Dave Paige, Adelsheim Vineyard’s winemaker, said, “When a producer tells you why a wine tastes the way it does it is complete bullshit.”  You gotta love Dave.

Actually Chehalem Mountains is one of  the more difficult AVAs to define because it includes three different soil types; marine sedimentary, volcanic basalt, and wind blown loess.  Dave  recalls tasting through the different Willamette Valley appellations with a group of wine retailers to determine the AVA’s flavor profile.  “We could identify a familiar strain within 3-6 wines in the other AVAs but it took a dozen for Chehalem Mountains.”

Se if we aren’t nailing down the Chehalem flavor then what is Breaking Ground all about?  It is a celebration of sorts, a wine to honor the AVA and to mark Adelsheim’s long history in the area.  In 1971 Adelsheim purchased the second vineyard site in what would become the Chehalem Mountains AVA.  They established the 1st winery in Chehalem Mountains in 1975.  Today Adelsheim Vineyards farms and manages over 180 estate acres in Chehalem Mountains across 7 vineyard sites.  “In many ways,” explains David , “we are the only ones qualified to tell the story [of the AVA].”

And according to David and Dave that story is of commonality through variety.  Breaking Ground encompasses all 3 soils of the AVA, elevation from 200-800 feet, different harvest dates, 11 clones, 4 rootstocks.  All blended together the wine revealed itself without a predestined intention and continues to evolve.  Dave explains, “It different than 6 months ago.  It is getting leaner and more focused.  We are as much of a spectator as you are.”  Adelsheim points out that it expresses the purity of fruit of a single vineyard wine.

It is the first new label from Adelsheim Vineyard since 2005.  There’s only about 1800 cases but it is distributed so you can get a taste of Chehalem Mountains from a stellar producer for $45.  Just, for goodness sakes don’t ask them to explain why it tastes the way it does.

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Observe with me Illahe Vineyard’s 1899 Expedition 2014 Pinot Noir.  Small winery, family owned and operated, minimal intervention, blah blah, not an unusual story for Oregon.  Illahe takes this “back to nature” lifestyle a few trots further by using horses to mow and to deliver grapes to the winery at harvest.    Since they already had the horses, winemaker Brad Ford, decided to see if he could complete the entire winemaking process with no electricity or machinery.  Ford explains, “We did this to challenge ourselves and to see if the process truly made a difference in the wines.”

Per usual the grapes were hand picked and brought to the winery by horse.  (Warning the next four sentences are technical but there is a canoe party at the end so bear with me or skip to the next paragraph.)  The grapes were destemmed by hand and the wine was placed into wooden fermenters where it went through fermentation spontaneously. It was hand pressed in a wood basket press, bicycle pumped into barrel, and encouraged through malolactic fermentation without inoculation.  It was hand bottled and hand corked with no gas. The 1899 never touched dry ice, canned nitrogen, enzymes, stainless steel, forklifts, packaged yeast, electric pumps or filters.

Wine in hand, you still gotta sell it, so off to the distributor it goes.  Google Maps says this 63 mile trip can be completed in a little over 1 hour by car and almost a full day by foot.  The mapping app does not have an estimate for canoe.  The Illahe team brought the wine, by stagecoach no less, to the Willamette River in Independence, Oregon, floated it away in a basket, and watched from behind a bush until an Egyptian Princess rescued it.  Wait, wrong ending.   They canoed the wine for three days to Portland and then biked it to the distributor.

And I was waiting  for the canoes at the docks in Portland, in a dress and kitten heels, in the sun, because who doesn’t want to witness real life Portlandia?  Of course a tasting party followed, complete with bearded and mustachioed men, women sporting shagged bobs, lots of plaid and logo t-shirts, and people not speaking first unless they know you.

Does the wine taste different?  Yes, to me it did.  The unusual winemaking process provided more opportunity for oxygen to influence the wine.  The result was a wine that was mature for its age in both appearance and flavor.  More brownish than ruby with dried fruit notes.  I am probably crazy but if I closed my eyes I would swear I had a cocktail mixed with an aged tequila (I got notes of wood and blue agave), sweet vermouth, and walnut bitters.

Only 200 cases, if you want to try some you can order directly from Illahe ($65)  but who knows you may have to live near a canoe dock.  It is also distributed in small amounts to Texas, Missouri, California, Idaho, West Tennessee, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama, Washington, Arizona, Georgia, New York, Louisiana,  and South Carolina.

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Leah Jorgensen Cellars

Leah Jorgenson Cellars

Leah Jorgenson’s genuine grin and enthusiasm are contagious and her Loire inspired wines are addictive.  Perhaps the only producer in the world of a white Cabernet Franc, Jorgenson also crafts Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, a Gamay dominant red blend, and a traditional Cabernet Franc. Jorgenson was inspired to pursue her Loire style Oregon wines by Earl Jones of Abacela Winery and his use of geological evidence to support the planting of Spanish varietals in the Umpqua Valley.  “I don’t know that I would have done this were it not for Earl,” Jorgenson shared. Focusing mostly on vineyards in the Rogue and Applegate Valleys, Jorgenson works with limestone soils encrusted with 250 million year old marine fossils, similar to the tuffeau soils of the Loire Valley.  She currently makes 1000 cases. “I want to maintain the fun, curiosity, and enjoyment of the experience,” claimed Jorgenson.  Visit  http://leahjorgensencellars.com to purchase wine and make tasting appointments.

A Cheerful Note

Impassioned by winemaking Ariel Cristina Eberle worked her way up the ranks to become the Assistant Winemaker at Yamhill Valley Vineyards.  But she had to have her own label.  Taste the wine, hear the story of her label design, and you will know why.  A Cheerful Note is such a reflection of her.  The image on the label represents the Greek Phrase “Kalos Kagathos” which means, the singular balance between good and beautiful.  Eberle says this phrase captures her goal for herself and her wine. The font is a reproduction of her late Mother’s handwriting, both a tribute and reminder.

The complete 2013 production of A Cheerful Note is 47 cases of one Pinot Noir.  Reflecting the depth of Eberle’s connection, the grapes were the product of vines she helped plant, on her hands and knees, in 2009.  Seeing her dream come true she felt she had to give something back.   “I make booze for a living.  I need to contribute something back to society,” explains Eberle. She donates 10% of profits to Ecotrust and Boys and Girls Aid. Contact Eberle to purchase wine or learn where she will pour next. http://acheerfulnote.com

Darryl Joannides – Viola Wine Cellars

Viola Wine Cellars

Darryl Joannides says that winemaking is his ninth or tenth career. “I’ve always wanted to do different things and am the type of person who just does them,” says Joannides.  With a focus on Italian inspired wines made with Northwest grapes, Joannides produced 1000 cases in 2015.  “I will have to scale that back a little. It pushed the limits of what I can do in my 500 square foot garage.”  Expect reds inspired by the Northwest Italy and whites patterned after Northeast Italy.   His Barbera and Dolcetto are made in stainless steel.  His whites, like his Sauvignon Blanc dominant blend Bianco d’Allegre, are typically fermented on skin and bring a high level of acid with texture and tannin.  Casa Viola Rosso, hIs house red blend of Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, and Primitivo tastes just like the house wine served by the carafe in a ristorante in Italy.  When the waiter asks if you want a carafe, you answer “si” and you don’t worry what is in it because it taste so authentic and delicious.  Tastings are in the Portland tasting room Fridays or by appointment. http://violawines.com

Justin Paul Russell from Jasper Sisco

Jasper Sisco Wines

The idea behind Jasper Sisco Wines is “natural, affordable, and accessible.”  Justin Paul Russell grew up in what he calls a “Southern nuclear family.”  Forget 2.5 kids, his house was full of extended family who lived off the big backyard garden. Sustainable land use was just a way of life and today he seeks vineyard partners that are an extension of his mission to produce natural wines.  Sourcing from six Willamette Valley vineyards and three Columbia Valley sites Russell crafts Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cinsault Rose.  He also makes Gratus Bynum, an Alsatian style white blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Muscat.  Russell plans to grow his business to 3500-4000 cases and is building a tasting room in Portland to open by the end of the year.  In the meantime his wines are available at the SE Wine Collective.  http://www.jaspersiscowines.com

Sheri Hood The Pressing Plant

The Pressing Plant

What does one do for an encore after killing it as a band manager in New York’s rock scene?  Move across the country.  Catch the wine bug.  Literally Google “wine school” and go get a degree from UC Davis.  But you can’t stop the music so Sheri Hood of The Pressing Plant makes “mixed tapes” to capture the vibe of the winemaking process and uses music to describe her wine. Bryter Layter is named after a Nick Drake album and sets the expectation for bright sunny Chardonnay.  “Music is as much a feeling as a sound just like wine is a feeling not just a taste,” explains Hood.

The Pressing Plant strikes a chord with quality and price point.  It is next to impossible to find a $20 Pinot Noir or Chardonnay that you could peg as authentically Oregon with your eyes closed.  Hood currently makes 800 cases. Find her wines at most New Seasons, Oregon Wines on Broadway, and special events. http://www.pressingplantwine.com

Weinbau Paetra

William (Bill) Hooper is one of two Americans to graduate the German Wine and Agricultural school in Neustadt an der Weinstraße in the past 115 years. If chemistry and biology sound difficult, try studying them in German. Not to mention all the German swear words he had to learn. A taste of 1998 J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese inspired him to study.. “It was like tasting a guitar-solo of apples and steel. ALIVE! I had to get to the bottom of it,” recalls Hooper. Upon returning to the states he found in Willamette Valley the soil and climate he desired for Riesling. He farms four acres scattered across Eola-Amity HIlls, Yamhill and the Coast Range. “I like to play with soils and clones to make the wine as divergent as possible,” explains Hooper. He touches every vine, grape, and bottle in the European tradition of the vineyard manager and winemaker being one in the same.  “It is like writing and directing your own play instead of being handed a script,” he explains.  Remember the control freak component of this? Hooper currently produces 900 cases, FIVE different Rieslings (and a Pinot Blanc), most of which lean to a drier Alsatian style. Contact Hooper for tasting appointments. http://paetrawine.com/index.html

A version of this story originally appeared in Oregon Wine Press.

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At Decanter’s 2016 World Wine Awards (DWWA) Domaine Serene’s 2012 Winery Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir beat out 6 grand cru and 26 premier cru Burgundian Pinot Noir to grab the coveted top honor of Platinum Best in Show for Pinot Noir over £15.  Winery Hill Estate is home to Domaine Serene’s winery and hospitality facilities in Dundee Hills.

Winery Hill. Harris says, “We were very creative naming our vineyards.” Ha Ha.

Domaine Serene  is certainly not new to recognition as a top producer.  In 2013, the Domaine Serene 2010 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir was the Wine Spectator’s top-ranked Pinot Noir in the World, and #3 in their Top-100 ranking of all wines that year.

This award from the acclaimed UK wine magazine, Decanter, was a particularly great coup.  Sixteen thousand wines were submitted. A panel of 240 of the world’s best palates, including 69 Masters of Wine and 26 Master Sommeliers conducted the blind judging.   Less than 2% of all international medal winners were from the United States; and only 5 out of the total 539 gold and platinum medal-winners were American. Domaine Serene took home a total of eight medals from the competition, including one silver medal and six bronze medal honors, the most of any American winery.

Just like the reality tv bachelorette who got the rose, Domaine Serene learned of the victory a month before the news went public.  They got an email from Steven Spurrier, current chair of DWWA 2016 and the person who organized the Judgement of Paris that launched California into international fame 40 years ago.

“We were excited,” shared Ryan Harris, President at Domaine Serene and their Burgundy winery Château de la Crée, “but not surprised.”  Domaine Serene has believed in Oregon since the 1980’s.  When winery founders Ken and Grace Evenstad scoured the west coast for a place to produce world class Pinot Noir they found 42 acres in Dundee Hills.  There was a lot working against them.  In 1989, advisors said not to plant on the west side.  A portion of the award winning Evenstad Estate faces west.   They were warned they would not be able to sell more than 5% of their wine outside of Oregon.  They sold 95% out of state their first year. They said they would never be able to ripen grapes above 600 feet. Winery Hill Estate stretches from 775-930 feet.  In fact Harris attributes the award in part to the elevation.  “This wine struck a chord with the panel’s European palates because even in the warm dry vintage conditions of 2012, there was great balance.”

Harris also highlights the winemaking team and the involvement of Ken and Grace Evenstad.  “Diversity, breadth of knowledge, and experience make this Domaine Serene’s strongest winemaking team in 27 years.”  Erik Kramer, Director of Winemaking and Viticulture, leads  the team in a practice they call “drinking and thinking.”  The blending never stops at Domaine Serene and the Evenstads continue to be an integral part of the process, even logging long hours at the sorting table.  The Evenstads’ “in the trenches” dedication has always been part of Domaine Serene.   For the first eight years they did not have any full time employees and Grace personally hand labelled and corked every bottle until they exceeded 12,000 bottles. “There is no ego, just collaboration and a focus on quality,” said Harris.

Erik Kramer with Grace and Ken Evenstad

At Domaine Serene they have always pushed forward, practicing their business philosophy of “continuous improvement.”  According to Harris, after a little celebration of this great achievement the team basically said,  “This is great.  What next?”

Harris predicts that one thing to follow is even greater recognition of Oregon as a world class Pinot Noir producer.  The more people who experience Oregon wine, the better.  “Once they taste, the wines will speak for themselves,” predicts Harris.  Domaine Serene will also be the featured Pinot Noir at the Riedel exhibition to show off the quality of their special Pinot Noir wine glass at the 2016 Decanter Fine Wine Encounter.

For those wishing to taste this award winning wine, sadly unless it is in your cellar, you are too late.  Released almost exclusively to wine club members and tasting room visitors the only remaining bottles are archived at Domaine Serene.  The 2013 vintage will be released this summer for those who wish to visit the winery and taste. To learn more about Domaine Serene visit https://www.domaineserene.com

Photos courtesy of Domaine Serene.

The post The Best Pinot In the World from Oregon’s Domaine Serene appeared first on Tasting Pour by Jade Helm.

The Campbells have farmed in Oregon for 5 generations and have been part of the wine industry for four decades.  I met Elk Cove’s founder, Mr. Joe Campbell at a lunch recently.  He told a “back in the day” story when they worked with a primitive 50 year old  electric forklift that they could only use inside and pressed 200 tons through a press that could handle only 1 ton at a time.  They were old school.

Elk Cove is now a big winery by Oregon’s standards and one of the few Oregon producers who distribute part of their label all over the country.  If you know and like them, be on the lookout for the Pike Road label.  If you haven’t tried any of their wines, this is a good place to start.  It is hard to find good Pinot Noir, especially good Oregon Pinot Noir, for $20.  Add that both wines are handpicked Willamette Valley fruit, mostly from estate vineyards, and you just got a hell of a deal.

2014 Pike Road Pinot Noir; Suggested Retail $20

Concentrated black raspberry with pronounced oak makes this wine smell like something you just want to drink. It won’t make you cry from complexity but it also won’t make you cry from bankruptcy.  Soft tannins and an easy to drink style will make this wine welcome at your table often.  Drink, enjoy, repeat.

2015 Pike Road Pinot Gris, Suggested Retail $16

Fruit forward, but the crisper fruits of a Pinot Grigio style wine – citrus and pear.  Mineral notes, refreshing acidity, and a clean finish.  A good pairing for garden green salads and creamy cheeses with a  bit of salinity – think brie or St. Andre.

Samples provided.  All opinions are my own.

The post Elk Cove Releases New Label: Pike Road appeared first on Tasting Pour by Jade Helm.