Bobbie Bustamante moved to The Dalles a year and a half ago. She had lived 130 miles east in Pendleton and 975 miles south in Anaheim, California before that. “The Dalles is a place where people really get out of their cars and get outdoors,” says the recreational runner. While the hills surrounding The Dalles offer challenging running workouts, the Columbia River is a relaxing sanctuary for her, her boyfriend and their kids.
In 1950, a flying saucer visited the farm of Paul and Evelyn Trent of McMinnville. The farmer snapped two photos that later became the most famous and scrutinized UFO photos to date. LIFE magazine found it compelling enough to publish the photos and story in its June 26, 1950 edition. McMinnville now holds a well-attended UFO festival May 18-19.
It’s 4 a.m. The aroma of fresh bread comes from flaming ovens. Buttery croissants are rolled, cut and shaped by hand at Ken’s Artisan Bakery in Portland. An hour later, the sweet smell of fresh baguette dough wafts past four bakers in jeans, t-shirts and aprons, their heads down, their floured hands dividing and shaping smooth, long loaves. The oven door clanks as the bread goes in.
Oregon’s fabled outdoor adventures are just out the door – whether it’s heartthumping whitewater on a wild and remote river, a mountain bike ride in old growth timber, a kayak trip to see a Great Blue Heron, surfing at the Oregon coast or fly-fishing from a historical ranch. 1859 carves out some fascinating places for the perfect Oregon weekenders.
In January, with ten anonymous tasters, 1859 Oregon’s Magazine sampled seven different wines at Grochau Cellars, a winery located in the heart of Portland. Get insight into your next wine purchase with comments, descriptions and ratings found on the following pages.
Oregon is limitless when it comes to family adventures—from clean, sandy beaches to lakeside camp grounds and white-blanketed mountains, this state offers kids the chance to play in any region, any time of the year—parents won’t be disappointed either.
Oregon, with all its diverse glory, has myriad options for the couple looking to get away. From sumptuous sensory experiences at the best restaurants and wineries in the Pacific Northwest to adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone.
Blanc is the new black, or more accurately, the new noir. At least that’s what they are saying in Paris, New York, London and of course, Oregon wine country. The French have been making Blanc de noir for centuries, a style of sparkling Champagne made into a colorless wine—and created exclusively from dark grapes (Pinot noir and Pinot munier). French wine is often the inspiration for new wine endeavors in Oregon. Consequently, a handful of Oregon producers decided to give the Blanc a whirl, but with one big omission: no bubbles.
The non-effervescent venture was a success. The trail blazer, Domaine Serene, is set to release their seventh vintage of the glistening, white Pinot this year. Others have followed suit with great success. Anne Amie and Ghost Hill both have Pinot noir blanc currently available and Matello will be releasing their first Blanc de noir in May. Oregon Riesling superstar, Trisaetum Winery and Vineyards, is one of the latest to turn noir to blanc with their inaugural release of the 2010 Pinot noir blanc.
With customers as their muses, the folks at Trisaetum decided to dive in after their club members repeatedly asked for the wine. “My co-winemaker Greg McClellan and I decided we’d use some of our leanings from making six different Rieslings each year, and apply them to making a white wine from Pinot noir clusters,” said James Frey, co-winemaker and proprietor of Trisaetum Winery.
Lose your head and find your heart in Southern Oregon. This vast region encomapsses a top-notch Elizabethan outdoor stage at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the up-and-coming wine-growing regions of the Umpqua and Applegate valleys, and, to the east, Crater Lake. If you decide to spend your Oregon vacation here, don’t forget to float the Rogue, attend Paisley’s famed Mosquito Festival, tour some Southern Oregon caves, wine taste in rustic Roseburg and explore Ashland’s chocolate culture. And if time permits, make a day of it at Mt. Ashland either skiing or snowboarding.
