Finding a bottle of top-quality Pinot noir in Oregon is easy, fortunately for you. As Oregon Wine Month concludes, you could easily go out and purchase a bottle of local Pinot noir in your favorite restaurant or wine shop. But don’t limit yourself to the famed grape. Rhône varietals thrive in Oregon, due in part to the diversity of Oregon’s weather.
Memorial Day weekend is the turning point of the season, making short days of rain and cold a thing of the past. It’s a weekend filled with optimism, looking forward to long days spent outside. Oregonians have a special appreciation for the sun and the many ways we get to enjoy it in the summer months.
A label is only the surface-level story of the wine. A winemaker’s job, besides making the best wine possible with a given vintage, is often to be the face of the brand. Winemakers attend wine dinners near and far, and participate in market tastings to acquaint potential consumers with their wines. With so many bottles on the shelf to choose from, it’s not easy to develop brand loyalty. Opportunities that allow the winemaker to display his or her personality and create a faithful fan are often what bring people back to the same wines each year. Discovering how a winemaker puts their touch on the wine requires one to look beyond the label on the bottle.
The ancient Latin phrase in vino veritas, “in wine there is truth,” is particularly relevant for the wine experience in Oregon. Do the North Willamette Wine Trail, take in stellar views of Mt. Hood while sipping internationally recognized, award-winning wines, and discover why this is truly one of the best experiences Oregon offers. photo by Paul Loofburrow It all awaits on the way to the coast or as a destination in itself. The North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend (April 13-14) is but one high point in a place that epitomizes the good life in Oregon, and it reaches the height of popularity in spring and summer. It’s all laid out on the Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route, a 60-mile drive along winding country roads through the lush Tualatin Valley from Sherwood to Swiss-settled Helvetia. photo by Allison George This Oregon Scenic Byway showcases Washington County’s embarrassment of…
Whether you’re falling in love with Oregon’s wild, dramatic landscape for the first time, or you consider it an essential part of who you are, seeing it is one thing. To fully know it, one must taste it. And grapes, or more precisely, wine, is the single best way to do that.
It’s always around this time of year that the conversation starts in my house. What to do about Valentine’s Day? I, like many women, try and pretend that it isn’t important to me, but if the day rolled around and there wasn’t at least a card and a flower picked from some bush, I would probably have my feelings a little hurt. I mean, who doesn’t like to be showered with affection and sometimes roses and champagne?
Say “Be Mine” with Wine
Long cold winter days practically beg for cozy romantic getaways to warm both your heart and soul. But you don’t need to head to a tropical location to turn up the heat in your love life; this Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s pointing his arrow straight at Oregon Wine Country. Rediscover the romance in your relationship and watch the sparks fly when you plan a romantic getaway for you and your special sweetheart to any of the following wine country inns.
The whirlwind of the holiday season has passed, but winter is just beginning. With the holiday season behind you, you might find yourself looking for wine-related things to do; for your amusement, to entertain visiting guests, or just to escape the blustery weather. Good news, you’ve come to right place. I’ve compiled a list just for you that is chalk full of activities to bring you cheer in the New Year. Though there might not be any grapes left on the vines to see, and the Valley views could be obscured by a thick layer of clouds, a visit to a local winery this time of year is still a good idea. Many of them are open year-round (call to ensure the one you want to visit is open). Rest assured, you’ll be warmed by a delicious glass of wine and a dose of friendly hospitality when you arrive. Dundee…
Don’t panic this holiday season; the perfect gift is actually out there. For oenophiles who want to take their grape love to the gifting level, here’s a list of carefully chosen wine-related gifts. Each item is crafted with wine in mind by Oregon artisans. A bottle, gift pack or gift certificate for a tasting from any of the region’s finest wineries is surely appreciated, but a creative wine gift might just put you down in history as the best gift giver ever. Be forewarned, you’ll forever be expected to gift über cool presents. Are you ready for the challenge?
