November 25th, 2009 by Angie Marsh
I set out to sample just what some of the wines and spirits of Washington County taste like, and got sips galore.
One weekend ahead of the Thanksgiving crowd, I began my Saturday jaunt at SakéOne, which a road sign identifies as a “sakéry.” I knew it as the premiere saké brewer in this country, but had never been there. My group was welcomed warmly by several staff members, and soon the warmth of the saké itself seemed to be coursing through my veins. The Momokawa Ruby had the crisp mouthfeel I associate with quality saké, and the Premium Oregon Genshu, or “G Joy” as it’s termed, tasted so good to my group of six that we purchased two bottles. I was then told it is 18 percent alcohol by volume. Phew! That didn’t stop me from sampling a flight of “sakétinis”—the G Nut, Hot White and Blue Diamond—which combined the sake with delicious ingredients such as fresh blueberries and white chocolate syrup. I love my dessert in drink form.
At this point I was grateful for two things: a designated driver and maps plotting the next destinations.
From there we headed to nearby Montinore Estate—driving only briefly on the Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route, which I made a note to explore in its entirety through Washington County. Perched on a hill, Montinore has a regal feel with its estate gardens and views stretching across the valley. The tasting room was pleasant, and my group’s consensus was that the best, boldest wine we tried there was the 2007 Graham’s Block 7 Pinot Noir.
Next up was nearby Plum Hill Vineyards, which is new as of February 2009. We were greeted by a friendly dog, who escorted us to the tasting area, where his even friendlier owner gave us generous pours. Turns out that the planting and harvesting of grapes is full of trials and tribulations, and we learned about future plans to space the grapes further apart, which will yield different distinctions in the wines–particularly the aftertaste. We agreed that the Barrel Select Pinot Noir we sampled was just right.
Onward and upward–up a steep climb to Gaston’s nearby Patton Valley Vineyard. The quaint tasting room gave way to wines that are segmented based on their slope on the property—and are anything but quaint. Though the 2007 Patton Valley Pinot Noir is described as a nose of ‘damp forest floor’, it tasted exquisite to me, as did the black cherry-like 2007 West Block Pinot Noir. All hail Oregon Pinot.
Then it was on to our last stop, the bustling Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston. Truth be told, I have no (legible) notes from Elk Cove. I did take a photo and was told the property is teeming with flowers in the warmer months. I was also able to discern the aroma and flavor of crisp green apple in the 2006 Estate Riesling—my favorite.
Sustainability was also a common theme in my jaunt: Montinore is producing Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine, Patton Valley’s operation was fully certified as sustainable in the 2006 vintage by the organization Low Input Viticulture and Eneology (LIVE), Plum Hill uses sustainable vineyard practices that emphasize flavor over production volume, and Elk Cove uses sustainable agricultural practices on all its vineyards such as hand-harvesting.
There are so many well-crafted sips to savor in the local wine country, I suggest always having a designated driver when you thirst for a wine adventure.
Thanksgiving Wine Weekend is Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 29, with these and participating wineries offering special hours and tastings.
Tags: Elk Cove Vineyards, Montinore Estate, Patton Valley Vineyard, Plum Hill, SakeOne, sustainable winery, Thanksgiving wine weekend, washington county oregon, wine tasting
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April 14th, 2009 by Sunyi
The Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route is a 50-mile driving route that leads visitors through Oregon’s lush Tualatin Valley. The route showcases 17 wineries tucked into the countryside west of Portland, plus a bounty of farms (some with stands offering seasonal fresh produce and/or u-pick), pioneer and historic sites, wildlife refuges and scenic viewpoints of the Cascade Mountains and snow-capped Mt. Hood.
Nearly all the wineries are independent, family-owned operations where visitors often taste wine with the winemaker or owner. Some wineries specialize in producing organic and biodynamic wines. One makes traditional and specialty saké (rice wine) andthe only American-owned and operated saké producer.
Download a printable PDF of the Scenic Tour Route Map
Participating Wineries:
The new Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route is part of the “Discover Oregon Scenic Byways” program. The Washington County Visitor Association spearheaded the development of the tour route, working with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and supported by a wide range of other organizations.
The ODOT-signed, two-way route runs between the town of Sherwood in the southern part of the Tualatin Valley and Swiss-settled Helvetia at the northern end. It is best enjoyed during a full day of discoveries along the way; from wineries to such attractions as the scenic Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. The route offers hospitality at historic country taverns and old-time general stores and easy access to Sherwood, Forest Grove, Gaston and other towns for dining and lodging.
Tags: Apolloni Vineyards, Cooper Mountain Vineyards, David Hill Vineyard and Winery, Elk Cove Vineyards, Helvetia Vineyards, Montinore Estate, Oak Knoll Winery, Patton Valley, Ponzi Vineyards, SakeOne, Shafer Vineyards, washington county oregon, wine tasting, Wineries
Posted in Arts & Culture, Events, Food & Drink, Shopping, Wineries | 3 Comments »
April 13th, 2009 by Julia Adam
- Biodynamic farming sculpture at Cooper Mountain Vineyards
I’ve been looking forward to the North Willamette Vintners’ North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend ever since it was announced. To make it even better, I talked my mom into coming out for a visit (from Pennsylvania) so she could enjoy the event along with me, my friend/co-worker Cherie and Cherie’s parents who are visiting from Texas.
First stop
Our band of merry wine-drinkers started off the day on Saturday at Cooper Mountain Vineyards, where winemaker Gilles De Domingo taught us how they apply the principles of biodynamic winemaking, and marketing director Barbara Gross taught us the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio! I always thought they were simply the names in French and Italian respectively, but it turns out that Pinot Grigio is more a summer sipper (or a table wine) while Pinot Gris is more full-bodied and made to be paired with foods. I feel so educated now! We also sampled their specialty Apicio balsamic vinegar on its own, and drizzled over strawberry shortcake for a sweet application and over mozzarella, tomato and basil for a savory snack. Delicious!
Next up
Our next stop was Oak Knoll Winery, where Beran Vineyards was also pouring for the weekend. We heard all about different bottle closures, from traditional cork to synthetics to screw-off caps and the pros and cons of each – very interesting! We also sampled a wide array of wines from Beran’s luscious Pinot Noirs to Oak Knoll’s special edition of Blak Berree, a blackberry wine. Lovely! To top it off, they had lots of yummy snacks and some great live music.
Moving on
The third stop on our journey was Apolloni Vineyards where owner and winemaker Alfredo Apolloni taught us all about Super Tuscan wine blends. We sampled Apolloni’s new Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot just out of the barrel, then Alfredo mixed up two different blends for us to try, one of which might become the next bottling of their beautiful Soleggio blend. These beautiful wines combined with our first truly sunny and beautiful day this year put us all in a fantastic mood.
Finale
We concluded our full day of tasting at Montinore Estate where we sampled a lovely white blend, a new bottling of rosé and a wine club-exclusive Pinot Noir. Since the Wine Trail was wrapping up for the day, we wandered over to the main tasting room and enjoyed a few more tastings. The deck was the perfect place to enjoy the late afternoon sun and balmy breeze. This was a truly fantastic day!
Sunday
My mom and I couldn’t pass up a quick stop at Ponzi Vineyards on Sunday, since we had our wine trail glasses on hand and a couple of hours on a sunny afternoon. We had a great time chatting with David, the wine club manager, while we sipped a brand-new 2008 Pinot Gris, a lovely ’07 Pinot Blanc and their wonderful ’07 Tavola and noshed on local blue and goat cheeses. This was the perfect way to wrap up a wonderful weekend of wine and sunshine! Be sure you plan to attend next year!
Tags: Apolloni Vineyards, Beran Vineyards, Cooper Mountain Vineyards, Montinore Estate, North Willamette Valley, Oak Knoll, Ponzi Vineyards
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March 27th, 2009 by Rhiannon
Wine lovers are invited to journey to 14 landmark wineries along the North Willamette Wine Trail. Washington County’s wineries, in association with the North Willamette Vintners Association, will be opening their doors April 4-5, for a weekend of wine, food and activities. This first-ever event, the North Willamette Wine Trail, celebrates the diversity of wines found in the northern area of the fertile Willamette Valley.
For one low price, attendees will receive a commemorative wine glass and enjoy a variety of complementary tastings, culinary delights and one-of-a-kind educational activities at each participating winery along the route.
Many of the wineries will be offering new releases, reserve label or barrel tastings, and hands-on activities include “becoming a biodynamic farmer for a day,” dipping wine bottles in wax and demonstrations on how to pair local salmon with your favorite wines.
Participating wineries include:
Event Details:
What: 2009 North Willamette Wine Trail
When: Saturday, April 4 & Sunday, April 5 from 11am – 4pm
Cost: $35 in advance ($40 at the door); “Designated Driver” tickets are $10
For tickets and more information, visit www.NorthWillametteVintners.org.
Tags: Apolloni Vineyards, Beran Vineyards, Cooper Mountain Vineyards, David Hill Vineyard and Winery, Elk Cove Vineyards, Events, Helvetia Vineyards, J. Albin Winery, Montinore Estate, Oak Knoll Winery, Patton Valley, Plum Hill Vineyards, Ponzi Vineyards, sake, SakeOne, Tualatin Estate Vineyards, washington county, washington county oregon, Wineries
Posted in Events, Food & Drink, Wineries | No Comments »