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
Posted in Holiday, Wineries | No Comments »
February 24th, 2009 by Rhiannon
Many of Washington County’s wineries host special events on holiday weekends, and this year’s Valentine’s Day was no exception. I headed out with my friend/co-worker Cherie, her hubby Darrell, their twin boys and our friend Ming for a day of fun on the west side of the county. We’d been anxious to test out the wines at the newly-opened Plum Hill Vineyards, and we were very impressed! Juanita and RJ Lint, the owners, had a full flight of six of their own wines and two additional pours from their friends at Thistle Wines in Dundee. They also had a full spread of very yummy food (spicy blue cheese “cake” anyone?), and they invited the folks from L-Bar-T Bison Ranch to offer samples of their pepperoni, summer sausage and jerky. The tasting room is so homey and comfortable that we could have stayed all day, but alas, other wineries were calling our names!
Our next stop was Montinore Estate, always a favorite of mine. A tasting there consists of any five wines from their extensive list, and we all had our own opinions on the perfect combination. My favorite is their Ruby, a Pinot Noir port that makes me want to curl up in front of a crackling fire. Lovely.
Another quick drive led us to SakéOne, where we enjoyed their “For the Love of Nigori” exotic chocolate and saké pairings. My favorite saké (as usual) was the Coconut Lemongrass, and we all LOVED the Domori Latte Sal chocolate from Italy. The Japanese atmosphere must have inspired Cherie, because in the middle of our tasting she suggested we make our next stop dinner at Syun Izakaya in Hillsboro. It sounded like a great idea, so off we went. We ordered a ton of sushi, hand rolls, sashimi and tempura, and we managed to eat most of it! It was a perfect way to wrap up a lovely day with friends.
By Julia Adam
Tags: bison ranch, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, L-Bar-T, Montinore, Plum Hill, SakeOne, Syun, wineries in oregon, wineries in washington county
Posted in Events, Food & Drink, Wineries | No Comments »
February 11th, 2009 by Rhiannon
Valentine’s Day has never tasted as sweet as this weekend in Oregon’s wine country. Check out some of Washington County’s wineries and celebrate Valentine’s Day (as well as Oregon’s 150th birthday) with special wine, chocolate and food tastings.
Participating wineries and wine shops include:
February 13-15
Urban Decanter
2030 Main St., Forest Grove, OR 97116
Phone: 503-359-7678
Website: http://urbandecanter.com/
Wine and Chocolate Tastings
February 14, 11am-5pm
Árdíri Winery and Vineyards
35040 SW Unger Rd., Cornelius, OR 97113
Phone: (503) 628-6060
Website: http://www.ardiriwine.com/
Árdíri Pinot Noir and Chocolates Tastings
February 14, 1pm-2:30pm
SakéOne
820 Elm St., Forest Grove, OR 97116
Phone: (503) 357-7056
Website: www.sakeone.com
Chocolate 101 & Sake Pairings
February 14-15, 12pm-5pm
Cooper Mountain Vineyards
9480 SW Grabhorn Rd., Beaverton, OR 97007
Phone: (503) 649-0027
Website: www.coopermountainwine.com
Pinot Noir and Balsamic Vinegar Tastings
February 14 – 15, 11am-5pm
Montinore Estate
3663 SW Dilley Rd., Forest Grove, OR 97116
Phone: (503) 359-5012
Website: www.montinore.com
“Two to Tango in Wine Country” Music and Wine Tastings
February 14 – 15, 11am-6pm
Plum Hill Vineyards
6505 SW Old Hwy. 47, Gaston, OR 97119
Phone: (503) 359-4706
Website: www.PlumHillWine.com
Grand Opening Celebration
February 14-15, 11am-5pm
SakéOne
820 Elm St., Forest Grove, OR 97116
Phone: (503) 357-7056
Website: www.sakeone.com
“For the Love of Nigori” Sake Tastings
Located just minutes from downtown Portland, Washington County is the gateway to Oregon’s wine country with 20 wineries and the world’s only American-owned and operated saké brewery. For more information about these and other events, visit the Washington County Visitors Association’s event calendar.
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by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
Tags: Cooper Mountain, Events, Montinore, Oregon 150, Plum Hill, SakeOne, Valentine's Day, vineyards, wine, wine tasting, Wineries
Posted in Events, Wineries | 1 Comment »