A Short Jaunt through Oregon’s Willamette Valley Wineries

In just a few days I’ll be jetting across the country to Portland, ORfor the 2012 Wine Blogger’s Conference. I’ll spend the first three daysexploring Portlandon my own before meeting up with over three hundred other bloggers. After wewill all spend a few days exploring wineries, tasting new wines, learning and spitting.

This isn’t my first trip to the RoseCity, my husband and I married in Portland at VooDooDoughnuts in 2009. This is however my first trip to the city on my own and Iplan on getting the most out of the Pearl District, where I’ll spend my firstthree days.
As I think about Oregonwines my mouth is watering for those wonderfully crafted Pinot noirs. While Oregon may be best knownfor Pinot noir, that is certainly not their only wine cash crop. There are overfour hundred wineries in the Willamette Valley alone so this postwon’t even make a dent on coverage. But if you happen to find yourself in the area,here are a few wineries I was able to visit in 2009 and truly enjoyed.
Ponzi VineyardsFounded in 1970 byDick and Nancy Ponzi the winery has earnedworldwide accolades for producing some of the finest Pinot noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnayand White Riesling, Arneis and Dolcetto.
Since its startthe vineyards have led the way for Oregon’sviticulture revolution while staying course in their commitment to traditionalwinemaking.  Second generation, winemakerLuisa Ponzi now carries on that tradition using classic Burgundymethods.
The winery isstill family owned and contracts with growers matching the varietal to theterroir and climate. The valley offers a moderate climate and provides idealsites for the culture and cultivation of cool climate wine varietals.
My husband and I liked this one so much we joined the wineclub and receive shipments four times a year. Many wineries offer severallevels of wine club membership and are a great way to try wines you may notnormally be drawn to or have access to.

ArgyleTwo words, Black Brut. This has to be one of the prettiestwines in a glass I’ve ever set eyes on and tastes pretty darn good too. Whilewell vested in sparkling wines, they are well known for their Pinot noir wines.
Founded by Brian Croser and Rollin Soles, Argyle Winery hasproduced world renowned methode champenoise Sparkling wine, barrel fermentedChardonnay and elegant Pinot noir since the late 1980’s.
Argyle sources grapes from three vineyards located in DundeeHills. Knudsen Vineyard, Stoller Vineyard and Lone Star Vineyard. Planted in1972 and 1974 the Knudsen Vineyard’s high elevation provides the perfectelements for sparkling wines. Stoller Vineyards planted in 1995 produces theirwell known Pinot noir and Chardonnay.
Lone Star Vineyard was purchased in 1996 and is primarilymade up of Dijonclones of Pinot noir 

ErathErath wines have been around for over 40 years, longer thanany other winery in the Dundee Hills area. Dick Erath, engineer turnedviticulturist began winemaking in 1965 when he re-located his family from California to the Dundee Hills area of Oregon. Using an old logger’s cabin as hishome on 49 acres of land he planted 23 varieties of grapes, the first winegrapes in Dundee Hills. The region is similar to France’sBurgundy with its iron rich soils, cool nightsand warming sunshine giving Dundee the perfect climate to perfect Pinot noirs,the wine this area of Oregonis most well known.
Lucky for all of us, Erath is carried in stores across thenation.

Wondering whatputs Oregon Pinot noir above so many others in the US? The magic’s in the iron richsoil and warming sunshine of a marine climate, providing the area the abilityto produce phenomenal Pinot noirs. Pinot noir grapes are one of the mostfinicky grapes and require great care, patience and the perfect terroir. Thegrape is sensitive to wind, temperature, fungal disease and this is just in thevineyard. Once in the fermentation takes another host of problems can arise. The grape can beso problematic, famed winemaker André Tchelistcheff stated "God madeCabernet Sauvignon whereas the devil made Pinot noir."

I’ve been holdingoff on packing for the past week but I’m breaking out the luggage today. Portland, get your beersand wines ready, here I come.
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