Near Portland, a growing cadre of biodynamic growers buries cow horns and plants grapes by the light of the moon. It’s kind of a voyeuristic request of a “biodynamic” winemaker, but I found I couldn’t resist asking every one I met: “Can I, uh, see your cow horns?” Read full article
In the northwest part of Oregon, the rain of winter has tapered off, the sun is shining, and the state's largest wine producing region is ready for a new growing season. With more than 200 vineyards, tasting trips are the main attraction in the area between early April and harvest in late October. Here's a weekend itinerary that includes superior sips, fantastic food, and just a touch of adventure—all within easy access of Portland. Read full article
If a big, lush cabernet sauvignon is your winter parka, and a delicate rosé your summer togs, then Oregon pinot noir is that versatile, stylish sweater that carries you through spring. Lithe, vibrant, and fresh, these pale ruby pours, full of tangy cherry and leafy soil aromas, are what we crave with this season’s suppers. Read full article
Sipping pinot noir on the deck of Sokol Blosser’s tasting room, looking out over vineyards that slope gently down the hillside to a line of evergreens and rooftops, I’m only partially reminded of Napa. There’s that same serenity that comes from being surrounded by such stunning beauty and bounty. Read full article
The Willamette Valley is a big place, and it’s stuffed with friendly wineries, gorgeous scenery, toy towns and a dazzling array of outdoor activities. Visitors should plan to explore the countryside, not just the main towns. That means lots of driving on twisty, two-lane roads, so try to focus each day’s excursions on a confined area. Read full article
As winter’s cool fog envelops bare grapevines and whispers promises of future fruit, Oregon’s Willamette Valley hums with more wine appreciation than ever before. With a proliferation of hilltop tasting rooms scattered among tiny rural towns, as well as a crush of restaurants with extensive wine lists and top-notch sommeliers, it is easy to compare the region to the way California’s Napa Valley was more than four decades ago, when dirt roads connected small-batch winemakers with big aspirations. Read full article
What makes Oregon Pinot Noir so good? Start with the vines, which seem to like Oregon's combination of soils and climate. Growers and winemakers have climbed a steep learning curve, largely while sharing their expertise with one another. They learned how to coax the character and personality from grapes capable of greatness. Wine Spectator's Harvey Steiman explains. Read full article
Driving southwest from Portland an hour or so through the suburbs, you hit the heart of Oregon's wine country rather suddenly. Here the mountainous Coast Range slopes to the Willamette Valley floor, which is smothered with vineyards that produce some of the best pinot noir on earth. Read full article
