Wine Along The 101
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    • 2023 Articles >
      • Robert Hall Winery, Evolving Their Wines Toward a Regenerative Future
      • Great Wine Is Headed Your Way, the Spring Portfolio Tasting of Golden State Wine Co Reveals Many Treasures
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour 2022, A Brief Look at the Complex World of Italian Wine
      • A Night of Sicilian Wine, Spotlighting Cambria and Madaudo Wineries
      • Yealands Wines, “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly”, Leading the World Toward Sustainable Winemaking
    • 2022 Articles >
      • Further Defining the Single Vineyard Cru Wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Rise of the MGA
      • The Barolo Cru Wines of Beni di Batasiolo
      • Pyros Wines Sparks World-Class Malbec
      • AlloraVino Imports, a Love Affair with Italian Wine
      • Maisons Marques & Domaines Wine Portfolio: Prestige, Glamour and Good Taste for the Holidays
      • The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, a Condiment and a Culture
      • Rocca delle Macìe, Taking Chianti Classico to New Heights
      • Alluring and Iconic, The World of Chianti Wines
      • Paso Robles Weaves a Thrilling Tapestry of World-Class Wine
      • LXV Wines, The Spice of Paso Robles
      • The Mouthwatering Sauvignon Blancs of Chile
      • The Wines of Portugal, Discover a World of Difference
      • Domaines Albert Bichot, An Exceptional Approach to Burgundian Wine
      • The Wines of Abruzzo Undergo a Renaissance of Quality
      • Ketcham Estate, Exceptional Wines From The Heart of the Russian River Valley
      • La Rioja Alta, S.A., Innovation and Tradition That Stands the Test of Time
      • Vega Sicilia Celebrates 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence
      • Planeta of Sicily Embraces the Past While Reaching For the Future
      • The Spirit of Renaissance is Alive and Well in “South of Somewhere”
      • Gambero Rosso Returns to LA, With the Best of Italian Wines
      • Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno, Sannio's Ancient Wine Stars
      • Tablas Creek Vineyard Embraces Regenerative Organic Farming
    • 2021 Articles >
      • Make Merry With Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines
      • Discover These Enchanting Italian Wines, From the Fog of Piedmont to the Island Breezes of Sardinia
      • Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery, Revitalizing an Iconic Brand
      • Thanksgiving Tips for the Best Wine and Food Pairing
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wine Country Oasis
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wonderland of Wine
      • Smith-Madrone Wines, a Napa Valley Pioneer Celebrates Fifty Years of Excellence
      • Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Land of Pinot Noir
      • Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Southern Oregon
      • BARRA of Mendocino Wines, an Original Organic Wine Play
      • The Opulent and Thrilling Wines of Denner Vineyards
      • L’Ecole No. 41, Expressive Wines That Pass the Test of Time With Flying Colors
      • France's Loire Valley, a Fairytale Land of Storybook Castles and Magical Wines
      • Craft Wine, Shining the Spotlight on America’s Small Wine Producers
    • 2020 Articles >
      • Margerum Wine Company, the Nexus of Sublime Santa Barbara County Wines
      • Catena Zapata, Malbec on High
      • Long Meadow Ranch, the Circle of Life in a Glass of Wine
      • Fontanafredda Barolo Forges a New Future
      • Bordeaux Wine 2017, Surprises in a Challenging Vintage
    • 2019 Articles >
      • The Rising Wine Country of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley
      • Discover Ashland and the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon's Serenade to the Good Life
      • Napa Valley Grille, New Fall Menu Paired with European Wines
      • Embrace Your Wine Geek with PRIE Winery & Vineyards
      • Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico on High
      • Nicolas-Jay Wines, the Journey of a Lifetime
      • The Expanding Complexity of New Zealand Wine
      • Prosecco DOC, Splendor in the Glass
      • On the Oregon Wine Trail
      • Albariño and Rioja Star in Spain’s Great Match
      • Exciting and Eclectic, the Wines of Alentejo
      • Blaufränkisch Propels the Red Wines of Austria Into the Spotlight
      • Fascinating Greek Wines of the Cava Spiliadis Collection
      • Revolution In Rioja Wine
    • 2018 Articles >
      • Temecula Valley Celebrates 50 Years of Winemaking
      • The Stellar Wines of Sardinia
      • Italian Wines Prescribed by Doctor Wine
      • The Alluring Wines of Tunisia
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2018
      • Velenosi Wines, From Le Marche to the World
      • Sauvignon Blanc, a Rising Star in Napa Valley
      • Frank Family Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years
      • Markus Wine Co., Sleek New Red Wines Up the Ante for Lodi Reds
      • Lodi Wine, Over 100 Varieties Strong
      • Ramona Valley Wine Country, an Up and Coming Wine Region
      • Hertelendy Vineyards, the Pursuit of Excellence
      • Napa Valley Wine, Nirvana in a Bottle
      • Wine Stroll: Explore Downtown Paso Robles Wineries
      • The Beautiful Shades of Lodi Rosé Wines
      • Doubling Down on Gold Medal Wines: The San Francisco International Wine Competition
      • The Exotic Wines of Lebanon
      • Australian Wines, Rediscover the New Frontier
      • New Zealand Wines, Expanding beyond Sauvignon Blanc
      • Visit France in 2018, a Feast of Food, Wine, Culture and History
      • Bordeaux Wine 2015, A Very Good Year
      • Portugal's Treasure Chest of Wines
      • Livermore Valley, California’s Original Wine Country Reborn
      • Concannon and Wente Vineyards, California’s Pioneers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
      • Livermore Valley Wine Country, the Future Looks Bright
    • 2017 Articles >
      • Viña Ardanza Rioja Turns 75, an Enchanting Wine Gets Even Better
      • The VIP Sparkle of Prosecco Superiore
      • Lodi Wine Country, Seriously Good Wine From A to Z
      • Lodi Wine Country, Old Vines and Great Wines
      • Lodi Wine Country, Winegrowers and Winemakers Focused on the Future
      • Lugana White Wine, Better With Age
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip to LA
      • Sweetzer Cellars, a Life Changing Journey of Wine
      • Lugana and Valpolicella, the Yin and Yang of the Veneto
      • Three R’s of Summer Wine, Rosé, Riesling, and Ramato
      • Familia Martínez Bujanda, Wines Without Borders
      • Codorníu Cava, the Ars and Anna Collection
      • New and Exciting Wines from the 2017 Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration
      • Sensual Delights on Display at Savor Italy Los Angeles
      • Pizza and Franco Pepe, Italy’s Best Comes to LA
      • Montes Wines, Wisdom in Wine From Father to Son
      • Passionate Pinot Noir Lovers Unite at the 2017 World of Pinot
      • Vignalta, Wines of the Highest Order
      • Santa Lucia Highlands Sensational Wines
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2017
      • Law Estate Wines: Quality by Design
      • Taittinger and Calvisius: Champagne and Caviar Dreams
      • Riding High on American Rhone Wines, The Rhone Rangers LA Tasting
      • Discover Monterey Wine Country, wine and so much more
      • Wines of Portugal, the Perfect Dinner Companion
      • Gruet's Enchanting Sparkling Wines
    • 2016 Articles >
      • The Art of Italian Living, SoCal Style
      • Wines of Alsace: Perfect for the Holidays
      • Oso Libre Winery; Vines, Wines, and Angus Beef
      • Best Wines for Thanksgiving
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour Sweeps Through Los Angeles
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Chardonnay
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Pinot Noir
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Rhône Varietals
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Bordeaux Varietals
      • Achaval-Ferrer, Exceptional Wines from Argentina
      • Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
      • The Celebrity Sparkle of Ferrari Trento Wines
      • Santa Barbara Wine Country’s Celebration of Harvest 2016
      • The Garagiste Festival, Off the Beaten Path Wines
      • Explore SLO Wine Country, Central California’s Hidden Gem
      • Byron Winery, The Grand Pinot Noir Experiment
      • Crocker & Starr Wines, Organically Elegant
      • Escape to Santa Maria Wine Country
      • The Elegant White Wines of Domäne Wachau
      • Champagne Palmer: The New Champagne on the Block
      • Holman Ranch & Vineyards: Making Memories & Wine at Romantic California Hideaway
      • Luminous Wines of France's Loire Valley
    • Examiner.com Articles >
      • Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: Wines Without Compromise
      • All Stars of Pinot Noir Rock the 2016 World of Pinot
      • Ampelos Wines' Biodynamic Brilliance
      • Artisan Uprising: Blood Into Wine
      • Bodegas Beronia Rioja: The Magic of Oak
      • Crawford Family Wines: Unlocking Varietal Flavor
      • Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards' Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs Shine Bright
      • Hahn Family Wines: Santa Lucia Highlands' Sweet Spot
      • Kimmel Vineyards: Good Wine Flows from Challenging Times
      • Larner Vineyard: Sweet Spot for Syrah and Grenache
      • LOCA for Lodi Wine
      • Lompoc Wine Ghetto
      • Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Delicious Wines That Tell a Tale
      • The Diverse and Divine Wines of Santa Barbara County
      • Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
      • The Stellar Wines of California's Sta. Rita Hills
      • Skinner Vineyards, Destiny and Determination
      • Wines of Portugal, The Art of the Blend
  • Wine Reviews
    • La Rioja Alta, S.A. Viña Ardanza Reserva 2016, An Elegant Vintage for an Iconic Wine
    • ETTORE Wines from Mendocino, With An Organic Focus
    • Two Excellent Value Broquel Label Wines From Argentina’s Trapiche Winery
    • The Dynamic Lavico Etna Wines of Duca di Salaparuta
    • The Sangiovese Stars of San Felice Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, in Can and Bottle
    • Coen Malbec Reserve 2019, a New World Wine with Old World Sensibilities
    • Sangre de Toro Rosé, A Light and Bright Summer Thirst Quencher
    • Summer and Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Rock Wine Co. Style
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
    • Monte Velho, Fascinating Wines and Value-Priced
    • Grassl Glasses Add Depth to Wine Enjoyment
    • Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut Makes Everyday a Holiday
    • Festive Ferrari Trento Sparkling Wines For All Occasions
    • Bodegas CARO, the Best of Both Worlds
    • Kosher Wines For the Jewish High Holidays Are Highly Recommended Anytime of Year
    • Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2019
    • Ron Rubin Wines, The Dream Series
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2018
    • Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux, Expressive Wines at Everyday Prices
    • Légende Collection of Bordeaux Wines
    • Five Contemporary California Wines To Try
    • Alternative Sparkling Wines For a Celebration
    • A Toast to Prosecco Superiore
    • Celebrate with this Pair of Spanish Red Wines
    • A Quartet of Summer Red Wines
    • Spanish Albariño, a Wine For All Seasons
    • Ciù Ciù Wines, Quality That Shines Through
    • A Trio of Red Wines for Holiday Merrymaking
    • Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
    • The Sultry Arnaldo Caprai Collepiano Montefalco Sagrantino
    • Pop the Cork on Charles Heidsieck Champagne and Bisol Prosecco
    • Garnacha Wines from DOP Cariñena, Beautiful Bang for the Buck
    • A Pair of Greek Wines for a Spring Feast
    • A Dynamic Duo of Sassy Spanish White Wines
    • Anderra Carménere
    • Artesa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    • Avignonesi Grandi Annate
    • Château Saint-Maur Rosé
    • La Miranda de Secastilla, Old Vine Garnacha Gems
    • Intriguing Israeli Wines
    • Leviathan
    • Domaines Paul Mas Wines Trio
    • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, intensely refreshing and delicious
    • Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino
    • Stay Cool With These Two Charming White Wines
  • Events
    • Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 Highlights Hidden California Wine Gems
    • Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival 2019
    • World of Pinot Noir 2019, A Magical Mystery Tour
    • Journey to Planet Pinot at the 2018 World of Pinot Noir
    • Great Wines of Italy Comes to LA
    • Wine Along the Beach at Garagiste Wine Festival 2017
    • Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration 2017
    • Orbit the World of Pinot Noir at the 2017 World of Pinot
    • Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2016
  • Wine Travel
  • Videos
    • Celebration of Harvest
    • Feliz Noche Wines
    • Terravant Custom Crush
    • Que Syrah, Shiraz!
    • Paso Robles Wine Festival
    • L'Aventure Syrah Harvest
    • Clos Pepe's Prince of Pinot
  • Photos
  • Who We Are
    • About Patricia Decker
    • About Fabian Rodriguez
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Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir véraison 2019
The buzz surrounding ​Oregon wines continues to build, as today’s wines astonish on their own merits, consistently rating highly among wine experts and the wine drinking public.  Over fifty years ago, the pioneers of Oregon winemaking planted vines and produced a Pinot Noir that stood glass to glass with its Burgundian relative, amazing the wine world with a 10th place in the 1979 Wine Olympics blind tasting competition held in Paris.  That wine, David Lett’s Eyrie Vineyards 1975 South Block Reserve Pinot Noir, opened the door to a parallel existence with Burgundian winemaking for years, but now Oregon winemakers are charting their own course, defining their terroir, planting the best clones, and discovering the best vineyard and winemaking practices that stamp their wines as unique.  Attracting French Burgundy producers since the mid-1980’s, today’s Oregon wine scene encompasses 1,200 vineyards and 900 wineries, quite an achievement for a mere 50 years in existence.
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Maysara Vineyards
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Sokol Blosser solar panels
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Brooks vineyards with nest boxes
The Willamette Valley is the largest and best-known of the 21 AVAs throughout the state, with over half of all wine made from estate-grown fruit.  Pinot Noir is the darling here, making up 69% of the varietals grown, followed by Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and a host of others.  Fiercely committed to preserving the environment, over half of Oregon’s vineyards are certified sustainable.  Value for high quality, the wines embody all that makes up site expression, meaning that an Oregon Pinot Noir is not easily classified, as each vineyard and winemaker reflects its diverse origins, different in clones, soils, micro-climates and all the minutiae that goes into making them so individual.  If there is a style that is common, one might say that Oregon Pinot Noir is fruit forward, with a supple texture, crisp acidity and ripe tannins, well balanced in its elegant complexity.  After that, each is distinct and different.
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Le Cadeau Vineyard, Chehalem Hills AVA
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Youngberg Hill, McMinnville AVA
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Willamette Valley AVA map, Courtesy of Willamette Wines
Willamette Valley wines have a unique expression, which comes from a layer cake of geology, with a jumble of ancient soils, where cataclysmic floods, glaciers and volcanoes carved out the bedrock of today’s vineyards.  Small scale wineries took root here, with a determined focus on sustainable viticulture.  Climate coddles the wine grapes, with cool weather to preserve its character, diurnal temperature swings that impart lively acidity, and fifteen hours of summer sunshine to slowly ripen and concentrate the fruit.  The hallmark of these Pinot Noir wines are red fruit flavors, high acidity, and an earthy structure that is a shared trait, but many microclimates impart uniquely different nuances.  There are nine nested AVAs within the Willamette Valley, and each has a distinctive style due to the soil types and wind conditions.
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Courtesy Oregon Wine Board
Oregon’s wine labeling regulations are the strictest in the United States, a guarantee to the consumer that what they are paying for is what they are getting.  To be labeled Oregon wine, 100% of the grapes must be from Oregon, and if it’s an AVA, 95% of the grapes must be from that appellation.  It it’s a varietally-labeled wine, 90% must be of that variety, and if you think that’s no big deal, on the federal level, it’s only 75%.
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Winemakers Colin Eddy, John House, Janie Brooks Heuck, Chris Williams (behind her), James Frey, and Tom Fitzpatrick
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Winemakers Ian Burrows, Doug Tunnell, Laura Lee, and Vincent Fritzsche
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(L-R) Winemaker Jason Lett with pioneers and legends of Willamette Valley wine, Richard & Nancy Ponzi, David Adelsheim, Harry Peterson-Nedry, and Susan Sokol Blosser
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Winemakers Thomas Savre, Clare Carver, Ben Casteel, and Shane Moore
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Winemakers Rachel Rose, Suzanne Larson, Chris James, Joe Wright, Anne Hubatch, and Laura Cusick
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Winemakers Thomas Houseman, Shane Moore, Eugenia Keegan, James Frey, and Steve Lutz
In 2019, I participated in an intensive exploration of Willamette Valley wines with the Wine Writers' Educational Tours (WWET), led by Wine Educator/Sommelier/Writer Fred Swan.  A group of wine writers from across the nation embarked on a four day deep dive into as many AVAs as we could, and I discovered that it was a complex region, and that it might take a lifetime to truly learn and digest all the nuances and terroir.  But more so, I was blown away by the people, drawn together by a love of wine and camaraderie, working tirelessly to define their potential and communicate it to the world.  Here is a brief summary of the many world class wineries and dedicated winemakers that I met on that trip who have come together in the pursuit of fine wine.  Below each AVA name, the wineries that I visited are listed below it.
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Native Flora Vineyards, Dundee Hills AVA
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Sokol Blosser Vineyards, Dundee Hills AVA
Dundee Hills AVA
This is Ground Zero for the Oregon Pinot Noir explosion that hit the world’s wine market with the first plantings of wine grapes in the Willamette Valley.  Dundee Hills is renowned for their red Jory soils, which has been found to be nirvana for Pinot Noir vines.  These elegant, silky Pinot Noirs can range from fruit-forward to complex and earthy, but are especially defined by red berry flavors (especially raspberry), violet floral notes, an earthiness, mineral hint, and gentle tannins, plush yet with a focused energy and intensity all their own, accented by a cherry cola quality.
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(L-R) Geoff Hall, Vineyard Manager & Viticulturist, and Nate Klostermann, Winemaker
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Argyle Winery was founded in 1987, with a focus on producing world-class sparkling wine and then added Pinot Noir as a still wine to their lineup.  Winemaker Nate Klostermann has elevated their wine offerings, crafting graceful and complex sparklers along with vibrant and balanced Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Rieslings.  There’s a lot of detail involved in coaxing the maximum individuality, depth and character of these wines, which the team seems to have mastered.  Receiving the highest scores for any extended tirage sparkling wines made outside of Champagne, Argyle has set the standard for New World bubbles.
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Susan Sokol Blosser and 50 years of family winemaking
Sokol Blosser Winery is a family-run winery, founded by Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser in 1971, and today is run by siblings Alex and Alison, winemaker and CEO.  Pioneers in classic Pinot Noir in the region, Sokol Blosser helped develop and shape Oregon’s infant wine industry over 50 years ago and opened the state’s first tasting room in 1978.  Focused on “Good to the Earth”, they are certified organic and sustainable, and use low impact packaging, all in an effort to support people, planet and profit in a holistic way.  They produce award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, various incarnations of Pinot Noir, sparkling wines and Rosé that reflect the distinctive flavors of their hillside vineyards.  And they are adding a new, fun part of their iconic Sokol Blosser brand, Evolution boxed wine for those consumers who want to try something new with the same high quality but a lower price point.
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Native Flora tasting view, Courtesy of Native Flora
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Scott Flora pours his wine for Fred Swan
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Native Flora is a small, secluded winery that owner Scott Flora built to buck many winemaking conventions.  Flora, a rule breaker, looked at the wine industry with a fresh set of eyes, wanting to experiment and make small batch wines.  He planted his vineyards on a north-facing slope, uses sheep year round in the vineyards, lives and works on site, and continually works to improve the interface between human activity and animal and plant life on the farm.  He is especially focused on collecting, filtering and re-using rainwater, as part of a sustainable footprint.  Several Pinot Noirs, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gouges (rare), Riesling, sparkling wine, Rosé, a Blanc de Pinot Noir, and an unusual red blend (Pinot Noir, Malbec, Syrah) are produced.  For a different tasting experience, call Scott and Denise to make an appointment, and they will personally guide you through a private tasting of their wines and share their story.
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Le Cadeau Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains AVA
Chehalem Mountains AVA
Home to the highest point in the Willamette Valley, Bald Peak, the variable soils and many mesoclimates among the ridges yield many different styles of wine.  Known for a bolder style of Pinot Noir, this area produces intensely fruity wines, with bright red berry fruit, red licorice, cinnamon spice and earthy mushroom notes, textured with fine-grained tannins, that pair well with a variety of food.
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Anna Maria Ponzi, President
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Luisa Ponzi, Winemaker
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Ponzi Vineyards is one of the founding wineries of the Willamette Valley, established in 1970, this is a family affair.  Second generation winemaker Luisa Ponzi has led the charge to craft a tapestry of intriguing wines, from a host of Pinots (Noir, Gris, Blanc, Rosé), Chardonnay, Riesling, the Italian varietals of Arneis and Dolcetto, and sparkling wines.  Anna Maria Ponzi, Luisa’s sister, is President of the family winemaking empire, using her business savvy to expand their footprint.  Owned by both sisters, Ponzi is one of the few sister-run wineries in the US.  Ponzi’s old vine Pinot Noirs are powerful, generous, and balanced with a rich and velvety palate.  Renowned for their unique Laurelwood Soil, Luisa feels that it adds distinction to the wines; blue and black fruit, spice and rustic tannins to the Pinot Noir, white floral aromas, brilliant acidity and salinity to the Chardonnay.  Because of its imprint on the wines, Luisa and Anna Maria Ponzi worked to make a part of this area Oregon’s newest AVA, the Laurelwood District.
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Tom Mortimer of Le Cadeau Vineyard
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Tom Mortimer of Le Cadeau Vineyard
Le Cadeau Vineyard was founded in 1996 by Deb and Tom Mortimer with the singular purpose of growing complex and distinct Pinot Noir.  The Mortimers found this undeveloped land on Parrett Mountain, a diamond in the rough that contained many soil types, slope aspects and microclimates.  Thoughtful planting of fourteen clones of Pinot Noir over sixteen acres has yielded magnificent wines, fresh and intense aromatics, pure fruit accented with Asian spice and an earthy character.  While Pinot Noir is dominant, with seven different bottlings, a couple of sparkling wines and a Chardonnay round out the lineup, all made exclusively with estate-grown fruit.
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Fairsing Vineyard harvest, Yamhill Carlton AVA, Courtesy of Willamette Valley Wines
Yamhill Carlton AVA 
Surrounded and protected by mountain ranges on three sides, a warm climate and ancient marine soils nurture vineyards that are interspersed with farmland, forests, and orchards.  Intense and structured Pinot Noir wines, deep in color and mouth-filling, are made here.  Voluptuous, elegant and layered, with dark fruit, floral notes, and mineral, with accents of tobacco, espresso, clove and dark chocolate, the wines are distinguished by a distinct tannin signature.  These Pinot Noir wines incorporate fine-grained tannins that melt and cover your mouth, with the overall impression of a richer and more savory wine.
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Shane Moore, winemaker for Gran Moraine
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General Manager Eugenia Keegan
Gran Moraine Winery is named for the geological forces that shaped its vineyard lands during the last Ice Age.  The ancient marine soils and diurnal temperature swings allow them to make age-worthy Pinot Noir.  Winemaker Shane Moore likes the “stamp of terroir” that their wines exhibit, ripe and rich, balanced but almost “al dente”, his perception of the edge of ripeness where interesting flavors are found.  Moore believes that winemaking is like art, and that the space “between the chaos and the calm” is where you can make great wine.  There is a seamless balance between the acidity, minerality and deep fruit.  Gran Moraine makes Chardonnay, Rosé of Pinot Noir, and several versions of Pinot Noir.  
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Bethel Heights Vineyard, Courtesy of Bethel Heights
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Bethel Heights Vineyard had been an abandoned walnut grove until 1977, when two families came together to pursue a dream.  Twin brothers, Terry and Ted Casteel, and their wives left the academic life and came together to develop a winery operation.  One of the earliest vineyards in the area, they planted grape vines directly in the ground on their own roots, not root stock that is commonly used to protect the vines from phylloxera.  Today, these Legacy blocks of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are some of the last own-rooted vines in the world, and make up two-thirds of the original Bethel Heights vineyard.  But additional planting on the property, the Justice vineyard, has revealed a different soil type, which yields surprising differences in their wines.  Today, Bethel Heights is still owned by members of the Casteel-Dudley-Webb families, and Ben, Terry’s son, is the winemaker.  Pioneers in “sensible and sustainable viticulture”, their Pinot Noirs are highly prized because of the quality of their fruit.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris are made here.
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Van Duzer Vineyard, Van Duzer Corridor AVA, Photo by Andrea Johnson, Courtesy of Willamette Valley Wines
Van Duzer Corridor AVA
This gap in the Coastal Range mountains allows cool Pacific Ocean breezes to flow into the western Willamette Valley, allowing for longer hang-times on the vines and consequently more complex wines to be made.  The afternoon winds make for thicker grape skins and as such, produce wines with more acidity, phenolic structure, and dense tannins.  The Pinot Noirs consist of dark fruit, tea leaf, and earthy notes, the white wines have bright fruit and high acidity, with weight and texture.
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Field of Dreams Vineyard, Courtesy of Left Coast Estate
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Courtesy of Left Coast Estate
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(L-R) Taylor Pfaff, Suzanne Larson, Bob E. Pfaff, Cali Pfaff, Courtesy of Left Coast Estate
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Left Coast Estate is a second generation, family-owned and operated winery dedicated to sustainability, in the farming and the winemaking.  On this gorgeous 500-acre estate, 142 acres are planted to vineyards, but over 200 acres are maintained as a wildlife habitat.  Left Coast considers themselves to be “stewards of the land”, and have received recognition for its efforts in biodiversity.  They have pursued many avenues to be holistic; solar power, LIVE certified, Salmon Safe, and working towards Carbon neutral.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Syrah and Viognier have found a home here, along with a multitude of bird species.  In addition to the award-winning Left Coast wines, winemaker Joe Wright crafts his own special interpretation of this part of the world under the J. Wright label.  Left Coast is also a working farm, with a greenhouse, bee hives, and chickens and ducks, which contributes to the tasting room’s farm fresh market vibe.  Members of the Pfaff family work together to manage the estate; son Taylor is CEO, daughter Cali is the Creative Director and Landscape Architect, elder son Karleton contributes his skills in the kitchen and metal fabricating, dad is the Chef and Master Gardener, and mom Suzanne Larson is the Brand Ambassador, all welcoming visitors to their little piece of heaven.
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Brooks estate vineyards, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Courtesy of Brooks Winery
Eola-Amity Hills AVA 
Wines grown here are some of the most exciting in Willamette Valley.  Flanked by hills on both sides, this AVA, with its shallow and rocky soils, cool ocean winds and large diurnal temperature swings, produces complex wines.  Inky, structured Pinot Noir with firm acidity and big, blocky tannins become age-worthy wines.  Rich and concentrated, with notes of dark fruit, oolong tea, spice, smoke, kelp, umami and iodine all make for powerful and savory Pinot Noir.
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Courtesy of Methven Family Vineyards
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Methven Family Vineyards produces premium, small lot wines from their estate varietals of Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Riesling.  These award-winning wines have caught the attention of those Oregon vintners in the know, who clamor to buy their fruit.  Hands on, detail oriented winemaking make for a very personalized bottle of wine.  Allen and Jill Methven purchased these 100 acres in 2001, and today have planted 30 acres of mostly Pinot Noir.  While their Pinot Noir is world class, it’s their Gamay that has enthralled so many, it’s so intriguing, and consistently sold out.
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(L-R) Pascal Brooks, Janie Brooks Heuck, and Chris Williams, Courtesy of Brooks Winery
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Winemaker Chris Williams, Courtesy of Brooks Winery
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Tribute to Jimi Brooks, Courtesy of Brooks Winery
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Brooks Tasting Room and Winery Complex, Courtesy of Brooks Winery
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Brooks Winery was started by Jimi Brooks, a charismatic young Portland winemaker in 1998.  Brooks, passionate about the Willamette Valley, Riesling, and biodynamic farming, was a larger than life figure locally.  In 2004, Brooks had gone all in with his own winery, leaving his day jobs at other larger wineries to focus on his vision.  In 2004, he unexpectedly died of an aortic aneurism at 38, leaving friends and family to rally around his fledgling winery.  His sister, Janie Brooks Heuck, took over the business, hoping to pass it on to Brooks’ young son, Pascal, when he grew up.  Chris Williams, Jimi’s friend, came on board, making the wines as great as Jimi imagined they would be.  Burnished in the crucible of this heartbreaking saga, today’s Brooks Winery has many avid fans.  Crafting over 50 wines that encompass a range of styles, sites, and varietals, Brooks is best known for their Riesling, intensely aromatic wines with complex layers of flavor, different sweetness levels and are absolutely age-worthy.  And if you think you know Riesling, think again.  The Extended Tirage Sparkling Riesling is stunning, bone dry, expressive, with spice on the nose; the Eclipse Totality Riesling is exotic and textural.  Brooks produces more Riesling than any other winery in the US, but also produces almost two dozen Pinot Noirs that express the spectrum of styles and profiles.  And there are also many other wines made with fruit from other vineyards, white wines of Viognier, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, and a Melon de Bourgogne; red wines include Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, and Syrah.  Janie has energized the winery with cooking events, concert series, Friday Pizza Nights, and a lively Tasting Room experience, complete with Chef Norma’s perfect food pairings, using local ingredients and produce from their very own garden.
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Maysara Vineyard view, McMinnville AVA
McMinnville AVA
Wine grapevines struggle here, and with its geology and climate, a more muscular and intense Pinot Noir is produced.  Dark fruit and earthiness is the hallmark, although there is some variation between richer and more fruit forward from the eastern slopes, and more acidic and herbaceous from the southern slopes.  These savory wines of dark fruit and spice develop layers of complexity over time.
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Wayne Bailey of Youngberg Hill
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Youngberg Hill is a family-owned vineyard estate, with a spectacular view over the Valley from their tasting room complex on a 50-acre hilltop.  The Bailey family acquired the winery in 2003, which included an inn and 10 acres of Pinot Noir.  They have since planted another 10 acres, focused on creating fine wine from their estate fruit, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.  Farming these 20 acres organically, Wayne Bailey practices biodynamic and dry farming, what he calls “holistic”  in order to be sustainable and in sync with Mother Nature, coaxing maximum expression from the fruit.  Several single block Pinot Noirs, a Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Rosé of Pinot Noir are crafted.
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Moe Momtazi in his Maysara vineyard
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Moe, Flora, and their three daughters, Tahmiene, Naseem, and Hanna
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Maysara Immigrant Pinot Noir
Maysara Winery is a biodynamic wine enterprise, launched with that intention from the very beginning.  In 1997, Iranian immigrants Moe and Flora Momtazi purchased 496 acres of an abandoned wheat farm that had been wild and untouched for years.  Planting Pinot Noir across these hills over the next few years, Moe is holistic all the way, growing medicinal flowers and herbs that are made into compost teas that nurture the soils and promote vine health.  No chemicals ever touch these vines,  Today’s Maysara is a family affair, with their three daughters making the wine, selling the wine, and organizing events and hospitality.  But Moe is still all in, supervising the health of the soil and the vines that yield superior grapes, of which they sell 60% of their harvest to other wineries.  Maysara produces several Pinot Noirs, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and a sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé, in addition to a special Immigrant Pinot Noir, dedicated to all immigrants with one-third of the proceeds supporting local refugee and immigrant services.
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Winemakers Brianne Day, Wayne Bailey, Anne Sery, Scott Neil, and Ariel Eberle
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For many, the Willamette Valley is the face of Oregon wine, but it’s not just one image, but so many wines with so many personalities, all dependent on the special place that this Valley inhabits.  Spend a lifetime sipping and tasting through these stunningly beautiful wines, and you might just begin to understand how deeply complex this region is.  While Pinot Noir reigns supreme now, so many other varietals are making their mark, and all deserve your consideration.  Yes, Oregon wine is all the buzz, and so much more!