We’re Number One!

By now you have probably heard of the stunning award our local winery Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards received at the recent Riverside International Wine Competition held in Southern California. “Small Winery of the Year” was the honor bestowed upon the Umpqua winery after 9 of its 10 wines entered in the competition took silver medals or better.

I have written about Reustle Prayer Rock many times over the past two years. I began tasting their wines in the Spring of 2007 just after moving here. I can remember my very first visit and how impressed I was with their wines. Gloria & Stephen Reustle were new to the wine industry and they had only recently opened their tasting room. The last three years has brought huge growth for them and their winery. The addition of their wine cave being the most noticeable but less conspicuously there has been significant growth of the vineyard with new grape varieties being planted and new wines being made. They have followed in true Umpqua Valley tradition by claiming a number of firsts for the region including producing the first Grüner Veltliner in the country and building the first wine cave in the Umpqua Valley. They continue to enter their wines in many wine competitions both locally and internationally, receiving many awards and accolades. This most recent, “Small Winery of the Year” award being one of the most prestigious.

This is a deserved award for Reustle Prayer Rock. Their inexhaustible efforts toward making the very best wines possible is obvious. Stephen Reustle is as driven a vintner as I have known and his wine making style is very much his own. But for all of us in the wine industry this award is so much more than just a recognition of one winery and one winemaker. It is a validation of something much bigger. It is a just and overdue recognition of our AVA (American viticulture area) the Umpqua Valley. It is additional proof of what so many have known for so long; the Umpqua Valley produces world class wines and is a world class wine region. Richard Sommer,  Oregon's wine pioneer knew it and believed in the region so strongly he devoted much of his life to Umpqua Valley wine, paving the way for our current winemakers and their families. The terroir of the region has attracted a number of talented, driven, passionate winemakers like Stephen Reustle. The combination of this talent and mother natures gift of great land and proper climate are a recipe for greatness. Greatness that is beginning to be recognized in the world wine community.

This should make us all proud. And I mean all of us, wine lovers and non wine drinkers a like. All of Douglas County residents should stand a little taller and feel a little prouder of their home. Recognition as a legitimate wine region to be reckoned with is good for the local economy. A growing local wine industry means jobs. Award winning wines and wineries means tourist dollars coming in to our small businesses and local communities. This award won by Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards truly is an award shared by all of us here in the county. Congratulations Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards and congratulations Umpqua Valley!

One More Place to Taste…

                                                We have added another tasting room bringing to 23 the total number of locations to taste wine in the Umpqua Valley. There is nothing that excites me more then to learn of one more place to enjoy the wine making fruits of someone's labor right here in my own backyard.

My husband and I along with two of our dearest friends who enjoy wine as much as we do packed up and drove to HV Cellars new tasting room located in Tenmile just behind the Porter Creek store. We were not at all sure of what to expect. Our knowledge of HV Cellars previously called Hawks View Cellars with a winery located in Myrtle Point, was that they were doing primarily fruit wines. Since we were not fruit wine drinkers and have devoted our lives and our palettes to the appreciation of fine wine, we were a bit skeptical to say the least.

As we entered the tasting room we were pleasantly surprised to find a very neat and appealing room with a tasting bar and two additional tables where groups of four could be accommodated. Looking over the wine list we discovered HV cellars produces more than just fruit wine and we were excited to taste everything they had to offer. Evelyn, the winemakers wife who was working that day, proceeded to take us through the list. We started with the whites, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, both award winning wines and both were lovely and quite unique. We then ventured into the “red zone” and tried the Donna Rosa a Bordeaux blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Merlot added. This wine was a light bodied wine with great fruit, terrific acidity and each sip made me smile and left me wanting another taste. Evelyn told us they call this their spaghetti wine as it paired well with marinara sauce and we loved the idea of a classic French style wine pairing well with a classic Italian dish. Next we sampled the Syrah which was one of the most unusual Syrahs I had ever tasted with licorice, menthol, eucalyptus and spice all surrounding the deep fruit. We finished up the fine wine offerings with the Baco Noir which was rich and well finessed.

That left the four fruit wines. Since I am not a fruit wine drinker and had little experience with fruit wines I could not leave the tasting room without at least sampling their selection but I was absolutely positive I would not like any of them and expected each one to be a sweet, syrupy, cloying mess. Oh how wrong could a person be? We tried three of the four starting with their signature blackberry wine and “yummy” noises filled the room. The wine was like eating perfectly ripe blackberries from the vine at the peak of the season and the richness and depth of flavors was divine. The plum wine was deep and fruity had a lovely aroma of roses and flowers. The final wine was the cranberry wine which tasted exactly as you would expect anything coming from a cranberry would taste like, tart, expressive and full of flavor.

Our group left with wine to enjoy later and it might surprise some to know I took home a few bottles of the fruit wines. While fruit wines will never be regularly consumed at my house I could see a place for them. We all agreed how wonderful it was to have this new addition to our winery family making high quality fine wine and exceptional fruit wines and adding something new to the already amazing Umpqua Valley.

Outdoor Wine Tasting at its Best

It is that time of year again.  Good weather can be counted on and the days are longer providing us with more time to enjoy our lives outdoors.  With summer fast approaching I know many will be looking for great opportunities and venues to enjoy some of the best our wine country living has to offer. So at risk of sounding like a broken record it is once again time to talk about the best places to find everything you need for a mini vacation right in your own backyard.

While every local winery is worthy of visiting and each has its unique personality there are those wineries who have made big investments in providing outdoor wine country enjoyment.  At the top of my list is Julianna Vineyards and their river side deck. This deck located between their vineyard and the main Umpqua River has been extended to provide more seating and an even closer view of the river.  It is truly an idyllic setting where one can sip wine, relax and loose their cares in the peacefulness of it all.   For those who would like to take the experience one step further Julianna Vineyards is now offering Friday Night Date Night where visitors can preorder their dinners from Aromatica’s Feast in Roseburg and bring them to the Vineyard deck to enjoy with a bottle of Julianna Vineyard’s wine. A more romantic setting does not exist so whether you visit Julianna Vineyards to taste wine or to attend a Friday Night Date night, I highly recommend a visit.

Our newest tasting room Pyrenees Vineyards located just off exit 112 also has a lovely deck built right on the bank of the South Umpqua River.  You can  enjoy their Basque style tasting room and sample their varied wine line up.  Pack a picnic and spend the afternoon enjoying some wine while sitting right on the river.  Mountain views to one side and river views to the other make this a very special place.  The owners of Pyrenees have big plans for future additions to their property to make the property a true destination location and I will keep you posted on all the developments.  But don’t wait for that.  It is perfect just as it is.

Other recommendations for local wineries with outdoor space designed for visitors to stay a while include Becker Vineyard with their cozy deck with vineyard views, come for the wine and stay for the scenery.  Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyard has lovely places to picnic on their vineyard property, some available to wine club members only.  Hillcrest Vineyard added a deck last year so wine lovers can enjoy an expansive view of the Callahans while sipping their tremendous wines.  Henry Estate Winery has lovely grounds and plenty of picnic tables for couples and ideal for lager groups who are looking for a perfect place to spend some wine time.  MarshAnne Landing Winery offers a beautiful art gallery tasting room as well as a fabulous deck built high above the vines which allows maximum appreciation of views of the vineyard and surrounding rolling hills.  Bradley Vineyard in Elkton has the most delightful deck to sip wine and enjoy the vines and mature trees creating a cozy, quaint  feel.  Melrose Vineyards with their incredible well coiffed grounds is a perfect setting for a wine afternoon and Chateau Nonchalant with its delightful tasting room and expanded outside seating begs tasters to stay a while. 

Make plans to visit them all and find those wines and settings that speak to you. We will see you there…

Just Say No To Bill RU 5043

On April 15th 2010 RU 5034 a new bill was introduced into Congress which if passed will radically change the way wineries across the country and our state - particularly those right here in Douglas County- do business. And this radical change if implemented will not be good for our winery friends or for our region.

The Bill challenges current law which does not allow individual states to discriminate between in- and out-of-state wineries in matters of direct-to-consumer wine shipping. Direct-to-consumer wine shipping is now legal to varying degrees in 37 states and the District of Columbia.  One winery industry insider describe the proposed bill as  “the most onerous consumer wine law since the passage of the 18th Amendment and the onset of Prohibition”. The draft bill was written by the National Beer Wholesalers’ Association and the current bill RU5034 is virtually identical.  It is supported by the Wine & Spirits WHOLESALERS of America (WSWA) as well. These two organizations want to change the hard fought battles on the part of consumers to receive direct shipment of wines from small out of state wineries. Most recently, court decisions have been made in favor of the consumer but this bill would change that. If passed, HR 5034 will allow for new regulations to be put in place as well as reinstate old regulations on direct shipments of wine. It will also prevent any legal challenges to those regulatory barriers.

The alcohol wholesale associations are touting the legislation as necessary to protect children and minors from access to alcohol.  But to anyone well versed in the ways of purchasing alcohol on line or over the phone this is a ridiculous argument and a very obvious  ploy to guarantee a permanent monopoly for all alcohol to be distributed by their members.  All alcohol including wine, shipped through the US Postal Service, Fed Ex, UPS or any other shipping company requires a signature of someone 21 or over.  John Sasano wine blogger from California wine explains it best,”No youth ever ordered premium wine online, paid by credit card, waited a week for delivery, and presented a legal ID at delivery; if a youth were attempting to obtain alcohol, they would show up at the local convenience store with a $20 bill and ask older shoppers to buy them a 12 pack of Budweiser – instant gratification, realistic, real, no ID required. The “justification” for the bill is a charade. This is nothing more than bought and paid for politicians from both parties doing the bidding of their contributors.”

Many small, family owned wineries and that includes all of the wineries here in the Umpqua Valley rely on shipping directly to their customers to stay in business.This legislation has correctly been called anti-consumer and anti-small business by many. And it is not just the wineries that will suffer. Ending direct shipment of wine means consumers will no longer have the opportunity to enjoy limited release wines from small family owned wineries as most wholesalers don’t bother with small case lots of handcrafted artisan wines.  Consumer choice will be severely limited and support of the country's small artisan wineries will be next to impossible.

So please write or call your local representatives and tell them you oppose RU 5034.  And tell your friends to do the same. The health of our family owned wineries and our local economy depend on it!