Get Out Of Your Wine Rut

So often I am asked by wine tour clients and other wine interested folks what my favorite wine is. I often overhear clients and winery visitors trying to decide at any given winery which wine they like the very best. And this weekend while visiting a winery the tasting room staff member told us she and her husband only drink wines from that particular winery she worked for. So I thought it was high time to address all this and give some straight talk about “favorite” wines and finding wines you like.

I would like you to know when asked, “What is your favorite wine?” I always give the same response, “There are 365 days in the year and I can easily have 365 different favorites!” And this is absolutely the truth. I would no more want to eat the same food everyday then drink the same wine. Nor would I want to eat every meal from the same restaurant and chef everyday either. The point being that different moods as well as different seasons and any food you are enjoying as well as the setting and even those who you are sharing the wine with suggest different wines and ultimately a unique wine experience. These different experiences allow for a myriad of wines to explore and to enjoy and a wine lovers journey is never about finding just one favorite wine it is about the exploration and the advancement of their own wine journey. When visiting a winery and finding wines I like I never try to reduce it all to the best one. I am searching for wines that I find interesting and those that will enrich the enjoyment of my life. I look for wines I think will pair well with certain foods and those I want to enjoy all on their own. I look for warmer weather wines and cool weather wines, deep expressive wines and those that are uncomplicated and easy to drink for those times I just want to sip a glass of wine.

All of the talented wine makers I have ever met have made it clear they drink wine other than their own. I do believe this is what keeps their talent flowing and keeps them trying new things. Most understand the rut of getting what they call “local palate” so make sure they not only drink wines other than their own but make a point of sampling wines from many other wine regions of the world as well. So many I know get inspiration from tasting wines different from their own. For winery insiders to only drink one vintners wine is not only sad but really does themselves and their wine visitors who look to them as experts in their field, a disservice. Without comparisons and without exploration there is no knowledge. Without experiences there is no growth. Without growth there is no wisdom. Not to mention being in a wine rut is dull and no fun! Wines change and evolve in the bottle and each year new wines are released and passionate wine makers are trying out new winemaking styles. Mother nature delivers something different to us every year and to see the expression of nature and nurture in the bottle is fascinating. Drinking wines from other local wineries as well as wines from other states and countries allows for a true understanding of wine and the vastness of the wine world and the uniqueness of different wine regions. Simply put the more you explore outside of your own backyard the more you can appreciate what you have right at home. And you can appreciate it as it fits into a much bigger world out there.

All About Pinot…

Pinot Noir is by far the most widely planted grape variety in Oregon. It is by far the most popular wine made here and certainly the most well know. Oregon has literally established its excellent wine reputation on the ability to produce world class pinot noir. Those of us living in the Umpqua Valley are well aware that we do so much more than make excellent pinot but it is Oregon pinot that has put us on the world wine map. Pinot noir has become synonymous with Oregon wine and has brought us world wide attention and credibility as a wine region to be reckoned with.

Pinot noir is one of the oldest grape varieties to be cultivated for the purpose of making wine. Recognized worldwide as a great wine grape, pinot noir is grown in Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Croatia Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany Greece, Hungary, Italy Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States. While pinot is grown all over the world it is the pinot noir wines of Burgundy France that have allowed for its tremendous reputation. The two-mile-wide, thirty-mile-long stretch of hills, called the Côte d'Or ("Slope of Gold"), is the holy grail for producing the very best pinot noir wines. Wines from this region are considered the benchmark for great pinot. The Willamette Valley here in Oregon has earned the reputation as the best pinot producing region in the US.

There are many different clones of pinot noir. While there are 46 recognized pinot noir clones in France, there are estimated to be between 200 to 1000 different clones worldwide. Pinot noir is grown for producing the red wine we have come to know and love here in Oregon but it is also the grape used in Champagne and most sparkling wines. It is a very difficult grape to grow. It is thinned skinned and nearly every affliction known to affect grape vines is common among pinot noir vineyards. It is also a very difficult wine to make. The challenges that come with growing and making top quality pinot noir are part of the allure for talented grape growers and vintners. The ability to make a well finessed, balanced, beautiful bottle of pinot is very much the pinnacle for many winemakers and it is that challenge that keeps our dedicated vintners striving each year to make the very best pinot possible.

Great pinot noir creates a lasting impression on both the palate and the memory. With so many clones available, combined with each unique vineyard site and the challenges in growing and producing pinot, there are many different styles of wine made. The quality can vary greatly as can the flavor profiles. Pinots can display fruity characteristics very often black cherry, strawberry and raspberry. Some pinots are more earthy with almost a barnyard quality to them and others are more floral with hints of roses and violets. And there is very often layers of spice and vegital characteristics too. Much to explore and to appreciate in this very complex wine.

While the Umpqua Valley has not yet received the same recognition for making world class Pinot that has been bestowed upon the Willamette Valley many of us think it is just a matter of time before that happens. The numerous awards our areas pinots consistently receive make that very clear. Just get out and try some local pinot noir and you too will be convinced.

Great Summer Wines

Summer is finally here. And with it comes a longing for different wines and different food pairings. Hot days and family gatherings suggest light, easy to drink wines that refresh and invigorate rather than help to put us in the hibernation mode often associated with the short, cold days of winter. So I am devoting this column to some of my favorite summer wines.

Right now I am really enjoying Spangler Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc just does not get the appreciation it deserves especially here in Oregon and there seems to be a lack of understanding about this beautiful variety. More often then not it takes a back seat to the other, better know white varietal Chardonnay. For my money and palette finding a well done Sauvignon Blanc is something worth paying attention to and I highly recommend checking this Sauvignon Blanc out. Serve it cool but not cold and allow its beautiful fruit to shine through. The great balance of acidity keeps it refreshing and makes it a terrific wine to enjoy on its own as well as with light summer salads and pastas. Pat Spangler consistently makes beautiful Sauvignon Blanc and my understanding is this will be the last year they will produce this wine. Do yourself a huge favor and get out and try this wine while you can.

HillCrest Vineyard recently released their very first rose called “Tamas” named after the rosé king of Hungary, Duzsi Tamas. And it is a rosé made for red wine lovers. Dry with terrific intense fruit flavors and with a mouth feel that makes you smack your lips with each sip you just can't stop drinking this wine. This is definitely not your grandmother's rosé and drinks as well alone as it does paired with barbequed items. HillCrest recently released a Pinot Noir Blanc... yes, a pinot noir done like a white wine which has the color of Blanc de Noir Champagne and complex layered fruit that goes on forever. As with all of owner/wine maker Dyson DeMara's wines, the brightness and acidity is fine tuned to perfection. Another excellent summer wine addition and one that could get any self proclaimed red wine only drinker out of the red wine rut.

While on the subject of rosés and they are back in fashion in a really big way, I must draw your attention to Palotai Vineyard's Bella Rosa just right for dry rosé lovers and Becker Vineyard's Rosé which is off dry and the perfect summer deck wine for those looking for a slightly sweeter rosé.

I could not even contemplate writing this column with out singing the praises of Brandborg Vineyard's 2008 Gewurztraminer. Terry Brandborg is well known for his award winning Pinot Nor but consistently produces beautiful Gewurztraminer and this years is fantastic again. This off dry Gewurztraminer is packed with layered fruit and floral flavors with great balance of acidity and would pair very well with spicy Asian inspired barbequed meats or other spicy dishes. That is if you can wait until the food ready! Yummy all on its own too!

These are just a few of my favorites. There are so many more wonderful summer wines out there just waiting for you to discover them. The Umpqua Valley's diverse climates and soils combined with our diverse group of talented wine makers allows for so many different varieties of wines and styles. Truly something for everyone.