Wine country tourism is on the rise and one of the fastest growing destinations is Oregon’s Willamette Valley. I’ve visited the past two summers (July and August are relatively dry with pleasant if not hot weather) and after my last visit came away convinced that the Willamette Valley is a destination that should be on every wine lover’s list. Why? It’s not just the amazing Pinot Noir, the grape varietal the region is most famous for. There’s more and more to see, eat and drink than ever before, and it’s only going to get better. Wine giant Jackson Family Wines (aka Kendall Jackson) jsut bought a winery in the Willamette Valley, as did French wine house Louis Jadot, its first US acquisition. Here, my favorite experiences. Sokol Blosser’s new tasting room Talk about a destination winery, this is a building for art and architecture as well as wine fans alike.…
Speed Wine Tasting and Blogging in Portland
You know about speed dating, but what about speed wine tasting? In Portland at the annual Wine Bloggers Conference we’re tasting Oregon whites and rosés at a breakneck rate, and blogging about it live as it happens. 10 wineries showed up to pour, trying to convince us that their wines are blog worthy all in five minutes. Is this a good way to try wine, or just a gimmick? Let’s go…
First up – Amity Vineyards. Matt from Amity offers a 2009 estate dry Riesling. 91 cases made. Old vine Riesling – some planted in 1971. There’s petrol and flowers on the nose and it is super dry with lots of citrus. Not bad for $20, but you have to get it at the winery. This one has potential. The bell rings for a winery change. Go!