Oregon
- Gregory Cellars
- Jan 13
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
When Horace Greeley said, “Go West, young man”, he did not know that there was amazing grape-growing terroir at the end of the Oregon Trail. I had several great vacations in which I was able to explore Pinot Noirs in Willamette Valley and hang out during the prestigious UFO Days (Fig 1) in McMinnville, Oregon. Willamette Valley is Oregon’s leading wine region with nearly 700 wineries and features amazing farmer’s markets that are vibrant in color and rich in nutrients. Willamette Valley has nine appellations, and I was able to visit four of the sub AVAs: Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton, Eola-Amity Hills, and McMinnville. McMinnville itself is located near the 45th parallel, like Burgundy, France, with preferred microclimates and soil types for producing only 2% of the world's wine but over 20% of the 90-point ratings of all wine produced globally. The volcanic soil and sediment created as an 8000-foot seabed from 15 million years ago, produce wine that are extremely bright with acidity and minerality and complex with super concentrated flavor profiles with expressive finishes. Multiple style vineyard releases are a treat for horizontal tastings. Currently, the valley is in a drought but typically averages 40 inches of rain a year.
This is a list of some of the best wines tasted and evaluated on our trip:
2017 Bryn Mawr Krista’s Block Pinot Noir $79.00/bottle (Eola-Amity AVA) Appearance: RED: Pale Garnet Nose: Cherry, raspberry, plum, earthy Palate: Notable Characteristics:
1. Body: light 2. Alcohol: medium 3. Sweetness: off dry 4. Tannins: low 5. Acidity: medium-high Flavor: Expressive and complex with dark cherry, earthy, oaky, black fruits, and cherry cola notes. 2018 vintage is rated at 93 points.
2017 Laurel Ridge Barrel Select Pinot Noir $44.00/bottle (From the Yamhill-Carlton AVA) Appearance: RED: Pale Purple Nose: Plum, vanilla, all spice, cherry, strawberry Palate: Notable Characteristics: 6. Body: medium 7. Alcohol: medium 8. Sweetness: dry 9. Tannins: smooth 10. Acidity: medium-high Flavor: strawberry, dried cherry, cinnamon, and clove with a dry, spicy finish of white pepper. Right from the foothills of Chahalem, this is a well-balanced and very expressive variety of wine with complex fruit and minerality. Exceptional wine at a great price point.
Eminent Domaine 2018 Pinot Noir Reserve $70.00/bottle Appearance: RED: Pale Ruby Nose: Strawberries, black berries, mushroom, barnyard Palate: Notable Characteristics: 11. Body: medium 12. Alcohol:medium 13. Sweetness: off - dry 14. Tannins: light 15. Acidity: medium Flavor: Intense black, blue, and red berries with a long, smooth velvety finish. This is a bold, big time Oregon Pinot superstar.
Coeur de Terre Tallulah’s Run Reserve Pinot Noir $65.00/bottle Appearance: RED: Medium Ruby Nose: Aromatically intense black current, red and dark fruits Palate: Notable Characteristics: 1. Body: light 2. Alcohol: medium 3. Sweetness: dry 4. Tannins: low
5. Acidity: medium-high Flavor: Ripe dark fruits, caramel, pepper, raspberry jam, plum, all spice.
2018 Domaine de Broglie Block B Pinot Noir SOLD OUT (From Dundee Hills AVA) Appearance: RED: Deep Ruby Nose: Aromatically intense flavors of strawberry, raspberry, cherry oak, mushroom and earthiness. Palate: Notable Characteristics: 1. Body: light-medium 2. Alcohol: high (14.7% abv) 3. Sweetness: bone dry 4. Tannins: medium, balanced and smooth
5. Acidity: medium-high Flavor: Tart dry finish with cherry, barnyard, black current, raspberry, and almond notes. Really elegant and delicate with amazing mouthwatering acidity.
Any visit to McMinnville should include a 70-minute trip to the coast and visit Pacific City. The scenic and epic beach vibe is breathtaking. Right from the beach (Fig 2) on Cape Kawanda Drive lies the Pelican Brewing Company that has an amazing lineup of brew and pub-style food. Across the street, at the Cape Kawanda Marketplace, I had perhaps three of the best oyster shooters I have ever tasted. The Yaquina Bay oysters were the full of salinity and complimented with amazing horseradish with the garnish. These oysters are harvested approximately 45 minutes from Pacific City and were super fresh.
Wine tasting in Willamette Valley offers a unique experience (Fig. 3) due to the regions cool-climate conditions and rich soil which fosters the production of wines with distinct characteristics. At Coeur de Terre (Fig 4), we compared a Syrah from Oregon to one from the Rhone Valley and the differences were notable. Oregon Syrah tends to have a more restrained, elegant profile, marked by vibrant acidity, bright fruit flavors like blackberry and plum, and subtle peppery and herbal notes. In contrast, Syrah from the Rhone, particularly from regions like Cote-Rotie or Hermitage, is typically more full-bodied and bolder, with deeper, more complex flavors of dark fruit, smoked meat, and earthy, savory undertones. The Rhone’s warmer climate contributes to the wine’s richness and intensity, while Oregon’s cooler climate allows for more finesse and freshness in Syrah. This beautiful part of the country promotes many educational opportunities for those who are life-longer learners about viticulture and wine traditions (Fig. 5).
Meanwhile back in McMinnville, it’s always fun hanging out on 3rd Street. It is like stepping into a wine lover’s paradise with a huge helping of small-town charm. The laid-back atmosphere invites you to linger at cozy wine bars and tasting rooms where you can sip on the local Pinot Noir and other varietals while chatting with wine stewards. One find was Alcorn to Vine. In partnership with Linfield University, in McMinnville, the Alcorn to Oaktasting experience showcases wines from 29 Oregon producers and is custom tailored by studying viticulture at the university. Linfield University offers a comprehensive curriculum in wine studies and students can emphasis coursework in classes like wine sensory evaluation, microbiology of grapes and wine, wine accounting, sales, or finance, and marketing, including social media content and strategy. Some proceeds to this program help with the scholarship program at the university. It is both fun and incredibly informative to taste wine at Alcorn to Oak by these college students about to graduate in the field, as their passion for the craft and infectious energy made the experience truly memorable.
Hiking is a great way to take a break from visiting world-class wineries and wine study, and there is no better place to do that in Oregon (Fig. 7). The South Falls Historic District is located within Silver Falls State Park. The district encompasses structures and landscapes associated with park development during the 1930s and 1940s. The trails offer a breathtaking hike through lush forest canopy, rocky cliffs, and behind cascading waterfalls (Vid. 1), with South Falls as its stunning centerpiece. A narrow trail winds behind the waterfall, giving you an amazing view of the cascading water from behind the well. The land was originally inhabited by the Kalapuya people, who were hunters and gatherers. I highly recommend this spiritual and physically-challenging hike on which remains today as part as the South Falls Historic District.
The McMinnville Wine and Food Classic (Fig. 8), known as, “Sip”, is an amazing annual event that brings together Oregon’s premier wineries, chefs, brewers, distillers, artisan, and musicians. It is held at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum and must be one of top wine festivals in the United States. The museum is a captivating destination to hold an event like this and is home to the Spruce Goose and an incredible collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft. This a must-see event, worthwhile meeting some of the outstanding wine makers in Oregon.
McMinnville itself took me back to my childhood growing up in Brookings, South Dakota. In rural, agricultural communities Main Street is where the action is. McMinnville’s Main Street certainly did not disappoint my expectations. One of the oldest buildings in town, the McMenamins Hotel Oregon, opened in 1905, has the feel of an old western main street located somewhere near the end of the Oregon Trail. I highly recommend a roof top happy hour cheeseburger and enjoy the sunset over the Yamhill rolling hills and all its beauty. Around every corner, there’s a culinary gem, like Capo’s with its fantastic hot sauce and wine list. There is farm to table bistros, and artisanal bakeries, each offering dishes the perfectly complement the region’s wines. The tree-lined street, dotted with boutique shops and vibrant art galleries, creates an irresistible vibe that makes it a perfect place to relax, unwind, and soak the best of Oregon’s wine country. If you get a chance to travel to Willamette Valley, check out these local businesses! Absolutely gorgeous part of our country.
Further study is needed in the state of Oregon (Fig 9, 10). The southern part of the state with Red Hill Douglas County AVA and Elkton Oregon AVA in Umpqua AVA, Applegate Valley AVA and Rogue Valley AVA, as well the more familiar, Columbia Gorge AVA, along the Columbia River would be amazing places to visit. The diverse range of climates and soils in these areas allow for everything from cool-climate whites to robust reds. And although I have pretty much gone to Willamette Valley to enjoy Pinot Noir, Oregon is also home to some lesser-known, emerging wine regions worth visiting. These regions offer a chance to taste unique expressions of Oregon wine, often in fun, smaller, boutique settings that prioritize craftsmanship and experimentation. Below are some of my Oregon wine labels (Fig. 11, 12, 13).
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