Discover the Future of Oregon Wine: Unfolding Varieties and Regions
Oregon is a world-renowned wine destination famous for its Pinot Noir, a cool climate grape variety known to thrive amidst our fog-kissed valleys and sun-dappled summer days. But the sun doesn’t set on this illustrious grape; it’s just the beginning of a new, more diverse chapter in Oregon’s wine production story. So buckle up and come on a journey through the rolling hills and lush vineyards as we uncover some promising emerging varieties and budding wine regions across our beloved Beaver State.
An Adventure Beyond Pinot Noir
As someone deeply knit to the fabric of Oregon’s culture, it’s exciting to watch vine growers and winemakers experiment with new grape varietals. For instance, aromatic whites like Grüner Veltliner, traditionally an Austrian variety, are beginning to flourish in the Willamette Valley. If you’ve ever ambled your way along the charming 99W, you may have noticed a sign pointing to Brooks Winery, one of the pioneering vineyards planting Grüner Veltliner with commendable success. Their wine displays the exotic spice notes and racy acidity that’s got everyone buzzing.
And if you’ve spent some time at Sunday picnics down at Colonel Summers Park, you can easily leap to Oregon’s take on Gamay Noir – a fruity red cultivar native to France’s Beaujolais region. Division Winemaking Company, a Portland gem nestled in the heart of the urban winery neighborhood of SE Wine Collective, is a trailblazer in producing irresistible Oregon Gamay Noir wines.
Exploring the Southern Savant: Rogue Valley
Now, slip into your favorite pair of hiking boots because our trek to the future of Oregon’s wine is venturing south. Here, past Crater Lake’s sapphire caress, we discover the glory of the Rogue Valley. This restful haven, cradled by the Siskiyou and Cascade ranges, is becoming famous for its innovative and diverse wine culture.
The expressions of Rhone varieties like Syrah and Viognier grown at Folin Cellars or Cowhorn Vineyard are textbook examples of the quality wines emerging from Southern Oregon. Here, the summer days are longer and sunnier than in the Willamette Valley, allowing these warmer-climate varietals to ripen fully. And you know what that means? Oodles of the kind of robust, spicy wines that’ll warm your bones after a blustery day of storm watching on the Oregon coast.
Easterly Endeavors: Columbia Gorge
When most folks think of Oregon wine, they picture the Willamette Valley’s picturesque rolling hills, not the basalt cliffs and wildflower meadows of the Columbia Gorge. But much like Columbia Gorge’s eponymous windsurfers, winemakers in this region aren’t afraid to ride the gusts of change.
Amongst the craggy terrain and windswept vista, the exciting range of grape varieties exceeds what one might expect. Tempranillo from The Pines 1852 Winery and Albariño from Idiot’s Grace Vineyard are turning heads and delighting palates across the State and beyond.
The Pouring Potential of Oregon
Around this lovely chunk of Pacific Northwest territory, we are constantly nurturing a blooming array of varietals. The old saying “it’s always raining or about to rain in Oregon” may not hold true always, but as long as the rain nourishes our grapes, we’ll never complain.
From the dense forests of Coastal Range to the shadow of Mt. Hood, Oregon’s winemakers paint a vivid palette of flavors across the canvas of our geography. Trailblazing growers and vintners are crafting a future for Oregon that matches the diversity of our terrain and the eclecticism of our denizens.
Next time you get the chance to sip Oregon wine, whether at a trendy wine bar along Alberta Street in Portland or down at the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, go beyond the standard pour of Pinot. Explore the edges, the micro-climates, the less-known grapes. Emerging varieties and burgeoning wine regions are peppering our beloved Oregon with even more delightful gustatory surprises.
So why wait? The future of Oregon wine promises a vibrant, varietal fare, as diverse and exciting as the Beaver State itself. Here’s to Oregon, to the wine, and to you—ready to explore and savor it all, one marvelous vintage at a time!