Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

After 4 weeks of touring France, it’s time to bring things back in a local fashion! So this week, the Tasting of the Week is: Home Grown! Wines of Oregon! It’s no question that we have, over here, some of the best and most sought-after wines in the world. It’s something we can easily take for granted, since there are just so many of these wineries in our own back yards. However, once you step past the borders of Oregon (and Washington), the wines become even more hard to find.

Of course, what we appear to grow the most appears to be Pinot Noir, the finicky grape that loves the soil and climate over here, and gives some of the French burgundies a run for their money. Plus, speaking of money, most of them seem to charge a whole lot of it for these Oregon-grown delicacies; many of the premier Pinots going for $50 and up. The price tag doesn’t seem to waver the public, as the bottles still fly off the shelves. Of course, the big-screen debut of Pinot Noir in that movie Sideways has done wonders for the wine’s image, and exponentially expanded the sales. It’s funny how a little screen time can do that.

Here, in the real world, we can’t really afford the $50 and up Pinots for everyday consumption, and every week I have people looking for bottles under $15. . or even under $20. They’re few and far between, but I have found a few. And yes, they’re good! I’ve got 2 of those in the tasting.

What? Just two?

Yes, well. . .At last count, there were around 300 or more wineries in Oregon. Almost every one of them makes at least one Pinot Noir. Many of them make 10 or 20. So of the thousands upon thousands of Pinot Noir out there. . .yes, I have two of them. Now, consider that if all 7 wines in the tasting were Pinot, that would still be just a drop in the bucket. And we mustn’t forget the fact that we grow other stuff out here too. No. . not THAT stuff, I mean other wine varieties. And although they might not have the screen time that the Pinot did, dare I say that I like them better?

So Friday, August 5th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Home Grown! Wines of Oregon!
Sass 2003 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
A to Z 2004 Pinot Gris, Oregon
La Bete 2003 Cuvee Lambrey, Willamette Valley
Rachel’s Cellars 2003 Pinot Noir, Hawk’s View Vineyard, Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2002 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

Some More Really Good Wines of Oregon!!
Mystic 2001 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Abacela 2003 Grenache, Umpqua Valley

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Australia!

M