Spring is rapidly approaching! (Maybe I’m getting a bit ahead of myself on this one, but the warm weather last week really got me in the mood for springtime.) I don’t know about you but I’m excited to say goodbye to the dark, cool winter weather and hello to the sunny days of spring. There nothing better than getting outside and working in the garden or watching a great baseball game once the weather starts to turn. Coupled with the turn from cool to warmer, I tend to put away the spicy red wines and look towards the crisp white ones a bit more often. I’m excited to enjoy a Semi-sparkling Muscat from Noble Estate or a nice Reisling from Lavelle. Yum! Crisp and refreshing! They will be perfect to enjoy while watching a sunset on the porch after a spending a nice afternoon planting flowers and veggie starts with my kids (or to relax with after coaching t-ball practice with a team of 12, 5-8 year old crazy kids).  Oh the joys of spring!

So, when spring finally does arrive, what sorts of wines are you looking forward to enjoying and what will you be doing (or recovering from) while you do?

AHH! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day!! If you’re like me and still looking for that perfect gift, you should head to your local winery and take a peek at their selection of dessert wines. Forget expensive jewelry, dessert wines are the perfect gift! They are sweet and lovely, but are out-of –the-box enough to make you love think you spent a lot of time and energy finding that one-of-a-kind token of love.

It’s also great for the Vegan you love as well as those with food allergies. Chocolate isn’t always a good choice for those with dietary restrictions but wine is naturally gluten, dairy, soy, and nut free – which is why dessert wines are perfect! Many of our local wineries have their own dessert wines, but I especially  recommend Sarver Winery’s Vin Glace, and Noble Estate’s Passion (technically not a dessert wine –but amazing and perfect for Valentine’s day!). King Estate also has a great one, as does Pfeifer Winery and Chateau Loraine. Even if sweet wine isn’t your thing, almost all the wineries have a Rose –which is just the perfect color to celebrate with your loved one and it pairs nicely with almost any meal.  So tomorrow head to any of our fabulous local wineries and pick up a bottle of wine, or treat your true love to a nice day of wine tasting! Make this Valentine’s Day, a day to remember, a day to cherish, and a day to prove your love!

Last weekend I took a break from homework and attempted to get my mind away from all this nasty weather we’ve been having around here. I met up with a friend of mine out at Domaine Meriwether and had ourselves a tour of the world…wine style.

We had a flight of wine out at Domaine Meriwether in Veneta, Oregon and tried to transport our minds out of the fog and somewhere beautiful. Sometimes we got away from the cold completely and other times we got transported to a beautiful fireplace inside a ski lodge somewhere even colder than the freezing fog we were experiencing in the Willamette Valley.

We started our subliminal vacation with the Domaine Meriwether Non-Vintage Cuveѐ. This was a great start to our world vacation as it transported us over the seas to beautiful Paris, France. We found ourselves feeling classy and romantic as we sipped our sparkles gazing out of the Eiffel Tower.

From there inside our glass of 2007 Pinot Gris, we flew north a bit, to Stockholm, Sweden.We were walking through the ornate gardens at Drottningholm Palace, feeling a warm breeze and enjoying the amazing view of the 16^th century home of the Swedish Royal Family.

The Pinot Rosѐ took our minds back to the United States, right on down to the subtropical climate of Charleston, South Carolina. We were down at the waterfront in spring, touring Rainbow Row and enjoying all the colors and the immense history of our country.

Our next pour was the 2010 Celebration Gewertztraminer (my favorite) and it took us right down to the South Pacific to Fiji! We were sunbathing on the bow of an 80 foot Schooner, sailing through the Mamanuca Islands, watching the dolphins jump and feeling the ocean spray hit our faces.  This one definitely had us out of the freezing fog! I loved it!

The 2006 Pinot Noir got us back to the cooler weather, where we found ourselves in Sandpoint, Idaho. We were up on Schweitzer Mountain at the White Pine Lodge cozied up in front of the fire, watching the fresh snow fall, after a sunny but cold day on the slopes.

The 2006 celebration Pinot Noir took us in a bit more of an easterly direction but stayed in the same cold weather. We found ourselves in Vermont at a charming bed & breakfast, warming ourselves up under handmade quilts after an exhausting day out on the ice, fishing for the fighting Northern Pike.  It was homey, and comforting.

Our last stop on the Cold weather inducing Pinot Noir train was back to the Oregon Coast. The AMAZING 2005 Pinot Noir took us to the beautiful Oregon Coast during a raging winter storm. We found ourselves wrapped in a blanket on the balcony at our beach front resort in Cannon Beach watching the waves crash into Haystack Rock.

We finished off our amazing global wine tour with the famous Domaine Meriwether Celebration Cuveѐ. This sparkling joy took us right down to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for our last international trip of the day. We were lying out on the beach looking out at the crystal blue water watching the waves and the surfers trying to compete with them.

All in all, it was a great international tour. We went all over the world and experienced many different climates. We realized one thing though; beautifully crafted wines can take your mind you beautiful places, if you open yourself up to a little imagination. It’s a great way to get away from daily life, and our nasty Northwest weather. Try it the next time you go wine tasting. Open yourself up and see where those varietals can transport you, it could surprise you!Enjoy!

“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”

-Ernest Hemingway

Antioxidant-rich butternut squash and pumpkin soup, served in mini pumpkins, is a delicious and  healthy way to start a meal. Pair with Pinot Noir!

Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Soup
Serves 6

This slightly sweet, low-fat soup provides a cornucopia of heart-healthy antioxidants, carotenoids, and bioflavonoids. Served in a pumpkin, it makes a grand opening to a holiday meal.

1 medium pumpkin or 6 mini pumpkins
2 1/2 pounds butternut squash or any orange-fleshed winter squash
3 cups vegetable stock
1 cup filtered water
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup carrots, peeled and diced
1 apple, cored and diced
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1. Wash pumpkin, cut off top and reserve for a lid. Scrape out seeds and fiber with a spoon. Cut squash in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and fiber, and peel if waxed. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces and set aside.

2. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Cover and boil. Reduce to simmer, and cook for 30 minutes or until squash, pumpkin, and vegetables are tender.

3. Transfer a quarter of the mixture to a blender or food processor. Carefully blend, covering blender or food processor with a towel. Repeat with remaining mixture until all is blended. Stir to blend the batches.

4. Serve hot in a large hollowed-out pumpkin or individually in mini pumpkins.

Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to get a break from homework, kids and the hustle and bustle of the beginnings of the holiday season (which seems to have started extra early this year, or is it just me?) so I snuck down to the Wineries without Walls tasting with J. Scott Cellars, during the Holiday Bizarre in Veneta.
I have been to the Wineries without Walls before for various tastings and are there is always a steady stream of people coming and going. This time though it was packed (literally! Like a tiny sardine can full of wine). I patiently waited my turn to get to the tasting bar, chatting with my grade school teachers, before I got to say hi to Jonathan Oberlander and get my first taste of his wines… Uh?! YUM!
I definitely don’t classify myself as a “true connoisseur” of wine (I just know what I enjoy and I enjoy them often) but I like to think I can appreciate the nuances each varietal has to offer, even though I seldom like an entire flight (I like to blame my inexperienced palate). So when I say, the entire J. Scott Cellars 10-wine flight was frickin’ fantastic (yes. Frickin) you should know that it’s like picking a 4-leaf clover, or winning the lottery (which is almost how I felt when I left; all warm and fuzzy, like a real winner)
Anyway, as I made my way through the entire extended version of a wine flight, I was loving every single one of them. There was one though, that I am still thinking about (and kicking myself for not buying a bottle of it) and it was the Chardonnay. Buttery doesn’t even begin to describe the taste of this summery sipper. Buttery is to this Chardonnay as cold is to the arctic (hint: HUGE understatement). The buttery element you get with this Chardonnay is unlike any other I have ever tasted. It is the first taste on your palate and is crazy smooth. It ends with the light fruity taste you expect to get upfront (what?!). It’s completely ass-backwards compared to what I thought a “true” chardonnay should be and I cannot get it out of my head (did I mention it was buttery?). Its amazing. Mind-boggling even. Try it.

Since my immersion into our local wine community and the ensuing increase in wine tasting, consumption, and overall absorption of all types of wine, I have discovered my relationship with certain types of red wines has become much more positive (when I say positive I mean I have bought more than a few bottles of local Pinot Noir and Malbec for myself, without any other excuse than I just wanted to).

So, with in a quest to pair my new love of red wine with the change of seasons and our first Oregon rain storm in the last 4 months, I decided to embrace these elements and transform them into something I could eat. Sunday night I made an amazing Elk & Pinot Noir “Stew”.

I’m providing you with the recipe below so you can brighten up your cool fall nights with a nice hot bowl of deliciousness and give yourself another excuse to enjoy more of our amazing local Pinot Noir.

1 ½ lb. Elk meat -cubed or ground

2 T. Olive oil

1 onion –chopped

3 garlic cloves – minced

5 smaller sized potatoes scrubbed clean (Yukon Golds are my fav.) -cubed

3 large carrots scrubbed or peeled –sliced

2 celery stalks with leafy tops–sliced

3 -4 c. beef broth

1-1 ½ c. Pinot Noir

½ t. dried thyme

½ t. dried rosemary

½ t. celery seed

½ T. onion powder

1 T. Salt

3 t. Pepper

Brown the meat in the olive oil. Add all the veggies. Stir together. Let it cook for about 5 minutes. Add in liquids, (enough to cover all the meat & veggies). Add in seasonings. Stir well. Cover and let simmer for about 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with biscuits or ??? and a generous glass of Pinot Noir! Enjoy!

Wine is often thought of as something to be tasted with your senses. Your eyes, nose, and mouth can all sense how delicious (or not) the wine is. Right?! But how many of you have been transported by your brain to a place, seen a color, or heard a song? I tend to see wine as my way to escape the whine in my house. It’s cheaper than a vacation and a whole lot more practical when you are trying to get through your 3^rd year of college, while parenting 2 young children. As the empty bottle knows, sometimes I need a little help just to stay sane.

Now I’ll be honest, the whole color thing has never actually happened, but it could. Right now I’m attempting to find a color to paint the main hallway in my house. My house is full of neutral colors; tan, beige, chocolate brown, sage green. I want a pop of color, I want to be that eclectic person with the cool house. Also at the moment, I’m starting an internship and need a topic to write a blog (this blog) about wine. Voila! Topic idea! Can wine (not whine) help me with my color dilemma? Let’s try picking a color through a flight at the nearest winery!

Since drinking wine alone isn’t my thing, I decided to pick up my retired mother on the way up. As we headed up to Sarver Winery I explained my thoughts and was gifted with a confused look and the typical motherly, “Ok Dear, Whatever you think”. Gee thanks, mom. At this point I wasn’t feeling too confident, but I was going to do it and see where it takes me.

(Note: Sarver is our go-to winery for two reasons, the close proximity to our houses and their amazing barrel-aged Pinot Gris)

This was our tasting list and the colors I “saw” when I tasted each one:

Gewurztraminer: Pastel (no singular color came to mind). It was very light and subdued, but fruity and delicious.

Estate Stainless-Steel Aged Pinot Gris: Sunset Orangy-yellow. This was bright and summery, and made me think of a beautiful tropical sunset.

Estate Pinot Noir Rose:  Deep tropical-ocean blue. This still carried the bright and fruity note, but it had more depth than the previous two.

This was the spot in the tasting where my mom’s confusion changed and she finally understood what I was doing. “Hallelujah, we have lift-off!”

Estate Pinot Noir: Rust. (Note: The reds were much tougher to pin colors to) This one had the depth and spice, but it also had some mellow, brighter notes to it as well.

Estate Pinot Noir Select: Chocolate Brown. Deeper & a bit more complex than the previous Pinot, but still carried the mellow notes.

Sarver Cuvee: Deep Pumpkin Orange. I really thought this would’ve been red but it just didn’t quite reach the true deep, dark red that would truly translate to the color red. It was nice.

Estate Barrel-Aged Pinot Gris: Lime Green. (I don’t think it was just coincidence that my favorite wine made me think of my favorite color). This wine is bright, fruity and amazing. This is the epitome (in my world) of a clean summer (or always) wine.

The take-away from this little experiment: I’m capable of blogging. My mother needs a few moments to understand where my creativity is headed. Barrel-aged Pinot Gris, is still one of my favorites. AND… I’m not eclectic and cool. I’m classic and traditional. I’m neutral, like Switzerland. I think I’ll get my pop of color with throw pillows instead (but maybe in ALL the colors hidden in Sarver’s wines).

Cheers!

Reprinted with permission by WineJulia.com

By Julia Crowely

Just outside of Eugene, Oregon, in the rural town of Cheshire, there’s a very small,  family owned and operated nine acre vineyard: RainSong Vineyard. Six of the nine acres are Pinot Noir, one acre is Chardonnay and two acres are Pinot Meunier – the three main varietals used in the production of champagne. Less than 1,500 cases are produced each year.

Although RainSong produces an excellent sparkling wine made in the traditional Methode Champenoise style, their 2009 Pinot Meunier seriously blew me away. I was expecting a highly tannic and acidic wine, something close to the only other Pinot Meunier I had ever tried; however, what I experienced was very much the opposite. Beautiful aromas of cherries, raspberries and forest floor led to extremely well balanced flavors of dark cherries, cassis and licorice. Flavors flowed flawlessly from front to back, leaving a silky mouth feel and medium lingering finish, and wow, was I ever impressed. No longer are my views of Pinot Meunier negative – a new door has opened.

Reprinted with permission of Eugene Daily News.

By Julia Crowley

My summertime kitchen

“Fire up that grill, honey!” I’ve said those exact words on numerous occasions since the clouds have dispersed and the sun has been shining down on the Willamette Valley; indeed, I love to cook in the great outdoors – one of the many reasons why I love summer.

In the past two weeks, I’ve used the outdoor grill on twelve of those fourteen days. With as much grilling as I’ve been doing, I’m always on the prowl for new and exciting recipes. From Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon to an entire wheel of ooey-gooey grilled Brie cheese, I am absolutely loving the the ease of outdoor cooking.

Savory Grilled Blueberry Pizza | Photo chindeep.com

While I love discovering all these great grilling recipes, I also love pairing wine with the food I’m preparing. With each recipe, I’ve carefully thought about what wine would be perfectly matched with the food, and so far I’ve come across some truly ambrosial combinations.

My favorite recent food and wine pairing was a Savory Grilled Blueberry Pizza, from chindeep.com, with a glass of Domaine Meriwether 2005 Pinot Noir. Another pairing I loved was Bourbon Bacon BBQ Ribs paired with a 2010 Petite Sirah from King Estate – unconditionally delicious. For a quick and easy appetizer, I grilled sourdough baguette slices alongside a wheel of Brie cheese, then dipped the grilled bread into the melted Brie while sipping on a chilled glass of 2009 Terriorial Pinot Gris, an outstanding pairing.

The list goes on, so enjoy these gorgeous sunny days and get out of the kitchen. Fire up that grill and follow me over to WineJulia.com for summer grilling recipes and exceptional wine pairings.

Wine Bars, Shops and Restaurants

 Territorial Vineyards and Wine Co.: Thu. 5-11 pm, music starts around 7 pm with The Porch Band; Fri. 5-11 pm, music starts around 7 pm with The Anthony McCarthy Duo; August Art: Shanna Trumbley. 907 West Third Ave., Eugene.

LaVelle Tasting Room at 5th Street Market: Mon. – Sat. 11 am -9 pm, Sun. 11 am – 6 pm; Thurs. live music with Gus Russell, Paul Biondi and friends; Fri. 6-8 pm, live music with Jerry Zybach Trio; Sat. 6-8 pm, live music with Joanne Broh and the Love Bandits. 296 E. 5th Ave., Eugene.

Red Agave: Excellent wine list, including Oregon’s finest from King Estate, Territorial, Evesham Wood and Cristom, to name just a few. 454 Willamette St., Eugene.

B2 Wine Bar: Fri. 8:20 pm, Movies Under the Stars featuring Casablanca; Happy Hour Mon.-Fri., 4-6 pm, and 9-10 pm. Loads of Northwest wines offered here. 2794 Shadow Dr., Eugene.

Sam’s Place Tavern: Sports bar with a wine list featuring excellent Oregon wine at great glass pour prices – Henry Estate, 5H, Eola Hills and King Estate. 825 Wilson St., Eugene.

Wineries & Vineyards

LaVelle Vineyards (winery in Elmira): Fri. 5-9 pm, Friday Night Flights CANCELLED due to private event. Visit the winery daily, Mon.-Thu. 12-5 pm, and Sat./Sun. 12-6 pm. 89697 Sheffler Rd., Elmira.

Domaine Meriwether: Thu., 6-9 pm. CASA Benefit – BBQ, wine and music. Purchase tickets at www,casa-lane.org; Fri. 6-9 pm. Sparkling Nights – wine tasting, live music, fun; Open Daily 11 am – 4 pm, world renowned Meriwether still and sparkling wine can be sampled in the tasting room. 88324 Vineyard Lane, Veneta.

Sarver Winery: Fri. 6-9 pm, live music; Open daily 12-6 pm except Fri 12-9 pm; Gourmet pizza and live music on the first three Fridays of each month, Steak and Sarver Caesar Dinners on the last Friday of each month-call for reservations 541-935-2979. 2600 Mayola Ln., Eugene.

Saginaw Vineyard: Fri. 6-9 pm, Friday Night LIVE featuring Tony Rae & Common Ground. Minors under 21 are permitted to Friday Night LIVE Memorial Weekend through September as long as it’s not raining. If it’s raining, Friday Night LIVE is held indoors and minors are not permitted. For more information, please click here; Open daily, 11 am – 5pm. Sample their traditional style wines in their tasting room located in the original building of a 1905 farmstead. They also specialize in farm fresh fruit wines. 80247 Delight Valley School Rd., Cottage Grove.

Pfeiffer Winery: Fri./Sat. Fondue Nights~Cheese and chocolate fondue with fixings; Daisy’s Food Cart offering great menu items on Fri. Sat. and Sun.! Open Mon.-Thu. 11 am – 5 pm and Fri./Sat. 11 am – 9 pm. 25040 Jaeg Rd., Junction City.

Sweet Cheeks: Fri. 6-9 pm, Twilight Tasting, sample pairings of Sweet Cheeks wine with Oregon-made artisan cheeses while listening to live music from 6:30-830 pm with Alex Hagerty. Featured Food Cart: Dump City Dumplings; Sun. 12-6 pm, Mimosa Sundays, fine sparkling wine and live music from 2-4 pm with Barefoot Leroy. 27007 Briggs Hill Rd., Eugene.

Brigadoon Wine Co.: Fri. – Sun. 12-5 pm wine tasting in their tasting room. 25166 Ferguson Rd., Junction City.

William Rose Wines: Sat. 4-6 pm, pouring at Wineries without Walls located inside the Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center in Veneta. 24949 Hwy. 126, Veneta.

King Estate: Open daily 11 am – 8 pm. Sample some of Oregon’s finest wine, dine on gourmet cuisine, and enjoy a valley view that’s unmatched. 80854 Territorial Hwy., Eugene.

Chateau Lorane: Open daily, 12-5 pm. Stop by and taste some of their multiple award winners: Melon De Bourgogne, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Asian Girl Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and their double award-winning Red Bordeaux blend, Entourage. 27415 Siuslaw River Rd., Lorane.

J. Scott Cellars: Tasting room located in The Wine Place in Yachats. Be sure to stop by and taste these excellent small boutique handmade Rhone varietals from the Pacific Northwest. Specializing in Roussanne, Viognier, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Cabernet…and a little Pinot Noir. 373 North Hwy. 101, Yachats.

Abbelone Vineyards: Another fabulous winery without walls; check back frequently to find out where you can sample their delicious Pinot Noir.

Noble Estate: Open 7 days/week, 12-5 pm. Tasting room with beautiful patio and gorgeous view,. 29210 Gimpl Hill Rd., Eugene.

Iris Vineyards:  Mn-Fri. 11 am – 4 pm. Starting June 16, the tasting room will be open on Saturdays from 11 am – 4 pm. 195 Palmer Ave., Cottage Grove.

Sweet Cheeks: Aug. 16, Jewels of the Vine – a fundraiser to support Lane Community College’s Women in Trasition Scholarship. Finger foods, chocolates, wine tasting and other indulgences provided by local businesses. $20 admission. 27007 Briggs Hill Rd., Eugene.

LaVelle Vineyards (winery in Elmira): Aug 18, 6:30 pm. Saturday Evening with the Winemaker. $35 per person. For details and reservations call 541-935-9406. Read about last years event here. 89697 Sheffler Rd., Elmira.

Pfeiffer Winery: Aug. 26, 5-10 pm. Robin’s Birthday Bash in the Pfeiffer Winery and Water Garden. Live music with Shelley and Cal, catered by Boss Hawgs BBQ and Bambino’s gourmet pizza, wine and beer available for purchase. $20 per person. Reservations required with a credit card, call 541-998-2828.  25040 Jaeg Rd., Junction City.

Sarver Winery: Sep. 17, 6 pm. Second Annual Lowland Cajun Boil featuring the VooDoo Mountain Zydeco Band. Call to reserve your spot with a credit card – $20 dollars per person. 541-935-2979. 2600 Mayola Ln., Eugene.