Written by U of O Seniors Jenna Ritter and Emily Vande Wege

If you’re planning to join the 10th annual Barrel Tour on June 16th (and as of today, there are still a handful of tickets available) , you are in for a real treat. Not only are the wines outstanding, but the stories behind them.

Noble Estate: “The One-Man Show”.

For Mark Jurasevich, wine making is his number one passion. And I can see why. His property is jaw dropping with his vineyard and tasting room surrounded by lush forests and overlooks Fern Ridge Lake. The property used to grow Noble Fir trees and after he decided to change to vines, the name stuck.

As a self-taught winemaker, he spends his days in the vines, the lab and the cellar. He even puts the labels on. Everything is hand done and done on site at this winery. He touches the product about 12 times, before the wine is released. One of Noble Estate’s top sellers is “Passion”. This sweet and sassy wine is a blend of reds and white and really is “passion in a bottle”. Mark Also stays busy attending about 50 events annually. So make sure to stop by and see him at the next one.

Brigadoon Wine Company: Come Taste in Our Living Room

Chris Shown has always been a farmer at heart. He grew up in Napa Valley helping his father establish Rutherford vineyards. Since he’s been in the wine business his whole life, he can do most of the jobs in his sleep. Matt Shown, his oldest son is the winemaker. Just recently he convinced his dad to plant a half acre of Riesling. His winning argument: “If it doesn’t work out, we can drink that much ourselves!”

Chris and his wife Sheree (a phenomenal chef) used to do all the tastings in their living room, up until last season. They recently had a tasting room built, but want to produce the same feel that tasters “are a guest in their home”. With only 500 cases produced a year this is a winery stop you won’t want to miss. Besides wine, Chris’s number one passion is sports. And what do you know… his favorite varietal is Pinot Noir.

J. Scott Cellars: “I moved here for the Pinot.”

California born and raised, Jonathan Oberlander moved to Oregon in 2004. He started making wine for Silvan Ridge and now has his own label. J. Scott Cellars released their first wine in 2005.

This one man show along with his other projects keeps this father of two very busy. He likes to “blow peoples mind” with varietals you normally don’t see in Oregon. Besides his passion for wine making he loves to sail, fish, snowboard and travel.

From Germany With Love

Rolling hills and lush grapes hold a special place in Dieter Boehm’s heart. After growing up in a wine region outside of Dresden, German, Boehm “fell in love with that landscape” and sought out something similar in Oregon when he made the move in 1978. With a degree in business and a passion for wine, Boehm decided to fuse the two to create High Pass Winery. And while he sells most of his grapes to other wineries High Pass Winery is still able to produce around 1,000 cases of wine annually. What is most unique about Boehm is that he shares his German culture with Oregon by producing German varieties that no one else has. In fact he is the only person in the United States to grow the white Huxelrebe grape used in dessert wine. When he is not producing wine Boehm enjoys traveling and finding new inspiration to incorporate into his vineyards!

Eugene Wine Cellars Wine Bar b2 – Locally Grown, Nationally Known

With unique glass lighting, swanky seating, and premium wine tasting, a visit to the B2 Wine Cellars instantly transports you from Eugene to Manhattan’s trendy SoHo district. What you may not know is that their head of sales and distribution, Bev Biehl, is a retired elementary school teacher. The transition from pupils to Pinots was drastic but when it comes down to it, Bev “loves being around people” so hosting wine tastings is her favorite part of the job. It also doesn’t hurt that her coworker is her brother, Bruce, who owns and operates a vineyard management company. Eugene Wine Cellars winery has been in business since 1999 and produces around 6000 cases a year. With 30 years experience and experience with planting over 100 wineries, Bruce clearly knows what people want from their wine. While most of his grapes come from sellers in the Willamette Valley, some grapes, like a special varietal used in the new Recess label, come from as far as Washington! Not in the Eugene area? No Worries! Eugene Wine Cellars distributes to markets and markets from Arizona and Wisconsin to Washington D.C. and Georgia so no excuse not to stock up!

Pfeiffer Vineyards – Open House

Pfeiffer Winery used to be the family sheep ranch until the French tried to buy the property in the late 70′s to grow Pinot Noir.  Husband and wife duo, Robin and Danuta Pfeiffer tend to 70 acres of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Merlot and Muscat. With the 10% they don’t sell to King Estate, they tenderly ferment, bottle, cap and label every every drop by hand. Not distributed to stores or restaurants, their elegant wines can only be purchased in their Tuscan cave tasting room, or through their wine club. Experience Robin’s private “Pinot Clinics”  in a secluded grotto or their wine making dinners in their Villa home. Pfeiffer is open year round, 7 days a week and offers a stunning Water Garden in the summer or a cozy, fire-lit tasting room in the winter.

By Kelsey Ivey at the NorthWest Wine Anthem

What’s in the mix for a great wine tasting event this summer? The perfect pairing: awe-inspiring wines and not having to drive; and that’s what the South Willamette Wineries are serving with three all day Barrel Tours this June.

Attendees will board a deluxe charter bus and venture into the wine country near Eugene for tantalizing tastes, food pairings and wine education. After a day in the vineyards, you will return to town a-buzz with love for the Pinot Noirs, transfixed with the Gris and craving more of the region’s ever-flowing wine hospitality. Read More

It’s that time of year again: A time to give thanks, enjoy time with friends and family, and share your favorite wine and food with the ones you love.  As I prepare for Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how thankful I am to be living in the South Willamette Valley. We are surrounded by outstanding vineyards, superb wineries, and stellar winemakers which produce the fantastic wines that are consistently being revered by critics around the world. So, “Thank You” to all of our region’s hard working farmers, winemakers, vineyard managers, winery owners, wine pourers and everyone involved in making the South Willamette Valley wine region one of the best regions in the world. I am thankful and honored to be a part of everything that makes this place so great!  

When considering the wine you’ll want to share with friends and family on your Thanksgiving table, think local. The South Willamette Valley Wineries offer the best wines for all palates and foods, and I’ve suggested some amazing food and wine pairings below:

White Wines for Thanksgiving~

Sparkling Wine: My favorite sparkling wines usually have an elegant pale golden color and contain a consistent flow of tiny bubbles.  I serve sparkling wine from the time I offer appetizers, throughout dinner and beyond dessert…it pairs well with almost everything offered during a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  Suggestions: Domaine Meriwether Captain Clark Vintage Cuvee, Capitello NV Brut, RainSong Vineyards Sparkling Wine

Riesling: Rieslings are either very dry or fairly sweet, and they truly pair well with any dishes that are spicy or sweet. Riesling is always a top pick white wine for pairing with traditional Thanksgiving fixings as they pair well with light and dark meat turkey, yams and sweet potatoes, turkey meat and spicy or herbed seasoning. Suggestions: Sweet Cheeks Riesling, LaVelle Vineyards Riesling, Saginaw Vineyard Riesling, Territorial Riesling

Viognier: Viognier’s are well known for their floral aromas and fruit forward flavors; however, they are usually considered dry and crisp once on the palate. These characteristics allow this wine to pair nicely with a variety of spicy foods. I always add spicy sausage and apples to my stuffing, and Viognier is the perfect match.  Suggestion: Pfeiffer Viognier

Sauvignon Blanc: A Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp and refreshing white wine known for its citrus and tropical fruit flavors and mineral undertones, making it a perfect pairing candidate for mashed potatoes and turkey. Suggestion: Capitello Willamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Pinot Gris: Pinot Gris does well at handling bold flavors like garlic and onions, and any dish that has rich flavors. Pair with an herb seasoned stuffing and garlic mashed potatoes. It’s also a perfect pairing for a roasted turkey. Suggestions: (So many delicious Pinot Gris in the South Willamette Valley!) Shadow Mountain Pinot Gris, Sarver Sur Lie Aged Pinot Gris, Iris Vineyard Pinot Gris, King Estate Signature Pinot Gris, High Pass Pinot Gris

Pinot Blanc: Pinot Blanc is a lighter flavored white wine with hints of citrus, pear, and melon. I love these Pinot’s with rich cheeses, so serve this up with an appetizer assortment of Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Camembert.  Suggestions: Brigadoon Pinot Blanc, Benton-Lane Pinot Blanc

Red Wines for Thanksgiving~

Pinot Noir: This is my favorite red wine for Thanksgiving. Pinot Noir’s earthy undertones and tremendously broad range of aromas, flavors, and textures make this wine the ultimate wine to pair with all the traditional Thanksgiving foods; including, yam casserole, green bean casserole, Waldorf salad, roasted, fried, or smoked turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.  Suggestion: All of the South Willamette Wineries produce top quality, notable, and exceptional Pinot Noir’s – take your pick!

Zinfandel: A full bodied red wine that is a lot more intense than a Pinot Noir, but pairs well with many traditional Thanksgiving side dishes. This would be a great wine pick for people who love hearty, bold red wines that pair well with a variety of foods. Suggestions: LaVelle Zinfandel, Chateau Lorane Zinfandel

Syrah: I love the meaty characteristics and spicy finish that I expect from a good Syrah. The peppery notes of Syrah partner well with herb-infused stuffing and both the white and dark turkey meat. Suggestions: Sarver Syrah, King Estate’s NxNW Walla Walla Syrah, Opine Cellars Syrah 

Tempranillo: Full fruit flavors and low acidity make this medium bodied wine delicious with almost all of the traditional Thanksgiving fixings; especially,  roasted turkey and stuffing. Suggestion: Chateau Lorane Tempranillo

Cabernet Sauvignon: Often referred to as “The King of Red Grape Wines”, the dark cherry, plum, warm vanilla and tobacco flavors that are traditionally found in Cabernet Sauvignon’s tend to enhance flavors of many side dishes that are served during Thanksgiving dinner. Try this wine with anything that contains strong, rich cheese. Suggestion: Noble Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, LaVelle Cabernet Sauvignon

Cheers everyone, and may you and yours have a bountiful and blessed Thanksgiving! ~ Julia