Although we certainly want to see the primary sights and explore the more interesting neighborhoods of the cities we visit, we are practically obsessed with experiencing some of their best and most interesting local restaurants. While we did get to, and absolutely enjoyed, three of our top priorities, could not make it to all the […]
Oregon
Exploring a New and Different Portland Oregon
Portland was the last leg of our trip to the Willamette Valley’s International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC). Although we have enjoyed previous visits to the city, our last visit consisted primarily of long walks through two of Washington Park’s beautiful gardens–the renowned Rose Test Garden and the wonderfully tranquil Japanese garden. We spent so much […]
Best of our Willamette Valley Winery Experiences
We enjoyed (and typically bought) one or two wines from the vast majority of Willamette Valley wineries we visited. In other words. We bought a lot of wine! A number of wineries, however, four stood out: Wineries were we enjoyed virtually every wine we tasted. Among this rare breed were: …
Carlton/Yamhill and Eola-Amity Hills Area Wineries and Restaurants
Yamhill-Carlton is at the northern end of the Willamette Valley, while Eola-Amity Hills is at the southern end. Given the diversity in the Valley, and among these two AVAs, one might expect the wines from each to differ greatly, as do those from the contiguous Newberg and Dundee Hills AVAs. Surprisingly, while the soil types […]
Dundee Hills Area Wineries and Restaurants
As a reminder form our previously posted Primer on Willamette Valley AVA and Vintages, the Dundee Hills AVA is generally characterized by red volcanic (Jory) soil which holds heat, resulting in deep, red cherry and plum-based fruit-focused wines with iron-based minerality and spices such as cinnamon, clove and cardamom. Of the three vintages we …
Newberg Wineries and Restaurants
As a reminder form our previously posted Primer on Willamette Valley AVA and Vintages, Newberg is generally characterized by brown, loamy, sedimentary (Willakenzie) soil that drains better than volcanic soil, resulting in more intense, earthier, darker fruit flavors, with floral elements and subtle tannins and baking spices. Of the three vintages we tasted: …