This past September I had the opportunity to attend a functional medicine conference in Portland, Oregon. It just so happens that my best friend from college, Nicole Adair, lives there. No questions asked, I extended my stay from the conference and was able to experience some much needed chat time while tasting exceptional wine from wineries in and outside the city.
The first day we had a chance to explore three wineries in Dundee, Oregon, about 25 miles southwest of Portland. Beginning with Domaine Trouvére, we were greeted with a cozy tasting room and six selections of Oregon wines. The selections included grape varietals such as Sangiovese, Tempranillo (one of my all-time favorite Spanish reds) and Syrah. As these are not your traditional Northwest coast grapes, I was pleasantly surprised. These wines impressed, however, the full bodied Pinot Noir from Cancilla Vineyards clearly came in as my favorite. With its smoky, earthy nose and rich, deep fruit flavor, this wine left tannins behind that made my pallet happy, and me smile. This wine went on the ‘find when I get home’ list.
Our next visit was to Lange Estate Winery, where we were recommended to go to see Paul, a friend of The Wine Feed owners. Paul had six wines for Nicole and me to try, ranging from Chardonnay to Pinot Gris to Pinot Noir. Not only did the wine sell itself, but the views took our breath away. It’s not every day that a visitor to the Northwest is able to enjoy warm sunshine on a clear day. After a weekend of unseasonal wind, rain and cold, we welcomed the warmth, fresh air and spectacular views.
Our third and final tasting room of the day was at Erath Winery. Erath wines tend to make their way to local restaurant wine lists and are recognized by many. The varietals we tasted included Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris. During this visit, I realized how different an Oregon Rosé wine made from the Pinot Gris grape was compared to a Rosé made from a cabernet or other grape varietal from other regions of the world. Rather than a sweeter wine, this dryer rendition had notes of strawberry and cherry, which would pair nicely with a Thanksgiving meal.
I felt the three wineries we visited were all exceptional; however, I still wanted to get a taste for an urban winery…
Check back soon for part 2!
Bida Manda – Raleigh, with the lovely ladies I spent the semester with
Trampled by Turtles Concert- an awesome experience reflecting on the time since I first saw these guys at Waterfront Bar at UW-Stout to where I am today
Pretty happy with this homemade lunch creation
Indulging at Raleigh Brewing with good friends, Katie & Tara and my love, Michael
Received new Christmas ornaments from mom and dad!
The Gastronome's Table 