Two years ago, as they dug the first holes to plant their first vines, Angie and Ron Moore began their journey and their dream to create Moore Family Vineyards. One week before Thanksgiving 2022, their dream became a reality when they opened their tasting room in the old radio station building in Sweet Home Oregon.

Much has changed since our first visit there. That visit was filled with hopes and dreams. https://winerywanderings.com/moore-family-vineyards-lets-start-at-the-very-beginning-thats-a-very-good-place-to-start/  This visit was filled with the realities of managing a tasting room and a variety of wines to taste and enjoy. We were so happy to be among the first guests to visit the cozy space and congratulate Ron and Angie on their accomplishments.

Moore Family Vineyards wines are an interesting collection of sparkling and still wines. With the holidays nearing, we were excited to try the Pomegranate Sparkling Rose. It is sweet without being too sweet and perfect for any celebration. We couldn't resist taking home a few bottles for our own holiday festivities!

Ron and Angie are excited that their vineyard is now fully planted and their dreams are becoming a reality. We couldn't be more excited to watch this dream from its inception and hope that you will visit Moore Family Vineyards and be a part of the dream, too!

For more information and tasting room hours:

Phone:
541-818-0649 or
Email:
reservations@moorefamilyvineyards.com

It wasn't long ago that Eugene held the reins for winery related tasting rooms. It seemed that every week a new urban tasting room was opening in and around downtown Eugene, but that's all changing with the addition of the Iris Vineyards Wine Bar at 322 Main st. in Springfield.

Homer Simpson would be thrilled to see what's happening on that stretch of Main St. Along with restaurants, bars, breweries and coffee shops, Iris is giving folks another reason to venture across the river to Springfield. Iris is featuring their exceptional selection of estate wines, inhouse craft winebased cocktails and small bites. Isn't it time to try a wine based negroni, manhattan or gin and tonic?

From the moment you enter this cozy space, you will feel at home. The greeting you get from the staff will tell you that you are in the right place. Manager MJ lights up the space with her effervescent personality. The exposed brick and wood framing provide a speak-easy feel and the furnishings are a modern contrast to that.

The Lorraine Valley, at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, is the home of Iris Vineyards where Richard Boyles and his wife Pamela Frye have a home atop the hill overlooking more than 800 acres of reforested hills and 35 acres of grapevines. The property borders the more well known King Estate but  certainly is not overshadowed by its neighbor. The elevation of this property ranges from 800 to 1,100 feet and is ideal for growing the full range of traditional Willamette Valley grapes. Until just a few years ago, tastings were available in the tasting room across the patio from the Boyles' home, but the pandemic changed that. The former tasting room is now an elegant retreat for travellers. You can find information on the home away from home on the usual home sharing sites.

Aaron Lieberman is the winemaker whose sophisticated touch creates an award winning selection of wines. During our visit, we tasting through the Iris selection, starting with the Iris Brut, a non-vintage sparkling wine first produced in 2019. This wine was bright and bubbly, perfect for a summer afternoon. The 2020 pinot gris is an estate grown wine that won best of show at the McMinnville Wine Classic. Pinot gris is the number one white grape and number two overall grape grown in Oregon and this wine is a fine example of the success of this grape.

The 2016 Chalice Chardonnay, named for the vineyard's unique chalice shape,  is another example of estate grown wine. The vineyard has about 3 acres of chardonnay planted and produces between 100 and 500 cases annually depending on conditions. This chardonnay is the most awarded wine of the vineyard and lives up to its praise. There is a hint of oak without the overpowering "Anything but Chardonnay" butter, it is crisp and refreshing and can pair well with almost anything.

2020 was a difficult year for vineyards and winemakers. Smoke covered the valley for a long portion of the summer and many grapes could not withstand the impact. Iris was among many vineyards that did not harvest because of the smoke. Their 2020 Pinot Noir was made exclusively from sourced grapes. They produced 4,000 cases and, with the expertise of winemaker Aaron Lieberman, the wine does not disappoint.

The 2019 House Call is a wonderful Bordeaux blend with cab franc,  merlot and  malbec, all from the Rogue Valley. This wine stands out among red blends for its concentrated flavors, balance and delicate touch. It is a perfect food wine!

Along with its award winning wine selection, Iris is making a name for itself with cocktails that are more than just wine cocktails. They are making wines that take on the flavors of gin and bourbon. You have to try them to understand! The wine based negroni, for example, is described as "a beautiful ruby colored, gin flavored wine with a menagerie of complex flavors." The Manhattan features toasted chardonnay infused with oak, evocative of bourbon. The wine based gin and tonic is simple yet refreshing with gin flavored wine, Tree Fever tonic water and topped with a lime. These cocktails are an interesting and exciting new take on the cocktail craze.

The Iris Vineyards Wine Bar in downtown Springfield is a great addition to the burgeoning food and beverage scene. The stylish tasting room and patio seating are calling your name, visit them at 323 Main St, Springfield. They are open Thursday - Sunday, 11:30am-8pm. Along with wine and cocktails, Iris offers beautiful charcuterie boards and other tasty bites.

It wouldn't surprise anyone who knows me that Brooks Winery in Amity Oregon is one of my favorite places on earth. We have visited and written about Brooks for years and when friends come to town it is always on our list of winery visits.

Recently we had friends visiting from the east coast so it was another opportunity for us to introduce Brooks to a new audience. From the time you arrive until the moment you leave, you are treated like guests in the Brooks home. Now that they are using a reservation system (one of the silver linings of COVID), the tasting room never feels crowded or cramped, making it an even better experience.

As the six of us entered, we were escorted to the leather couches where I first met Brooks' plush blankets many years ago. That red blanket, like the one that now resides on my couch at home, is a reminder of how cozy the leather couches in the tasting room are. As we snuggled in, Heather Kirk, Director of Wine Club Happiness, greeted us. We've known Heather for many years. We knew that she could tell the Brooks story better than anyone. She shared the history of Brooks and its founder with our guests. It is a tragically lovely story. If you are not familiar with it, I recommend watching American Wine Story. It tells the story of Brooks and the early Willamette Valley wine scene in a moving and engaging way.

Brooks handles their tastings differently. You are served at your seat rather than "bellying up to the bar." Instead of a quick, unchaperoned tasting, you are treated to a full experience that includes thorough descriptions of the wines by folks who really know the wines and an opportunity to savor each wine. The other difference at Brooks is that you start with the reds and then move to the whites. The reds are mostly, not surprisingly, Pinot Noir. The whites are Reislings! That was Jimi Brooks' passion and it shows in the winemaker, Chris's, nuanced approach to this spectacular grape. The Reislings range from bone dry to desert wines. I LOVE REISLING. There, I said it. I love the petrol on the nose, the aromatics that follow from the nose to the palate, the mouth feel and the acid. Brooks' reislings never disappoint.

The menu is another surprising treat at Brooks. It changes with the seasons. During our visit, we shared a beautiful charuterie board, fried Brussels sprouts, and a grilled avocado. Chef Norma Buchholz always hits it out of the park, these choices were no exception. Come for the wine, stay for the food! During this visit, we also got to spend some time with Janie Brooks. Finding her in the tasting room is always an added bonus.

The final attraction at Brooks is the property. It is a beautiful site and the gardens and gathering spaces that have been created are just perfect. You can get lost in the untamed flowers or ooh and aaah over the vegetable gardens. Either way, you know that Brooks is of the earth and makes every decision to protect her.

This was another wonderful visit to Brooks Winery, among all our wonderful visits there. Brooks is located at 21101 SE Cherry Blossom Lane Amity, OR 97101. They can be reached at (503) 435-1278 and are open 11-5 daily.

The Wine Media Conference is for the Wine Industry Media.  The Conference itself is paid for primarily through the sponsors.  The turnaround is that attendees have promised to write about the sponsors and their experience.  This overview takes in a few of those, you will see more content to fulfill our obligation for posts, but quite honestly, there is so much to write about, that you will see more than our requirement. Please note that all opinions are our own.

(The conference content and wine for tasting at the sessions and excursions were provided by the sponsors, travel, hotel and most meals were paid for by attendees.)

It isn’t often that we get to show off the Eugene and Lane County wine scene to hundreds of wine writers from around the country. Last week, we had just that opportunity and WE LOVED IT! Eugene and the surrounding area have so much to offer and wine writers are just the folks to tell our story.

For the first time in two years, the Wine Media Conference was held, here in Eugene, to show off the wineries of the Southern Willamette Valley. Some of us refer to the Wine Media Conference as “summer camp.” We love being together, sharing wine, food, and fun with these folks.  In previous years, the conference was held in places like Lodi California, the Finger Lakes in New York and most recently in Australia. This year, it was extra special for us because it was in our hometown.

One of the highlights of every Wine Media Conference is the Friday night dinner excursion. In years past, these events have been nothing short of extraordinary. There have been five course meals in caves, six course meals in tasting rooms and other extravagant events. This year was a bit toned down, COVID kept us from that type of gathering. Instead, we had a more informal urban experience. The great news is we got to talk with winemakers and winery owners in a more casual setting.

The host for the evening was the Gordon Hotel, a gorgeous new space in downtown Eugene. The Gordon is everything an urban wine hub should be, classically designed but quintessentially Eugene. When you enter the lobby, you find a light installation that could be crystal, but instead it is hundreds of Mason jars hanging at different heights to give off the most interesting light.  Just outside the Gordon is the Alley. The Alley is filled with small, very small, boutiques and shops. Among the shops are wineries and eateries. You can get a glass of wine or an ice cream cone and enjoy watching people go by in this lovely setting.

We were invited to the ballroom of the hotel where a beautiful charcuterie board greeted us along with five of our favorite wineries. This was such a great opportunity to talk to the folks behind the bottles in a casual setting. The highlighted wineries were King Estate, J Scott Cellars, Brigadoon Winery, Iris Vineyards and Bennett Winery. Each winery poured some of their best bottles and these wine writers were happy to experience them.

From the balcony of the ballroom, you could get a great view of the city below. It was a beautiful evening, and the alley and 5^thStreet Market were alive with activity. Following our conference event, many of the participants fanned out to surrounding tasting rooms and restaurants to experience Eugene's newest hotspot on their own.

We were so excited to show off our wonderful community and watch conference participants begin to learn about what makes Eugene a great city and a wonderful place for us to call home.

If you have ever read any of our posts about Walnut Ridge Winery or our annual “Best of” lists, you have no doubt heard about the Walnut Ridge deviled eggs. They are an amazing combination of creamy, yolky goodness topped by a house made bacon jam. But that’s not the whole story at Walnut Ridge. And, it’s not where the story ends at Walnut Ridge.

Early last week, we received a heartfelt letter from the owners and founders, Jim and Wendy. In this letter, they announced that have decided to sell the winery, including their personal home, to a young couple who, according to Jim, checked all the boxes.

Needless to say, we were shocked and saddened by the news. Walnut Ridge has been one of our favorite wineries and a place where we brought visitors because of its beauty, its wine and the team who runs the joint. From Jim, who is always around to greet and mingle, to Wendy who worked tirelessly…and endlessly… in the kitchen (among of her many specialties, she is the source of those amazing deviled eggs) to our dear Melissa who has been a part of our wine journey since the beginning. She is everywhere the winery needs her and always smiling.

Last night we attended a wine club dinner at this special place, amid the beautiful landscaping, brightly colored tables and chairs, wonderful music, and a view of the vineyard in all its glory. The tasting room is a replica of a beautiful New Orleans building and sits above the vineyard to guard over it. It was a breezy, typical Oregon summer evening. It could not have been more pleasant.

When we arrived, we had a moment to visit with the new owners, the Youngs. They seemed lovely. Their daughter was assisting at check in and several of their children were involved in the evening’s events, serving food, laughing and mingling. It was nice to see this family diving in!

After we checked in, we had a moment to visit with Jim. He is still around to help with the transition. Wendy stayed behind in the new motor home to look after the new puppies (talk about a transition!). That’s when we began to feel the inevitable melancholy. Imagining Walnut Ridge without Jim and Wendy is tricky. Jim is feeling the same, both excited and saddened.

Dinner was a perfect summer combination of chicken salad, hummus, fruit and veggies. We drank a 2018 Walnut Ridge Pinot Noir with dinner. It was light and bright with red fruit notes and a hint of oak. The salted chocolate chip cookie was a perfect finish. We mingled with old friends, enjoyed the breezes, and took our own trip down memory lane as we enjoyed the music and the evening.

We are excited for this new family. We are happy that this winery is remaining privately owned by a local family. We know that they are starting with a strong foundation, great grapes, and a loyal following. It’s okay to say that we are also sad, sad to say goodbye to our friends Jim and Wendy, sad to see a Southern Willamette Valley staple change and sad…and excited...to see that nothing stays the same.

One last note, the recipe for the deviled eggs was part of the contract, they aren’t going anywhere!

Each year, Neal and I reflect on the year as it ends and look forward to the new year. We did the same thing this year and recognized that it was a VERY DIFFERENT YEAR. We did some traveling, COVID style, we drank some wine, COVID style, and we had our most successful year yet in our Real Estate business.

One of the ways we reflect on the past is by scanning the year's photos. We use Google Photos to save all of our photos and share the files so that we can both view the photos that each of us takes in one file. It also helps with sorting and searching. If you haven't tried it, it is worth the minimal, if any, cost.

Here's a look back:

JANUARY

Baby Talia, our 7th grandchild and third granddaughter, was born on January 2. We made the road trip to Arizona to await her arrival and are thrilled to be part of her story.

Our trip home from Mesa included a stop at Joshua Tree National Park, a beautiful example of the grandeur of our country.

Finally, in January, we spent time with our pod. These folks are a reoccuring theme and we couldn't have made it through this year without them.

In February, we hosted an event to raise funds for the  the American Cancer Society, an organization very close to our hearts. The theme was the World's Best Cheese for the World's Best Cause and featured Rogue Creamery's "Best in the World" blue cheese along with One Love Cellars amazing wines. Thanks to our friend, Kate Taylor, for pouring for us that evening. We raised over $1000 for this important cause.

February also brought us Valentine's Day. We spent the evening in Salem with our pod friends, Mark and Deborah, at a wonderful dinner event where once again we got to enjoy One Love Cellars wine.

And then it was March and everything changed! We were no longer galavanting around from winery to winery or restaurant to restaurant. Our friend Brianne Cohen at Sommspirations took a quick pivot to find new ways to engage wine lovers in a safe and fun way and #VirtualVino was born. Together with folks around the country, we jumped onto Zoom (don't you wish you had bought stock in that little app?) and shared a glass of wine with new friends while we learned about wine tasting from our friend Brianne.

In April, we tried to find a new normal. This year, we celebrated Passover with our son and his family via Zoom (how many times will we mention Zoom when we look back on 2020?). It was so special to find a way across the miles to be together.

The weather finally allowed us to move out to our deck where we could at least get some fresh air and another touch of normal. While we were there, we began to try out new recipes from a brand new cookbook by our friends at Vindulge  This cookbook brings together two of our favorite things, wine and grilling!

We began to hit "the hard stuff" in May. Enough is enough, we thought, let's try something new. With the guidance of the people at Heritage Distillery, we began to stock our bar with new and fun tastes. The brown sugar bourbon remains a favorite! We also began to see the sun more often, so much so that I caught Neal sleeping on the job!

May was also an award winning month for Bluebird Hill Cellars, their bottles proudly donning their medals. They continue to earn amazing reviews for each and every wine they produce.

In June we joined our pod for a COVID safe weekend at Odell Lake. It was a beautiful opportunity to get away from home and remain safe. The windowsill was lined with the remnants of our efforts over the weekend.

The weather in Oregon is always unprcdictable, so much so that we were still lighting a fire on the deck in mid-June. It made for lovely evenings and lovelier photos!

Fishing was on the agenda for July. We took a drive to Pocatello, Idaho to see our dear friend Jen and took in some fishing while we were there. We both caught trophy fish, Neal's trophy just happens to be bigger than mine. We also toasted to beautiful evenings and wonderful friendships on Jen's deck with wine, of course!

Another exciting thing that happened in July amid the chaos of COVID is that we decided to change Real Estate firms and join with a group of local brokers as part of ICON Real Estate Group. It has been an amazing decision for us and our clients!

August is my birthday month. I wasn't sure what to expect but it turned out to be a glorious celebration thanks to our pod. Here we are, all together, first on an evening jet boat trip and then at our local tasting room porch for a birthday celebration. Hayworth Wine Bar continues to be a home base for our pod and safe outdoor gatherings in these crazy times.

September is harvest month and harvest goes on with or without COVID. Neal jumped in to help at Bluebird Hill and discovered once again that this is not work for the faint hearted. The bending, stooping and picking can really do a number on your back.

At Hayworth Wine Bar, they have a table saved every Friday night. Masked and ready, we never miss a chance to connect with the pod.

In October, we began to feel like there might be an end in sight to our isolation, wrong again! We were able to get away to Redmond for a weekend at Eagle Crest with the pod. The weekend included great golf, great food, and of course, great wine. Dinner at BrickHouse was unforgettable, we can't wait to eat there again. We also spent several evenings at Bartini Bistro, our local craft cocktail spot. Great outdoor seating and a terrific bartender make this a special place any evening.

We also learned about a brand new vineyard and got to spend some time visiting with the folks at Moore Family Vineyards as they planted their very first vines. On the other end of the spectrum was a visit to Willamette Valley Vineyards for always exceptional food and drink.

We celebrated Katherine's birthday at Antiquum Farm with an exceptional dinner and unforgettable wines. Thanksgiving brought us back to Zoom with a family dinner with our son and his family. We also took a quick, COVID safe trip to Palm Springs to spend a few days with our new travelling buddies, Craig and Denise. We had a trip to Mexico planned that got COVID-terrupted, so this was the next best thing. We again visited Joshua Tree National Park and enjoyed a momentary break from our new normal. November also brought us our Wine Club shipment from Tobin James. It's always a surprise to see what wines they are sharing and the special gift that is always included in the shipment. This time it was a set of votive candle holders, so pretty!

And finally, just as we began the year, we ended it with a road trip to Arizona, this time to a cabin in the woods where we could spend some time with our perfect grandchildren. Neal took the kids on a Big Foot hunt each day and we sat in front of the fireplace each evening. Nothing short of perfect!

We spent a few days at the coast in Florence OR between Christmas and New Year's, it's an eerie experience to see the streets so empty when they are usually so busy. Our friends Steve and Lisa were camping near our hotel, so we got to spend an evening around their camp fire eating an amazing dinner from Waterfront Depot.  It was so good, in fact, that we dined there  al fresco the following night. Wrapped in blankets near the heater, we had an absolutely lovely dinner.

Our typical New Years Eve includes snacks and wine in front of the TV. This year, thanks to the quick thinking of Bluebird Hill, we joined in a Zoom (there it is again) celebration that included dinner, noisemakers, hats and beads along with games and trivia to ring in the new year. It almost felt normal.

202o was a different year, alright, one we won't soon forget. It had its highlights and its lowlights, but all in all, we continue to be grateful for our health, our pod, our families and this amazing wandering life we have. Now onto 2021, vaccines, a peaceful transition of power in our government and TRAVEL!!!

Visiting wineries and getting to know the people who make the magic happen is our passion and our pastime. When we are not working with clients to help them find their dream home, we are tasting wine. We have visited hundreds of wineries around the world and never tire of the adventure. We have learned many things in our travels and tastings. The greatest discovery is that people who make wine are happy. They love their work and love to talk about their work.

One summer evening at a wine event along the river, socially distanced with our pod, we met Ron and Angie Moore. We were introduced by Russ Hayworth, proprietor of Hayworth Vineyards. He was excited for us to meet because Ron and Angie were about to give birth to a vineyard, Moore Family Vineyards. Not a single vine had been planted, but planting was scheduled for later that month. Russ was providing them guidance because of his deep knowledge of soil and his own fairly recent experience starting a vineyard.

The property is in Sweet Home, Oregon on land originally owned by Ron’s granddad. It was home to a Christmas tree farm for many years. Shortly after they married, Ron and Angie were sitting on the porch of the original homestead, having a date night with a bottle of wine, and began formulating their dream. Angie had been dreaming of vineyards since a 2018 trip to Italy with her mother. She described that trip as the “first place I visited that I didn’t want to come home.” Now the dream was taking shape.

They were scheduled to plant 700 Gamay Noir and Sauvignon Blanc seedlings on October 16. The land was ready, the rows were marked, and the plants were on their way. It was going to happen!

We visited Moore Family Vineyards before the planting to get a feel for the experience through their eyes. From their beautiful home, you could see the rows, the stakes, and the slope of the hill. You could see their dream in technicolor!

The Moore home is just lovely. It is filled with wine and laughter and love. Between them, Ron and Angie have seven children. You can imagine the energy! There’s a wonderful vineyard dog, chickens and all the sensory experiences that go with living in the country. You can also see that original homestead house where the dream was born. It sits right behind the family home and still serves as a respite and a place where dreams come true.

At the bottom of the hill was an old building that formerly housed a local radio station, KFIR. The building is to become the winery’s office and shop, overseen by a family friend who will call the building home. Not an interior wall was left standing. The entire building was being renovated to accommodate its new mission.

It isn't hard to see this couple's passion. Their home, their vineyard and their effort all add up to a dream, now we wait. We wait for the first show of growth on the vines, the first leaf, the first bud, the first grape to know what will happen next. It will be our pleasure to watch and share in their experience as Moore Family Vineyards becomes a reality in the Willamette Valley.

Fall is my favorite season; I love everything about it. I love the cooler weather, the changing leaves, the smell of wood burning and most of all, I love this time of year at wineries. It is when harvest is wrapping up, people are beginning to relax a bit, they are thinking about big bold reds with pots of soup or chili, and just plain enjoying life.

This weekend, our pod of three couples decided that visiting a couple of wineries would be a great way to celebrate Neal’s birthday. We have not been doing much wine tasting. COVID has made it a little more challenging. We recently became share holder “owners” at Willamette Valley Vineyards so we decided that would be a great place to start our tasting weekend.

Willamette Valley Vineyards

Willamette Valley Vineyards sits high atop a hill overlooking I-5, Oregon’s main north south freeway, but once you enter its gates, you forget about the highway and become immersed in beautiful views in every direction. Their tasting room is as inviting as any California destination and their wines are varied, consistent and delightful. COVID has made the space even more welcoming with tables spread out and a beautiful fire pit to greet you as you enter.

One of the things we really enjoy about WVV is their simple but elegant food options. They range from a great burger (Kobi beef of course) to vegetarian winter squash bowls and charcuterie boards. Each offering pairs well with their wines. On this day, we started with a bottle of bubbles to celebrate Neal’s birthday. The 2016 Methode Champenoise Brute was a perfect starting point, with its fine bubbles and delicate structure. Cheers to Neal! We went on to try their full array of whites and reds and took home three of our favorites.

Sass Winery

Following lunch and tasting at WVV, we went onto Sass Winery. Where Willamette Valley Vineyards echoes a California style tasting experience, Sass is very much a boutique, Oregon style experience. Sitting alongside the barrels at picnic tables, we tasted several wines, mostly Pinot Noir, out of plastic cups while wrapped in blankets, shivering in our seats. We were familiar with the wines from our many visits to Walnut Ridge Vineyards. Walnut Ridge and Sass Winery are former partners. The partnership ended not long ago, and each winery developed its own label.

These two tasting experiences reminded us of the diversity of the Oregon wine experience. You can go from elegant and elaborate to simple and understated. We do not really prefer one over the other, and on days like last Saturday, it was a joy to do both.

Antiquum Farm

Sunday, we travelled solo to do two wine pick-ups a bit closer to home. Our first stop was Antiquum Farm. No matter how many wineries you have visited, no matter where you have travelled, Antiquum is the one unique winery you must add to your list.

Where to begin… First, their tasting room is a rustic cabin built not so long ago with tradition in mind. The walls are stucco, the heavy wood beams are from trees on the property and the feel is old world. A beautiful fireplace warms the space and the comfy leather couches invite you to come and stay a while. Our host, Andrew, made our visit interesting and relaxing. He knows so much about wine and his passion for this wine was obvious.

As for the wine, the process is everything. I encourage you to visit their website and learn about owner Stephen Hagen and his obsession with farming the way it was meant to be, no machines, horse drawn tillers, herds of sheep, pigs, and geese to fertilize and tend to the vines. These are not biodynamic methods, and it is not “natural” wine, it is farming the way farming has been for centuries.

We tasted several wines on this, our second visit to the winery. We were there to pick up our futures of sparkling wine, Marion 2016. When I tasted it a few months earlier, I knew I had to have some for myself. We tasted the Marion again, I was right, I did need to have some for myself. We also tried the 2019 Daisy Pinot Gris. It was crisp and refreshing, I can already see us drinking it on the first warm day of spring.

Next, we tried to Aurosa Rose´. Summer seems like a long-forgotten memory as the temperatures begin to dip in Western Oregon, but this wine brings it back with just one sip. We then went on to try three Pinot Noirs; Juel, Passiflora and Luxuria. Each presented a unique flavor profile, none was better than the others, all were simply exquisite. To visit Antiquum, you will need a reservation. You will get the undivided attention of your host and have an unforgettable tasting experience.

Bluebird Hill Cellars

Our final stop of the weekend was one of our favorite spots, Bluebird Hill Cellars. We have been visiting Bluebird Hill since the very first day their tasting room was open. We still tell the story of how its owner, Neil Shay, greeted us at the gate with his dog, Gus. He and Sue have become dear friends to us, and we look forward to every visit.

This visit was to pick up our wine club selections. Unlike most wine clubs, the member selects the wines. What a great way to give people what they want while maintaining an ongoing relationship with members. We selected three bottles of Syrah, two of the red blend and one of the new Pinots. We spent enough time there to enjoy brats and potato salad, with a special relish made from the last of the garden harvest. Neil and Sue planted a large garden this year, with all proceeds from the sale of the vegetables to go to local charities. Neil told us that they raised nearly $500. That describes these folks perfectly. From great wine to great causes, we love these folks, their wine, and their hearts.

COVID has changed many things. Wineries are not having big events, there are no harvest festivals, no Thanksgiving mayhem, but the important things remain. Harvest went on as usual, with hope that smoke has not caused any notable damage to the grapes. People are still gathering at wineries, but with reservations ahead of time and six feet between tables. Masks are required, pouring tastes looks different, but all in all, wine is the great equalizer. It brings us together in ways little else does.

It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it! We started the year off with a new granddaughter, Talia. She was born at the start of January in Arizona. Our drive home from Arizona was our first road trip of the new year and it was certainly a great one! We made so many wonderful stops along the way and took our time getting back to dreary, rainy Oregon.

Couldn’t resist sharing this photo

As part of that road trip, we created a new “road-trippin'” rule. We decided to switch drivers every 100 miles.  At first, Neal wasn’t thrilled about the idea. He prefers to be the driver and gets a bit antsy when he’s not. After a few rotations, however, he realized that there is a great benefit to giving up the wheel before you get too tired. It gave him time to nap, check his phone and just look out the window. He also researched great stops along the way while he was the passenger. That usually falls on me, so that was a great benefit!

Breakfast with Lynne

Our most recent road trip was to Pocatello, Idaho to visit our good friend Jen who relocated there. The car was packed with all the essentials: food, fishing gear, camp chairs, and of course a case of wine! We headed out early Saturday morning with our first stop in Sisters, Oregon where we had a great breakfast at the Cottonwood Cafe and a visit with Jen’s mom, Lynne. Lynne is taking every COVID precaution so it was great to be able to eat outdoors and visit with her.

Some of our trips are well structured, while others are more free wheeling. For this trip, we planned two overnight stays on our way to Pocatello. The first was in John Day, a very small town in central Oregon. We chose John Day so that we could spend some time at the John Day Fossil Beds, particularly to see the Painted Hills. Nature did not disappoint! This spectacular natural wonder can be seen in just a few hours, but they will be unforgettable hours for sure! The park is well laid out with a single road in that has several short walks (can’t even call them hikes) along the way to get the best views. The weather was hot, the sun was bright and the sites were unforgettable.

A beautiful view of the Painted Hills

Photos don’t do the Painted Hills justice

After we spent a few hours at the Painted Hills, we headed for the town of John Day. This was a first motel stay since the beginning of the COVID outbreak and I was admittedly a bit nervous. We were so happy to see the precautions the Best Western was taking, from a lobby set up for socially distancing to spotlessly clean rooms. There are a few cute little restaurants in John Day. We had a nice dinner and walked around for a short while before settling in.

Day two of the road trip was a straight shot to Boise. I spent a day or two in Boise many years ago and remember it as the cleaning city I had ever seen, and it still is! When people ask us what we did in Boise, our answer is a simple one, we ate.

In house smoked Salmon salad

This dining tour began with lunch at Fork. Fork is located in the heart of the dining district in downtown Boise. It is located in an old building with plenty of outdoor seating. The weather was perfect for an outdoor lunch. Neal ate an awesome burger, I had an unforgettable salad, topped with smoked salmon, smoked in house. We walked around and then, because of the heat, headed back to the hotel for a much needed nap.

A highlight of our Boise dining tour

Round two of Boise dining was dinner at Alavita, Fork’s sister restaurant. We had a lovely dinner there, along with great views of the activities going on outside, from a man worried about his Maserati to a guy trying on a girl’s bra. Dinner and a show!

A quick visit with an old young friend

The next morning, we met up with an old friend of Neal’s for breakfast at Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro. I told you it was all food in Boise! What a great breakfast and an even better reunion with Kirsten. She is the epitome of motivation and determination, already a commercial pilot at age 26.

Back to the 100 mile rule for road trips. Our final stretch was a short ride from Boise to Pocatello, a bit over 200 miles. I was the driver to start the day, and then Neal brought us into Pokie. The drive, the scenery, the views were all just lovely. We had one final stop on our way at Shoshone Falls, an unforgettable site in the middle of Twin Falls. We turned a corner and were stunned at the view in front of us.

An unforgettable stop along the way

Here we are at Shoshone Falls

This was an amazing trip, so amazing that there will be a part 2 to this post. Stay tuned!

With the anticipation of shoulder surgery looming large and Neal’s mother’s rapidly declining health, a full weekend of wine, food and friends is just what the doctor ordered.

Along with our dear friends Mark and Deborah, we planned a special Valentine’s weekend that just kept getting better and better each time we talked about it. It started with the announcement of a Valentine’s Dinner at Salem’s Barrel and Keg, with wine provided by our dear friend Kate Taylor from One Love Cellars. We quickly realized that the 50-mile drive home from Salem after a wonderful, wine filled dinner might not be a great idea, so we booked a hotel room nearby. With that plan in place, we decided that we could dedicate Sunday to wine tasting in the area. Enter Kate! She suggested that we start the following day with brunch and some new-to-us wineries.

Dinner was really lovely! Barrel and Keg is primarily a bottle shop featuring a thorough array of  beers, wines, ciders and mead. There is a tasting bar and food provided by the owners’ food truck out back. This night, two wonderful chefs, Crystal’s Catering, who are friends of Kate’s, provided what can only be described as a truly memorable dinner. We started off with fresh baked bread with butter and jam made by Kate’s mom. It went so well with Big Heart Bubbles, One Love’s bubbly made in the methode champenoise style. This wine is a limited production product and worth the wait. Kate tells a wonderful story about how she decided to try to make bubbly for the first time…with a Soda Stream. It made quite a mess but led to this beautifully vibrant bubbly treat!

The estate grown Albarino that accompanied the Caesar Salad with cajun shrimp is one of our favorite wines right now. Grown in the One Love vineyard, this wine is  a treat for your tastebuds with botanical aromas and tropical notes notes on the palate. The large, well seasoned shrimp were cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of “snap.”

The small taste before the main course might have been our favorite, dates stuffed with bleu cheese and a walnut and drizzled with honey. This was served with white Pinot Noir. This is not usually my favorite wine and without the accompanying food, I stick by that, but once we combined the food and wine, all bets were off. This was an amazing combination, one that I will replicate every chance I get. Even Deborah, who is not a “stinky cheese” fan had to admit that this was a great pairing.

Finally, the main course…a pinwheeled flank steak stuffed with roasted garlic, carmelized onions, spinach, mushrooms and artisan cheese served along side rosemary potatoes and green bean bundles wrapped in bacon. Nuf said! This was paired with a special surprise, a directly from the barrel tasting of 2017 Heart Throb red blend. Kate intended to serve her 2016 Heart Throb but discovered she did not have enough, lucky for us. The 2017,  a blend of 50% Cab Franc, 33% Malbec, 16% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot, while still a bit young, promises to be a very special wine. The meal ended with a dark chocolate mousse parfait paired with Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Not much more you can say about that combination, perfection!

We were were all so happy we had chosen to Uber to the dinner, driving home after this special meal would have been a big mistake. I’m sure our driver thought we were very strange old folks based on our conversation. After dinner and a quick giggly visit to the local Walgreen’s for antacids and Peeps, we headed back to the hotel to finish off a bottle of Merlot I brought with us. You never want to waste an open bottle of wine!

While inexplicable feathers fell from the sky as we settled into the Irvine and Roberts tasting room, I was reminded of my dear friend Aggie who taught me that feathers in our path are a sign of good fortune. She was certainly right on this foggy, damp morning in Southern Oregon. Irvine and Roberts’ tasting room sits high on a hill just outside of Medford, Oregon and provides a warm and welcoming space to taste from their wonderful flight of wines. A stunning driftwood sculpture hangs in the entry way. On this day it was adorned with the largest piece of mistletoe I have ever seen, perfect for a loving holiday kiss. Past the foyer, there is a large square tasting bar with comfortable seating and tables and couches scattered throughout the room. Most notably, there is a blazing fire in the large stone fireplace that seemed to warm the entire space. From any seat in the room, you can peer through windows that reach the ceiling and gaze out onto the vineyard.

A beautiful sculpture adorned with mistletoe invites a holiday kiss

For this tasting adventure, we were joined by our dear friend Brianne from Sommspirations. She is a delight to travel with and we learn something new about wine from her each and every time we taste together. We were greeted warmly by Dionne and Doug Irvine, the owners along with two other family members, of this lovely spot. Dionne is warm and welcoming, Doug is wildly sarcastic and bigger than life, a perfect match for Neal and his sense of humor.  Neal and Doug could take their show on the road. We took a tour of their facility, met their wine maker and a few of their staff, including a soon-to-be vineyard dog named Alder.  He’s just a puppy now, but it won’t be long ’til he is roaming the vines.

Housemade treats make this an even more delicious charcuterie board

Following the tour, and a stop to smell the barrels in the barrel room (why can’t they bottle that smell and send it home with us?), we headed to the tasting room where Dionne provided a beautiful charcuterie board with many of the items prepared in house by their chef. I am waiting for the cracker recipe, although I will probably never make them.

Tasting through Irvine and Roberts’ line up was a real treat. They take care with each varietal to create a memorable experience. The 2017 Estate Chardonnay is fresh and crisp, leaving any memory of that  other chardonnay behind. The 2017 Pinot Meunier is a stand out. It is a wine I have only tasted a few times, but now holds a place on my list of favorites. It is earthy and both deeply brooding and brightly tasty. The Pinot Noir, both the estate and the single block varietals, are elegant and ring true for an Oregon Pinot that comes from somewhere other than the Willamette Valley. Irvine and Roberts focuses their single block Pinots on the clone, 777 and Wadenswil. The difference in these wines is surprising. The 2017 777 Block Pinot drew me back for a second and third taste, It was fruity and bright and had a finish that lasted beyond the final sip.

If you are planning a trip to Southern Oregon, whether it’s for the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, The Britt Festival in Jacksonville, or just to get away any time of year, this winery should be on your to-do list. Dionne and Doug are great folks who make the tasting experience in this lovely spot even more memorable and delightful!

One Love Cellars is a story of a dream, passion, love, adversity and loss. It is also the story of determination, dedication, grit and more love.

BUT, OH MY GOODNESS, THE WINE!

Winery Wanderings attended Eugene’s annual Art in the Vineyard event in July.  Some of our favorite wineries were there,  pouring some of their special wines. We stopped at the J Scott Cellars booth, hosted by their tasting room Goddess, Vicki Piva.

Vicki recommended that we visit with a new winery called One Love. Vicki knows we love a good story and assured us that they had a very special one. Winery Wanderings was all over this. We love great stories that go with great wines. So off we went, after a quick tasting of J Scott’s incredible Tempranillo and Albarino.

We introduced ourselves to KT Taylor ( Lady of the Vine) and she began to tell us the beautiful story of One Love. After just a few minutes, we knew this was a place we had to visit so we could let others know all about it.

You can’t miss KT. She has the coolest braided ponytail ever and is so passionate about her family’s vineyard and its story. Tears were flowing all around as the story began to unfold. According to their website, “This adventure started in 2006, in an unfinished basement with a bumper crop of raspberries in Michigan. The fermentation obsession brought us from Michigan and Montana, to Oregon in 2010 … and that’s when the real work began. Education, clearing land and getting to know our industry neighbors! We planted our first vineyard block in 2012, and additional acres progressively, with sustainability, stewardship and premium quality fruit at the heart of our farming practices.”

Two strong women keep it going

But there’s more to the story than that. This was a dream that KT and her dad shared. Together, they learned everything about farming, wine and grapes and then the dream seemed to be over when KT’s dad passed away suddenly shortly after they came to Oregon. If you spend even a few moments with KT, you will know that tenacity is her middle name. She dug her heels into the dirt and, through sheer determination and grit, kept on going.

Off in the distance a small group of elk

Our first visit to the winery was so fun. As we entered the gate, we just knew this place had a special feeling. The view from the deck surrounding the tasting room was spectacular even thought it still under construction. It didn’t matter one bit. One glass of wine with this view was all it took to fall in love. As we stood on the deck admiring the view, I noticed something moving in the far reaches of the property. It looked like a cow, but it was a small herd of elk grazing just off the vineyard. They know this was a perfect place to hang around.

Cheers to this great day of tasting

Let’s talk wine now! One Love took some risks including growing Albarino in the Willamette Valley. The risk paid off! This wine has citrus, tropical and botanical notes that makes it perfect for summer evenings. The other stand out for us was the Big Hearts Bubbles. This great Brut is prepared in the traditional method and is so worth the wait.  Any day is a good day to celebrate with this fun and festive sparkler. One Love also has a selection of Pinot Noir and, particularly, a white Pinot that defies description and a white and a red blend.

There’s something  for everyone at One Love

but mostly, there’s LOVE

After my first encounter with Red Lily Vineyards, I signed up to do the Wild Rogue Relay again, mostly to get back to this special winery, not to really run as part of the relay team or spend 24 hours with no sleep or trying to sleep on hard rocky ground. The race went off well and our team of 12 finished, not even close to last place. We won the battle of running 218 miles without any injuries.

I returned home and told my wife how great this place was…again. Her response?  What are we waiting for? Let’s go.

Red Lily label

Fast forward another year and our friends at Bitcork said they had a writing assignment for us in Southern Oregon. Low and behold, Red Lily was one of their new clients. In one nanosecond we agreed to head south and visit Red Lily and three other wineries to learn about their wine, tasting rooms, the  wine experience, the vineyard and anything else our readers might find interesting and exciting.

Once a year is too long to wait for this special place.There was much more in store for us. We were greeted warmly by the owner and wine maker, Rachael Martin.She made us feel like old friends and could not have felt more at home in this cozy and welcoming tasting room.  We sampled all of Red Lily’s wines, each became an instant favorite. Once again the Verdejo sang a song to our taste buds, but it didn’t stop there.

Owner and winemaker, Rachael Martin

Red Lily’s focus is on Tempranillo. There are several to choose from, each one was better than the last. Rachel fell hard for Tempranillo when she worked at a winery in Spain and was determined to recreate that experience in Southern Oregon. The wines are named lovingly in honor of Rachael’s children, one of the labels was even designed by her daughter.

When we toured the facilities. we found an amazing set up of equipment, rooms for special events and the most beautiful riverside tasting area. It was filled with tables and chairs overlooking crystal clear, chilly water that that invites you to dip your toes, or simply sit by the stream sipping these wonderful wines and enjoying the view.

We also met two of Rachael’s children during the tour. Lily, the namesake of Red Lily, was busy in the storage facility putting labels on each bottle of wine by hand. We also met Riley who was busy doing the tasks of a cellar rat. Ah, the Life of Riley (his namesake wine). Wait till you taste those wines!  It truly is a family affair. We didn’t get a chance to meet Rachael’s husband, Les, but we surely will the next time we visit.

Life of Riley, named for Rachael’s son Riley

Red Blanket, named for a Southern Oregon folk tale

We found out during our visit and tour that  on Thursday evenings throughout the summer, Red Lily has concerts by the river and on the lawn with preferred seating on the beach, yes, a beach! All you need is sunscreen and wine. More on the concert experience at  Red Lily in the next installment. All I can say is 500 to 1000 folks show up for these events, amazing!

You must visit this lovely place. Ask for Rachael and tell her Winery Wanderings sent you. You will NOT be disappointed.

Red Lily Vineyards, along with many other small production wines, can be found in the finest restaurants in Eugene and Portland, thanks to the hard work and creative approach to distribution by BitCork. Visit BitCork to learn where you can try these great artisan wines and ask your favorite restaurants to carry these small production wines. (This blog post was sponsored by BitCork.)

When you follow the GPS directions to Earth Song Vineyards, you can’t help but notice the acres and acres of hemp that line the winding country roads and the unlikely terrain for a vineyard. As we approached the gate, we saw what Courtney, Michael and Courtney’s dad must have seen when they arrived on the property. There were already 10 acres of vines, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, planted in the early nineties. There  were several buildings already on the property and, more than anything, an opportunity.

Courtney’s dad was born in Prineville, so he was not a stranger to Oregon. He and his family have traveled and lived all over the country, but clearly, Oregon always had its pull on the family. In 2015 the entire family, four generations, returned to this neglected piece of Oregon and took on the task of making Earth Song a viable, productive vineyard again. From Great Grandma to grandchildren, everyone worked together to recreate this important addition to the the Southern Oregon wine scene. The plan when returning to Oregon was to purchase an orchard. When that fell through. Dad announced that he found a vineyard. He advised his daughter, “you’ll have to learn about wine,” and learn she did!

According to their website, Earth Song Vineyard is planted in the picturesque, meandering river valley of Deer Creek in Selma, Oregon which at one time was known as Dryden. Dryden was established in 1892 when the Chinese and other gold miners built a post office to communicate with better ease. Many of the buildings in this small town were built by using the abandoned river dredge left behind by the miners, including the school house and the community building that is still standing today. The soil that was dredged from the ancient riverbed has been used to help with the growth of our tasty grapes.

There is no tasting room at Earth Song. Courtney welcomes visitors by appointment. We joined her on her deck, just feet from the first row of grapes. We were surrounded by hummingbirds, wind chimes and the sounds and smells of summer. The only unexpected sound was the sound of sprinklers from the nearest hemp field. Courtney explained the challenges that come with so much hemp. Water is the biggest issue. Hemp plants require an enormous amount of water, it sometimes seems to Courtney’s husband Mike that the fields are watered 24 hours a day. That an be a challenge in the dry terrain of Southern Oregon.

And, now, onto the wine. Earth Song produces Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The wine is made by well known wine maker Linda Donavan of Pallet Wine Company. This custom crush facility is well known throughout the region for producing award winning wines and Earth Song is among their crown jewels. The 2015 Pinot Noir won 2017 Oregon Wine Awards double gold and bronze in the 2017 Finger Lanes International Wine Competition. The 2016 won gold in the 2018 Harvest Competition. It is darker and more concentrated than many Pinots and presents beautiful notes of dark fruit and earthier notes of vanilla, coffee, tobacco and cedar.

The 2016 Pinot Gris won Silver medals at the 2018 Oregon Wine Awards, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and Oregon Wine Experience and Competition. The Oregon Pinot Gris bursts with lychee, lemon zest and white peach. The 2017 is simply summer in a glass! It won Silver in the 2018 Harvest Challenge and 2019 Oregon Wine Competition. Sipping these wines on the deck overlooking the vineyard on a hot summer day was a lovely experience, the dedication to the land is obvious.

Following our tasting, we took a quick drive to the other side of the property where the wine is stored (and where Mom, Dad and Grandma reside). The land is dry and dusty and yet the vines seem to be happy and settled in. The vineyard is beautifully manicured, showing the loving attention that four generations can give to its family treasure.

Earth Song Wines, along with many other small production wines, can be found in the finest restaurants in Eugene and Portland, thanks to the hard work and creative approach to distribution by BitCork. Visit BitCork to learn where you can try these great artisan wines and ask your favorite restaurants to carry these small production wines. (This blogpost was sponsored by BitCork. )

Earth Song Vineyards is located in Selma Oregon and can be reached at info@earthsongvineyards.com or by called (541) 450-3180.

When two of my favorite worlds collide, it’s a most wonderful thing.

This is a story of running, sweating and Verdejo. Let’s go back several years to an event called The Wild Rogue Relay, a 218 -mile running relay race. The race starts on the shores of Applegate Lake in Jacksonville, Oregon and ends in Brookings, Oregon about 24 hours later. Each team has 12 members. Member runs three legs of various lengths over the 218 miles.  The team has two vans with six runners in each van that run six consecutive legs. So van 1 runs legs 1-6, van two runs legs 7-12 and so on. Our team members were called “Vannies” for future reference. When the two vans meet to exchange the baton, it’s called none other than the exchange point.

That exchange point was the first time I encountered Red Lily. No, she wasn’t a runner on our team or or a competing team, she was the Vineyard at the first exchange point. It was love at first sight, or I should say first taste. I arrived there in the van while a teammate was running her leg of the race. We pulled into Red Lily at around 11:00 AM and were greeted by at least 125 other vans also waiting for their runners.

The folks at Red Lily did a great job organizing this chaos. With so many runners and so many vans, it could have been wild, but instead it functioned like a well oiled machine. As we arrived, people directed us to parking and refreshments that included Dutch Bros. Coffee and assorted snacks.

Wild Rogue teammates

We got situation and then I decided I should check this place out. After all, I was at a new winery and it was my duty to report to our faithful readers…or at least that is what I told my sweaty self. I headed to the tasting room, a beautiful Northwest inspired building with a large fireplace, seating and an invited tasting atmosphere.

I tasted a few of Red Lily’s exceptional varietals, then I texted my wife and told her that I sampled a varietal I had not heard of, Verdejo.  It is an uncommon, light bodied white wine that grows almost exclusively in Spain.  I know I didn’t run that far, so how did Verdejo end up in Southern Oregon? We will answer that in the next chapter of this story.

The property that Red Lily sits on is beautiful. The tasting room is spacious and inviting even for sweaty runners who just finished their leg of running. They have a beautiful outdoor tasting area  next to a stream with lounge chairs and tables to enjoy both wine and food.

Let me say for the record, this was a great experience even though I had many many miles to run. The main thing I didn’t like was I didn’t have enough time to spend there. I had a race to run. By the way, two bottles of Verdejo made it into my running bag for consumption later.

Red Lily Vineyards is located at 11777 Hwy. 238, Jacksonville OR. Red Lily wines are  available at restaurants throughout Oregon. Just visit Bitcork for a list of restaurants serving several of Red Lily’s best wines. Bitcork is sponsoring this post and others that focus on the wines and wineries they actively represent.