FROM PENNER-ASH TO ALEXANA

                                                             Penner-Ash vineyard

As I mentioned in my last post, winemakers are the real artists at the vineyard, and are responsible for the entire winemaking process. They could own their own vineyards or be employed at the winery, and they manage the fermentation, crushing, pressing, filtering, and bottling, as well as test the quality of the wine.

Penner Ash Wine Cellars

Earlier this summer in Willamette Valley, I was lucky enough to have a private tour at Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, which overlooks the Chahalem Valley. Penner-Ash produces world-class Pinot Noir, and was founded by Lynn Penner-Ash along with her husband Ron in 1998. Lynn is one of the best women wine makers in Oregon, and my experience was amazing, as I had the chance to better understand the complexities around producing premium wine.

Alexana vineyard

From Penner-Ash, I drove to Alexana Vineyard as they share the same wine maker, in Lynn Penner-Ash. Alexana is located in Dundee Hills, and is owned by Dr. Madaiah Revana, who also owns Revana Family Vineyards, in St. Helena, California. I went on a private educational tour with Christie, as we tried several outstanding Pinot Noirs, Pinot Gris, and Rieslings, and they were all fantastic! Christie later drove us to their vineyard property to get a closer look at the different soil types native to Dundee Hills. At this property the soil is primarily sedimentary silt, but also has volcanic stone which makes a difference from other Pinot Noirs produced in the same region. Each AVA has many different types of soil, and is one of the reasons Willamette Valley Pinot Noir can taste so different from one to the next.

Some say the fact Willamette Valley is located at the same latitude as the Burgundy Region of France, and shares similar weather conditions makes their Pinot Noir as delightful as the French, and Oregon is a fantastic wine region producing wonderful Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Dolcetto, Tempranillo, Viognier and Riesling.

So, if you have a free night this Labor Day Weekend, rent “Sideways”, and open a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir, and get lost in the passionate world of this fascinating grape!

TIP OF THE WEEK

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FRUITS, FLAVORS, GREAT WINES!

Lately, I have been traveling a lot and have had the opportunity to speak with many different women of different ages and from different parts of the country. I am very pleased to say there are lots of women out there that love wine and are eager to learn more!

Most of the time, I find women pay a lot of attention to the level of fruit flavor in a wine, and I’m not surprised as most of us give a lot of importance to flavor of something in our daily lives.

Experts agree the center of our tongue captures the flavor of a wine. You feel it immediately after your first sip, and it lasts in your mouth long after the wine is swallowed. We all know wines are made from grapes, but the fruit flavor is also determined in large part by the fermentation and cellaring process.

Archery Summit  - Wine cellar

Most wine makers enjoy making their wines in oak barrels, as the combination of oak, and the length of fermentation create specific, desired flavors. Wine makers are the real artists who create the magnificent taste of a wine, as they may intensify or smooth the level of flavor in order to come up with the right balance.

When we talk about white wines, we find some similar fruit flavors like apple, peach, melon, pear, lime, grapefruit, and lemon. Other whites might even develop flavors like grass, vanilla, butter, honey or even mineral.

Rex Hill Winery

Red wines are mostly based on red-berry or black fruits like cherries, plums, blackcurrants, and they might add more strong flavors like oak, pepper, tobacco, and cedar depending on the time of fermentation.

So pay attention after your first sip, and try to figure out which fruits are involved in a particular wine. You will learn soon that the higher the quality of a wine, the more intense flavors you will discover.

There’s always something new in a glass of wine.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Revlon has a new color stay lip-liner in Wine color and Rimmel London has just launched a lasting finish lipstick in Bordeaux. Check them out!

WINE INTERMISSION

Dear Readers,

I will publish my new post next Monday, I appreciate your patience. In the meantime; take a look at this fantastic view of Archery Summit’s vineyard at Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Have a great week!

                                                                

MY NEW PASSION: WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON!

I just returned from vacation, and was so blessed to have the chance to visit Seattle and Portland for the first time. I loved them both!

Seattle is very cosmopolitan and Portland is one of the friendliest cities I had ever visited. It’s eclectic, young, hip, and everybody there was amazing. We enjoyed the best hospitality ever! Flowers everywhere are blossoming, and summer is the perfect time to go wine tasting in the Willamette Valley.

Before this trip, I did not know that Willamette Valley is the leading wine region in Oregon, and it has more than 200 wineries producing mainly world class Pinot Noir. I also had the chance to enjoy wonderful Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Roses too. This wine region is divided into different appellations known as “AVAs” (American Viticultural Areas), and they are 1) Dundee Hills, 2) Chehalem Mountains, 3) McMinnville, 4) Ribbon Ridge, 5) Yamhill-Carlton District, and 6) Eola-Amity Hills. Willamette Valley has a misty-cool climate with moderately warm summers, and winters that are dominated by strong Pacific storms. The mix of cool weather and the diverse soils make it the perfect environment to grow Pinot Noir.

Each of the AVAs has its particular soil characteristics, and it really influences the way a Pinot Noir is grown and produced. The soil type clearly distinguishes each Pinot Noir.

I had the chance to visit these AVAs and wineries during my trip:

- Chehalem Mountains with its basaltic and ocean sedimentary soil type, and has more than 100 vineyards. Wineries: Bergstrom, Lancellotti and Rex Hill.

- Dundee Hills, was one of the first areas in Oregon where grapes were planted for wine production. Wineries: Duck Pond Cellars, Archery Summit and Domaine Drouhain.

- Ribbon Ridge, known for its ocean sediment. Wineries: Penner-Ash and Beaux Freres.

- McMinnville has a charming, historic downtown, and its soil is primarily marine sedimentary with basalt and alluvial overlays. I had the chance to walk the town and enjoy its great Pinot Noirs at dinner.

- Carlton has the most ancient marine soil in the valley, and is also the town where many well-known vintners and wine tasting rooms are located. Wineries: Alexana, Ken Wright, Andrew Rich, Carlton Winemakers Studio, and the amazing Cana’s Feast which resembled the Tuscan valley in Italy.

Cana's Feast Winery

This trip began as a vacation, but it transformed into an educational adventure. I had the chance to experience and understand the balance between soil, climate and technology. In Oregon, winemakers care not only about making good wine, but also respecting and preserving the natural characteristics of their land.

This is the first in a series of posts I will be writing on the Willamette Valley. There are so many things to share with you about the wine world in the Pacific Northwest.

For the time being, The Willamette Valley has become my new passion!

TIP OF THE WEEK AT THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY

Best B&B: The Lions Gate Inn.

Excellent service, great location, beautiful rooms. Thanks to Sarah and the outstanding Chefs Gwenn and Lauren.

Thanks to Suzanne & Bill (Chicago), Chelsea & Michael (NY) and Kyle & Jodi (Atlanta) for sharing so many wine stories!

 Best Lunch & Dinner Restaurants: Farm to Fork (gourmet organic menu). Great service with Julie and Tracy and The Dundee Bistro with the amazing Jaime.

TIP OF THE WEEK AT PORTLAND

Best bar: Olive or Twist. Thank you Guy for all your great recommendations and Gabe for your big smile.

Best dinner restaurant: Noble Rot.

Best breakfast bistro: Mother’s Bistro.

Best lunch restaurant: Everett Bistro.