| Oregon Wine Country | | | | able to master the art of producing a wine that is |
| If you would have asked someone 40 years ago | | | | much full bodied then Burgundy Pinot Noir. |
| about Oregon wine country they would have | | | | Interesting, perhaps because Oregon has much |
| looked at you with a confused look. Heck they | | | | different soil composition, the abundant flavors in |
| can't even make wine in California, how could they | | | | its Pinot Noir are more classically characterized by |
| possible make it in Oregon? | | | | cherry instead of the traditional flavors of |
| Luckily for wine drinkers, an enterprising spirit | | | | raspberry or cranberry. Additionally, being grown |
| abounds within the wine industry. Once the 1970's | | | | at such a cool temperature allows the wine to |
| were over and some of the most famous (and | | | | carry a significant acidity without having a touch |
| hippy I might add) winemakers started becoming | | | | of sweetness. This acidity means the wine can be |
| disillusioned with the path of California wine. They | | | | paired easily not only with traditional grilled meats, |
| thought there was too much of a focus on | | | | but also with many chicken dishes or even some |
| Cabernet and Chardonnay, while not enough focus | | | | heavy fish recipes. |
| was being paid to colder weather regions and | | | | As for white wine Oregon producers initially |
| terrior as the French would say. | | | | attempted to plant a California strain of |
| They moved to Oregon where they found | | | | Chardonnay, which was a universal disaster. The |
| cheaper land, colder temperatures and the | | | | grape had been genetically chosen for California |
| willingness of inventors to support more risky | | | | based on its ability to retain acidity in the hot |
| varietals. The result has been one of the best | | | | summer temperatures, in Oregon the grape was |
| Pinot Noir producing regions in the entire world. | | | | never able to ripen. Interestingly the white wine |
| Oregon has even given rise to an entire new | | | | which was truly caught Oregon by storm is Pinot |
| generation of Pinot Noir producers in New Zealand | | | | Gris, an Italian varietal initially grown in very warm |
| and yes even back in California as seen by | | | | climates itself. For whatever reason the |
| Carneros and Santa Barbara as we all know from | | | | winemakers in Oregon are able to make some of |
| the movie Sideways. | | | | the best Pinot Gris in the world, which when made |
| So why does Oregon make some of, if not, the | | | | well is a full bodied white wine with characteristic |
| best Pinot Noir in the world? To start it is a | | | | melon and orange flavors. Perhaps this wine has |
| difficult grape to grow anywhere in the world | | | | been such a huge hit because it pairs incredibly |
| (just ask Burgundy growers) but Oregon | | | | well with fresh caught salmon. |
| producers have been able to master the | | | | I hope you have enjoyed this short primer on |
| dichotomy of achieving ripeness in a cold climate, | | | | wine from Oregon, there is some truly |
| without much sun. Given the longer growing | | | | outstanding value available and I hope you give |
| season filled with rain, Oregon wineries have been | | | | their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris a try. |