November, 2003
California and Washington in geographic terms,
this Northwest state is no second-fiddle when it
comes to quality wines.
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10 years when both the quantity and quality of Oregon wines have skyrocketed.
More than 150 wineries operated in Oregon in 2002, a 50 percent increase over
five years. While total production has not grown as rapidly over the same period,
growers have been planting significant new acreage that is coming into
production and will boost volumes significantly for years to come.
Oregon wineries crushed more than 20,000 tons of grapes in 2002. Nearly half of
that production was Pinot Noir. Pinot Gris was a distant second at slightly more
than 4,000 tons, while Chardonnay had only 2,300 tons. California mainstay
grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot each produced less than 1,000 tons.
The majority of Oregon’s wineries are in the northwestern part of the state in the
greater Willamette Valley. These wineries benefit from their proximity to the Pacific
Ocean, the Columbia River, which separates Oregon and Washington and the
Willamette River, which runs between Portland and Eugene. The Umpqua Valley
and Rogue Valley are located further south, while various wineries are also
located along the entire Oregon coast of the Pacific.
primarily due to success with Pinot Noir. The
right climate, a growing understanding of
Pinot Noir’s nuances, and cooperative
weather over the last five years have resulted
in a string of wonderful vintages. It’s hard to
go wrong with any of the Pinot Noirs now
stocked on retail shelves. Many of the highly
regarded bottlings are quickly snapped up by
collectors, but numerous “lesser-known”
bottlings still will give pleasure. Argyle and
Foris are good choices. King Estate is a
major producer with widespread distribution.
Harder to find, but worth the effort are the
wines of Owen Roe and Sineann wineries.
The O’Reilly’s Oregon Pinot Noir and Sineann
Pinot Gris are very enjoyable and cost less
than $15. More on Owen Rowe & Sinean.
white grape is a mutation of Pinot Noir, although as expected, the differences are
quite significant. Pinot Gris is the same grape as the Italian varietal Pinot Grigio,
which is usually lighter and more acidic than its Oregon counterpart. These wines
are medium-bodied with lively, refreshing flavors and aromas of pear, apple and
melon. Elk Cove, Ponzi and Adelsheim are nice and widely available. Oregon
Pinot Gris is nice alternative to the over-oaked Chardonnays that are so
ubiquitous and it typically is a heftier wine than Sauvignon Blanc.
Those interested in traveling Oregon wine country, take note that the total number
of wineries is vastly fewer than Northern California while the distances are much
greater. The winemakers are welcoming, but it’s a much different experience than
driving Route 29 through Napa Valley.
What does the future hold for Oregon wines? Only mother nature knows for sure,
but with this many good wines available right now, we can certainly enjoy the
present.
Back to Wine Regions.
