Eve Bushman, who writes Wine 101 and other wine articles, did an interview with me and published it in the West Ranch Beacon. Here is a link and an exert.
Last week readers were introduced to Oregon resident Robert Canaga. We covered much of his beginnings, his entrance into wine and his art. This week we will finish up our interview learning about Oregon wines. 2. What is unique about Oregon wines; for example what varietals are best produced with the terroir? I am not sure I understand the question as wine is produced and has terroir. That is the Umami of wine, that 5th taste that is indescribable but is obvious. Oregon has many wine regions. Of course the one that gets the most attention is the Willamette Valley, where I think we have 7 AVAs and many more unspecified areas for growth. Mostly Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay but now we are growing cold climate Syrah, and all kinds of colder climate grapes for blending and small release bottlings.
In the Umpqua AVA and its neighbor, Red Hills Douglas County (smallest AVA in Oregon, perhaps in the USA) they grow Pinot Noir, Italian reds, syrah, and even Pinotage, along with Rieslings, Muller-Thurgau, and some more little surprises, like Grüner Veltliner.
To the south we have the Rogue and Applegate Valleys where they grow hot weather grapes and also lots of Pinot Noir that is closer to Napa that Willamette Valley grapes.
Each specific area has its own terroir and after a while you can tell where the grape is grown just by the smell. A great example is Forris Vineyard’s Pinot Noir: It is grown in the coast ranges almost to the California border near Oregon Caves. The land is rich with organics and the deep volcanic soils. You can smell the forest floor and the wet rock and it adds to the complexity of the wine. Another example would be the different Syrahs grown here. The ones grown down in the Rogue Valley floor are hot, smoky, big fruit, and a bit harsh in some years where the ones grown just a few miles away up the valley are much more gentle and the fruits, while big and bold, are even more complex and you can pick out the details of the wine. MORE
Last week readers were introduced to Oregon resident Robert Canaga. We covered much of his beginnings, his entrance into wine and his art. This week we will finish up our interview learning about Oregon wines. 2. What is unique about Oregon wines; for example what varietals are best produced with the terroir? I am not sure I understand the question as wine is produced and has terroir. That is the Umami of wine, that 5th taste that is indescribable but is obvious. Oregon has many wine regions. Of course the one that gets the most attention is the Willamette Valley, where I think we have 7 AVAs and many more unspecified areas for growth. Mostly Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay but now we are growing cold climate Syrah, and all kinds of colder climate grapes for blending and small release bottlings.
In the Umpqua AVA and its neighbor, Red Hills Douglas County (smallest AVA in Oregon, perhaps in the USA) they grow Pinot Noir, Italian reds, syrah, and even Pinotage, along with Rieslings, Muller-Thurgau, and some more little surprises, like Grüner Veltliner.
To the south we have the Rogue and Applegate Valleys where they grow hot weather grapes and also lots of Pinot Noir that is closer to Napa that Willamette Valley grapes.
Each specific area has its own terroir and after a while you can tell where the grape is grown just by the smell. A great example is Forris Vineyard’s Pinot Noir: It is grown in the coast ranges almost to the California border near Oregon Caves. The land is rich with organics and the deep volcanic soils. You can smell the forest floor and the wet rock and it adds to the complexity of the wine. Another example would be the different Syrahs grown here. The ones grown down in the Rogue Valley floor are hot, smoky, big fruit, and a bit harsh in some years where the ones grown just a few miles away up the valley are much more gentle and the fruits, while big and bold, are even more complex and you can pick out the details of the wine. MORE
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