Napa Valley: A wine lovers destination
By By Stan Torgerson / wine columnist
June 2, 2004
When wine lovers talk about visiting vineyards and wineries, they almost invariably describe their goal as the Napa Valley.
There's nothing wrong with that. Napa is home to many of America's finest wines and a visit there can be an adventure. In addition, there are other nearby counties that produce varietals that are actually superior to those produced in Napa such as sauvignon blanc and zinfandel.
But great wines are made elsewhere in this country, principally Washington and Oregon. Friends of ours recently toured Oregon and brought back a booklet that indicates how serious Oregon farmers are about making great wines.
The publication is called the Oregon Winery Guide. It points out Oregon's largest and best known wine producing area is the Williamette Valley. It is beautifully located, 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Cascade Mountain Range to the east.
The temperate climate and the coastal influence make the growing conditions within the valley ideal for cold climate grapes. As a result, about 70 percent of the state's vineyards are located in the Williamette Valley.
In addition to discovering they can make great wines, the area's residents have learned tourists have money. As a result, there are day trips available from the various towns in the valley. Bed and breakfasts are plentiful and many fine restaurants are available to visitors.
Portland is at the north end of the valley and, of course, that is the state's major city with all the shopping, museums, hotels and other benefits of a major metropolis.
Pinot noir is Oregon's flagship wine. Nowhere else in this country are these grapes grown to the quality level found in Oregon. Only in Burgundy, France, is the climate as ideal for that particular grape. As a result nearly 50 percent of the grapes grown in the state are pinot noir.
But the base is growing. Merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and zinfandel are making some inroads, but pinot is still the king.
White wines are also being produced, principally pinot gris. Nearly 15 percent of the plantings for white wine are pinot gris. The vines were brought to the state from Alsace France, probably the world's greatest growing area for white wine grapes, and replanted in Oregon. It turned out growing conditions were perfect there. Pinot gris wines are perfect accompaniment for seafood, and Oregon has a lot of that.
Here again, grape growers are attempting to expand their horizons. Chardonnay and riesling are improving, both in the number of acres and in the quality of the grapes. The chardonnays are elegant with layers of flavors and, in the main, are fairly priced.
There are also wineries that are now producing gewurztraminer, pinot blanc, sauvignon blanc and others but as yet they are not a major factor.
You will always know what you are buying when it comes from Oregon. They have the nation's most stringent labeling laws. For example, the names of foreign regions like chablis and champagne are not allowed on Oregon wine labels. Oregon wine must contain at least 90 percent of the stated varietal. Nationally, only 70 percent is required. The only exception Oregon permits is that cabernet sauvignon can use the 70 percent standard since it is commonly blended with other red wines such as merlot or cabernet franc.
It is a very friendly country. Most of the wineries have tasting rooms and welcome visitors. Some will make special appointments for groups. And it is not a matter of whether or not the employees at the tasting rooms will welcome you. In many, if not most cases, they aren't employees at all but rather family members who will greet you. Fair warning, however, to our younger readers. If you are 26 or younger, or look like you are, they will card you so bring some I.D. if you go out there.
For more information contact the Oregon Wine Advisory Board at wineinfo@oregonwine.org. The booklet my friends brought back had the names and addresses of every winery, every hotel and I guess every good restaurant in that area.
It all comes down to this: Napa Valley is a great place to visit but it is not the only one. You'll enjoy the Oregon experience as well and remember the state of Washington is right next door. They're growing and making some great wines as well. Further, my investigating indicates the Pacific Northwest isn't as pricey as Napa and that area of California. That leaves more money to spend on buying wine, doesn't it?
