Wine Lovin Women

Willamette Valley -Fire, Volcanic eruptions, Earthquakes, Floods and coastal effects…..sounds like the makings of a new disaster movie however it is actually the makings of some great soil for one of the largest AVA in Oregon, extending from Portland to Eugene. Many factors contribute to a wines flavor, mostly what happens in the cellar however one of the elements is the soil the grapes are gown in. The Cascade mountains on the East and Coastal mountain range to the West with low hillsides, which make up the 6 AVA (American Viticultural Area) regions in Oregon; Dundee Hills AVA, Chehalem Mountains AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, McMinnville AVA, Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This trip, we went to Newberg and Dundee area, here are some places we visited that will hopefully inspire you to visit this region too. August Cellars- Family owned with a tasting room situated at the edge of 42 acre farmland of English Walnuts, Italian Prunes and Pinot grapes. August Cellars is

Walla Walla Wine Tasting at McCall Hall Another great year of wine is upon us and Denise and I kicked it off by attending the “Walla Walla Wine Tasting at McCall Hall” on Monday evening (February 8 th ).  This was our first time attending this event and it did not disappoint. Forty-five wineries were pouring.  We sampled a few old favorites but enjoyed new ones we had never tried before.  Five Star Cellars – 2011 Syrah – I tried this Syrah with duck and it was fantastic.  Food really brought out the flavors. Foundry Vineyards – 2013 Chardonnay – This chardonnay was done in steel.  The fruit really shines. Henry Earl Estates – 2012 Malbec – Very unusual Malbec.  Light with little to no tannins. Kerloo Cellars – 2013 Les Collines Syrah – Great Syrah!  Can’t wait to visit them. Tempus Cellars – 2013 Evergreen Vineyard Riesling – A nice refreshing Riesling.  Not too sweet but also not dry, just right! These are just a few of the wineries we tasted at