Pacific NorthBest

The Exceptional Wines of Oregon (including my favorite, available at Attrezzi)

By Wine Club Member Kristyn Lak (compliments of the Hideaways Aficionado Club)

I read an article recently theorizing that there's no such thing as luck - good things happen to those open to them and to those who make connections. What does this have to do with wine? As it turns out, plenty.

A few years ago, I took Attrezzi's 'Wines of Oregon' class. Before reading the article, I said it was a lucky move since it introduced me to a world of wine - make that a region of wine - I knew little about, but one I enjoyed from the start. After reading the article, I know it wasn't luck as much as my being a wine club member . . . being open to good things and around the people who make those good things happen.

And so my love affair with Oregon wine began. Early last year, Mark and I took a Pinot Noir class and we blind-tasted Pinot from around the world; half-way through the class, a man named Rob joined us. After we finished rating all the wines, we found out Rob was the 'R' in 'R. Stuart' - his Autograph Pinot just happened to be our second favorite wine in our blind test. I chatted with Rob about an upcoming trip to Oregon and he invited Mark and me to visit his winery and have lunch with him. Another 'lucky' moment!

Mark and I visited Oregon's Willamette Valley in November. The Valley is just 30 miles south of Portland, and is bordered by mountain ranges and dotted with towering evergreens, hazelnut trees, and more than 200 wineries. Here's a look at several of our favorite wineries and the wine we enjoyed most:

Owen Roe/O'Reilly's (Newberg): Just before leaving for Oregon, Rich suggested I visit Owen Roe. ?They?re winning all kinds of awards,? he said. His advice proved quite fruitful, pun intended. Mark and I arrived at the vineyard at 10:00 a.m. and within an hour, we had tried and enjoyed 17 different wines. We fell hard for Owen Roe 2004 Abbot's Table, a rich, perfectly balanced, easy drinking red. Rich tells me he has a few, precious bottles in-house and I suggest you try a bottle or two before I purchase them all!

R. Stuart/Big Fire (McMinnville): Rob and his wife Maria don't submit their wines for review, so they don't get the publicity they deserve. They're comfortable letting people simply try their wines and decide for themselves. R. Stuart 2004 Autograph Pinot Noir is sugar and spice and everything nice. Not quite as pricey are their Big Fire offerings, the current 'house wine' in my cellar. When I was with Rob, I got to taste their Port, a lick-your-lips delicacy that will be available to the public in 2010, so keep your eye out for its arrival!

Ponzi (Beaverton): Ponzi is synonymous with Willamette Valley and Pinot Noir. For more than 30 years, wine pioneers Dick and Nancy Ponzi have produced extraordinary wine on their 100 acres. Try the Ponzi 2004 Tavola Pinot Noir, which has hints of ripe blueberry and raspberry. For a real treat, sample the 2004 Ponzi Vino Gelato, a succulent dessert wine with hints of peach and lemon peel.

Van Duzer (Dallas): This vineyard has delicious wines and equally intoxicating views. It's on a hillside, where a gentle east wind blows, inspiring Zyphyra, the wind-blown woman that graces the winery's bottle labels. The 2002 Flagpole Block Pinot Noir tastes of currants with a sweet, long finish while the 2002 Dijon Blocks Pinot Noir offers a smoky, spicy flavor.

Lange (Dundee): Lange holds a special place in my heart because it was their Pinot Noir that got my undivided attention in that palette-changing ?Wines of Oregon? class. One sip and I was hooked. I bought a few bottles, which we opened for special occasions. Lange's tasting room sits high, high up on a mountain with stunning views of the valley from their courtyard . . . but nothing could distract from their wines. We flipped for 2004 "Dundee Hills" Estate Pinot Noir, it was deep, rich, and meaty (and this vegetarian finds that a good quality in her wine).

Here are some other vineyards and wines to try: Argyle (Dundee) - 1995 Extended Tirage Brut; Bergstrom (Newberg) - 2004 Broadley Vineyard Pinot Noir (said, by the winemaker, to have a "hint of corruption"); Adelsheim (Newberg) - 2004 Oregon Pinot Gris; and Rex Hill (Newberg) - 2003 'Seven Springs Vineyards' Pinot Noir.

When To Visit: Oregon vineyards aren't always open to the public, but most open their doors during Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends. Mark and I visited during the latter and found it to be a great time because the area was celebrating its bounty with wine, hazelnuts, pears, and local cheeses in abundance. I was warned that other travelers flock to the area at that time, but we found enough elbow room to enjoy ourselves, especially early in the day. Another terrific time to visit is during the International Pinot Noir Celebration, which runs July 28 ^- 30 this year.

Where To Eat: Here, world-class wining meets first-class dining. Enjoy both at the popular Dundee Bistro (Dundee), which serves creative selections like a sweet beet radicchio, and poached pear salad served with a walnut vinaigrette and enough wine to make your head spin. Also try an undiscovered beauty, La Rambla Restaurant & Bar (McMinnville), where you'll enjoy the fresh flavors of the Northwest in Spanish-style tapas.

Where To Stay: Springbrook Hazelnut Farm Bed & Breakfast, centrally located in Newberg, is a 10-acre retreat with gardens, a 1-acre pond, and hazelnut trees as far as the eye can see. Stay in the charming Carriage House or Rose Cottage.

Vintage Tips: The banner year for Willamette Valley was 2002, so when in doubt, pick an '02. Unfortunately, 2003 was an iffy year. While some vineyards like R. Stuart knew how to handle the dramatics thrown at them by Mother Nature, other vineyards did not. Another challenging year was 2004, but it ended on a high note and produced great wine.

Kristyn Lak has been an Attrezzi wine club member for almost two years (thanks to a 'lucky' birthday present from friend, and fellow member, Diane Morgan). Kristyn travels and writes for Portsmouth-based luxe travel club, the Hideaways Aficionado Club.