Oregon wines

Just remember that Willamette rhymes with damn it.

Owen Roe, Ponzi, Cameron near Portland. Pinots are indeed the wine of the area, both Noir and Gris.

Washington's best reds are Merlots, Syrahs, and Cabs from grapes of the Red Mountain region. Try the Tasting Room at Pike Place Market in Seattle to reach a number of wineries in one swoop. Matt's at the Market is a great, small, wine smart restaurant in the Market, and Etta's Seafood is also good.

In Woodinville, if you call ahead, you can sometimes get into DeLille, Novelty Hill and Mark Ryan. DiStephano usually has their tasting area open. The touristy standards are Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia (in Woodinville). Eat at the Barking Frog or the Herbfarm if you go there. Washington wines are generally made from grapes grown on the east side of the Cascade Mtns--Seattle is on the western side, on Puget Sound. If you have time, you could take a detour to Yakima and Prosser, where many of the smaller wineries like Cayuse are.

Have fun!

Lots of wineries in the Newberg-Dundee-McMinneville area near Portland. Domaine Drouhin for outstanding Pinot; Domaine Serene for ostentatious glitz -- and the wine is good; and a new one, White Rose. All three are adjacent to each other for your convenience in the Red Hills area of Dundee. I am new to the area, so those with more knowledge than I will surely fill in the blanks.

Andy

Owen Roe used to (and may still) make a very decent Syrah from a vineyard near Walla Walla. Ponzi's wines have failed to impress me on my several visits to their tasting room in Dundee, but they have the advantage of having a tasting room in Beaverton, nearer to Portland than any other serious winery. FWIW, I'd suggest getting out of Portland and heading to Dundee, where I'd recommend Chehalem, Torii Mor and Lange for visits and lunch at Ponzi.

Mark Lipton

Owen Roe still produces a Syrah and a decent Cab from the Dubrul vineyard near Walla Walla. Sineann, Owen Roe's sister makes a couple of Cabs from the Champoux Vineyard near Walla Walla, not to mention a hand full of Oregon Pinots and an Old vine Zin that puts most Cal Zins to shame. If you plan on being in the Portland/Newberg area, Sineann/Owen Roe will be having a having a new release tasting on Sept 17th.

I second Mark's recommendation of Chehalem and for the scenery around Lange.

Dante

having a having a new release tasting on Sept 17th.

Alas, a week too late.

Jose

Email Peter at sineann-AT-pcez-DOT-com. I'm sure that you could arrange a tasting before the 17th.

The Dundee Bistro and the Ponzi Wine Bar are next to each other...they are both nice. The people at the wine bar can help you with calling wineries and making some appointments for you.

Personally I like Domaine Serene, Domain Drouhin as well as Ponzi.

I have found that Ponzi Pinots seem to drink better after a few years of aging. The regular Ponzi Pinot Bottling is good at release and then shuts down. The reserves are 10 year wines.

Another favorite for me is on the way to Erath Vineyards on Red Hill...the place is Marresh Vineyards. They don't actually bottle themselves but they have Rex Hill and Archery Summitt bottle for them. I tend to LOVE their wine.

Thats about all.

I liked their wine and the setting is stunningly beautiful. But I half expected me and my Nissan pickup to be escorted off the premesis. To their credit, they were friendly and they let me taste their wine. I did pay the exorbitant tasting fee, after all.

Andy