Hi Everyone! How did Q1 of 2023 get away from me so quickly? I wanted to say that if you're one of the people who keeps up with this blog and was expecting this pt.2 of the blog from January... I am so sorry!
I have been working on it here and there, but while that was going on, a lot of living LIFE has happened and this writing project got put on the back burner. SOOOO here you go, this isn't the most complete piece of work... but I will continue to add to this as time goes on. I honestly just need to publish this so it isn't hanging over my head in my drafts.
That being said, transparency comes first and in order to keep this project up, sometimes things are going to NOT be picture perfect. The world of Chaos is where I thrive & I want you all to be apart of my wine adventures, but sometimes the adventures are not all about wine. I am human after all and I love everything about my fun-filled, crazy, and busy lifestyle, wine country & all!!
Planting Vines in the Bonnie-Jean Vineyard ~ Yamhill-Carlton AVA
Anyways- here you go! "Part II: Tasting Days for Each of the WV AVAs."
Day #5 - Ribbon Ridge AVA
Looking for Gamay in the Willamette Valley? Do yourself a favor and move Brick House to the top of your list. At the Brick House Biodynamic farm, everyone is treated like family when they visit. The welcoming vibes paired with the phenomenal wine and exceptional wine making styles creates an experience everyone will be seeking in 2023. Tastings are by appointment only, so make yours before they fill up!
Trisatum is a winery that you can go back to many times and have a top notch, yet unique, experience each time. They offer a standard estate flight of their wines to taste through Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. But it doesn’t end there… on specialty weekends, Trisatum highlights their sparkling program and offers a flight of their Pashey series sparkling wines (in addition to their estate flight). Here is more info on visiting Trisatum!
Last but not least, you must visit Trisatum and learn about their spirits program. Tatum (daughter of owner, -atum of Trisatum) heads this Spirits program with her partner Jackson. The couple has a very unique way of distilling & the stories they tell about experiencing the wine and spirits world is well worth paying them a visit. Jackson & Tatum host Speakeasy events throughout the year and these are not events to miss out on, so make sure you follow them on IG @Brixeur_spirits.
To say my visit to Eminent Domaine was a good experience would be a complete understatement. The irreplaceable quality of having a great host and getting just the right amount of attention as guests was perfected in my experience at Eminent Domaine. Let’s start with the boring (yet so amazing) part. Aesthetically, the building in which Eminent Domaine hosts their tastings is gorgeous. The thought and quality given to the design, functionality, and the visitor experience is top notch. Okay, now to the wine… Phil, our host, set the bar high with the first wine we tasted… but it only got better. The wines at Eminent Domaine are curated with a minerality and cleanliness that will leave you craving more and wanting to visit again ASAP! Make an appointment here!
Day #6 - Yamhill-Carlton AVA
Taking you on an easy day for driving and an incredible day of tasting. The YC AVA is one of the most widely-recognized American Viticulture Areas in the Willamette Valley. The wineries located in Yamhill and Carlton are known for their amazing views, diversity of elevation in vineyards, and of course the different old and new world clones highlighted as single-vineyard varietals as well as blends of Pinot among other varieties of grapes. Let me set you up for a 3-stop wine tasting tour that will leave you wanting to try all of the YC AVA wines.
Your first stop, Lemelson Vineyards will take you through a tasting flight of 5 wines. In addition to tasting wine, you will also learn about the innovative background and history that Lemelson’s founder has left behind. Among a few other wineries, Lemelson works with a gravity flow winery & they have some incredible single vineyard offerings of Pinot Noir for guests to taste! Visit Lemelson on a weekend this winter - book here!
If you love art, wine, and people… You will fit right in at your second stop of the day - Dominio IV. Dominio IV is just up the road from Lemelson, and their cozy dining room tasting bar will have you feeling right at home as soon as you arrive. Not to mention, their barn event space is nothing short of breathtaking. I didn’t know I liked Viognier until visiting Dominio IV, so if you have a chance to try theirs, don’t skip on it! Their Syrah and Pinot Noir are exceptional, and their story alone is well worth the visit. Check out their openings HERE!
I have a long history with Soter, and each time I visit I fall more in love with the space, farm, and of course Soter’s wine. Peeling away from North Valley Vineyards recently, Soter now highlights an exceptional Sparkling Brut Rose, Blanc de Blancs, and Pinot Noir on their tasting flight. The one-on-one seated tastings with a TR host to tell the Soter story and answer any and all questions serves as a special third tasting of your YC AVA day. Wanting an extra special tasting?Ask about reserving a spot in their provisions tasting & arrive on a winter afternoon for a lovely view and a cozy fireplace to keep you warm. Reserve a spot at Soter here!
YC AVA has so much more to offer! Including their AVA tasting (coming up in April!) Check more information out here.
VanDuzer, Laurelwood, Tualatin Hills, & Lower Long Tom AVAs coming… eventually :) Thank you all for reading, go follow my IG for a SPECIAL GIVEAWAY with Yamhill-Carlton AVA ending 4/5/23.
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