Should I start a newsletter? If I should, this will be the first one of many. Comment below if you read & want more on what's going on in the Willamette Valley wine industry from the wine girl herself!
First order of business: Argyle's Willamette Valley Series
Did you know argyle makes some killer still wine? When I think Argyle, my immediate thought is bubbles. After trying this set of their Willamette Valley Pinot & Chardonnay, I’m hooked!
Most recently, I had this Chardonnay to celebrate a birthday. It’s a great balance of minerality with a bright pop of citrus. A perfect pairing to something a little spicy like Thai food or tacos 🌶️
PLUS! The price point is under $30 a bottle… in my opinion this is a must try for all. While you’re there, add a bottle of bubbles to the cart to make your next celebration amazing🍾
Next order of business: USA Today Readers' Choice 10 Best - Willamette Valley Nominees
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we voted for the whole Willamette Valley to be on the top of these lists? Good news, you can make an impact now by taking 5 minutes to vote for your favorites!
NOTE: you can vote for each category once per day, and it doesn’t require any personal information... so get on it!
Here is the run down on all of the Willamette Valley picks I found. See my votes below.
Wine Club:
-Willamette Valley Vineyards - vote here
-Nicholas Jay - vote here
Winery Tour:
-Archery Summit - vote here
-Ken Wright Cellars - vote here
Best Winery Restaurant:
-Sokol Blosser x Farm & Forage - vote here
Wine Tasting Room:
-Durant - vote here
-Stoller - vote here
-Resonance - vote here
-Domaine Serene - vote here
Wine Tour Companies:
-Wine de Roads - vote here
-Black Tie - vote here
-Back Country - vote here
Wine Shop:
-Flor Wines - vote here
Wine Country Hotel:
-Atticus - vote here
-Inn the Ground - vote here
AND FINALLY!!
WINE REGION:-WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON - vote here
Last order of Business (not that it matters) but this is who I am voting for & why:
Wine Region: Obviously the Willamette Valley... no notes.
Wine Club: WVV - Not only is their hospitality consistent and amazing all all locations, but their diversity in tasting rooms, food offered, and full portfolio of wine offerings is spectacular.
Winery Tour: (both) - If you have been to both of these wineries and experienced their tour option, you know they are equally amazing. Archery’s caves and new facility makes for a uniquely fun and curious adventure. While Ken Wright Cellars vineyard tour and in depth educational geological experience is never an opportunity to miss. Let’s get both of these to the top of the list and show how incredible the support of the Willamette Valley can be.
Wine Shop: Flor Wines - it is the only Portland option. I feel like it is my duty to contribute locally ;)
Winery Restaurant: Sokol Blosser x Farm & Forage - Although I haven’t been fortunate to experience this restaurant myself, the decadence, allure, and raving reviews have moved it to the top of my list to visit.
Wine Tasting Room: Durant - Views, Sheep, Vineyards, and of course a to die for olive oil pairing board all have a chokehold on me. Even on the gloomiest of days, Durant is a top stop for winetasting in the Valley. The double-whammy of the olive oil and gift shop is just the cherry on top.
Wine Tour Company: Wine de Roads - If you have had the chance to meet Phil & Lisa, you know how passionate they are about making the people around them happy. Their tour guests are no exception. While there are obviously less of these biking tours in the winter than the summer, it gives you an excuse to explore with fresh air in your face & a different perspective of slow back roads... and probably a little more sweat.
Wine Country Hotel: Inn the Ground - This place is nothing short of amazing, and technically not a hotel, but they still have my vote. You get the best experience of being in a five star resort and a rural countryside. Fresh, hot coffee and breakfast in the morning paired with deer roaming just off the patio give a “glamping” vibe in the most upscale sense of the word.
That’s all for today. If you have any notes, please leave them below. Thanks for reading!
xx Lucy
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