Discover the Sparkle in Oregon’s Bubbly this New Year
The New Year is almost here and ‘tis the season for Bubbly! This winter, discover the sparkle that Oregon sparkling wine is bringing to the New Year and to Willamette Valley’s Cellar Season.
While the Willamette Valley was once known only for its cool climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it is now a wine country destination boasting well-rounded flights of crisp white wines, delicately balanced Pinots, big bold reds, and, yes, refreshingly elegant bubbly! It’s precisely because Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (the two grape varietals used most in classic sparkling wines) grow so well in Willamette Valley’s cool climate that bubbly got its foothold here. From just a few sparkling wines on the scene in the late 1980’s, the region has been gaining fertile ground as a destination for sparkling wine. The fact is, quality Oregon sparkling wine is popping up all over Willamette Valley’s tasting flights, and you won’t want to miss it.
Experience Willamette Valley’s Cellar Season with Oregon Sparkling Wine
As a Bed & Breakfast located amidst hundreds of boutique wineries, our guests depend on us to know where to go to eat, drink and be merry. While sparkling wine is wonderful all year round, the festive holidays are a great time to get out to taste and stock up for later. As bubbly lovers ourselves, it’s hard to narrow it down, but here’s our short-list of 10 wineries we love to send guests to for quality Oregon sparkling wine.
Lauded as the original winemaker of sparkling wine in Oregon, winemaker and visionary Rollin Soles creates art in a bottle with his méthode champenoise RMS Brut. This winery, tucked into a valley of the Dundee Hills, offers a relaxing and personalized experience in which to sit back and enjoy a sophisticated sparkling wine.
Sparkling wine superfans won’t want to miss a tasting at downtown Dundee’s Argyle. The Oregon sparkling wine scene originated here (with aforementioned Rollin Soles at the helm) way back in 1987. These days, you can enjoy a flight of varying sparkling wines, all aged at least 3 years and most “degorged on demand”, ensuring you’ll savor each drop of their quality sparkling wines. The Extended Triage Brut, aged for 10 years on the yeast, is a special wine indeed.
McMinnville is known for downtown 3rd Street, loaded with tasting rooms, restaurants, and boutique shopping. Chris James Cellars’ tasting room is a cozy, urban setting right on the main stretch, perfect for wine-sipping and people-watching. They have something for everyone with a sparkling red, sparkling chardonnay, and a sparkling dolcetto rosé.
R. Stuart’s méthode champenoise brut is a bright and balanced sparkling wine that is endlessly drinkable, and its price-tag may encourage you to do just that. You’ll find their Bubbly when you pop into the welcoming tasting room and wine bar located on McMinnville’s bustling 3rd street.
Located along Hwy 99 and at just south of Dundee, Domaine Willamette is well known for their méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines. Their Bernau Estate Vineyard is also Demeter® Certified Biodynamic. Stop by their tasting room for a flight of their Brut, Brut Rosé, and Blanc de Noirs and be sure to check out their extensive a la carte food pairings.
With a Blanc de Blanc, a Sparkling Rosé of Pinot Noir and a Cuvée Brut Sparkling, there’s a range of quality Oregon sparkling wine to try at Sokol Blosser. A visit here also incorporates the history of Willamette Valley Wine Country, as they were the first tasting room to open in the region, back in 1978. The current tasting room was the first in the country to earn LEED certification.
Lytle-Barnett’s cozy tasting room is right in the heart of Dundee and shared with Aubaine. Stop in to sample their méthode champenoise Brut, Brut Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, and Blanc de Noirs.
This family-owned winery and art gallery in the Chehalem Mountains is a destination for fans of quality bubbly and fine art connoisseurs alike. Winemaker and artist James Frey has a passion for both and it’s evident with a visit to the Ribbon Ridge estate. The much sought-after Pashey Sparkling Blanc de Blancs and Brut Rosé go quickly, so whenever they are available, stock up!
If you would like to branch outside of Oregon’s finest sparkling wine to taste Champagne direct from Champagne, France, reserve a tasting at Blizzard wines. Owner and winemaker Dana Blizzard imports a rotating variety of her hand-picked favorites. Each tasting starts with a Champagne, then moves on to tasting the bigger, bolder reds of the Northwest region that Dana is known for.
With second generation vintners now at the helm, the Kramer family has been producing Willamette Valley wine since the 1980s. Their love of all things wine is especially good for us bubbly lovers as they have a wide array of méthode traditionelle sparkling wine as well as force corbonated sparkling wine from a variety of grape varietals. Visit their tasting room for a full flight of bubbly, or try their Celebrate Sparkling Pinot Gris right here at Chehalem Ridge Bed & Breakfast as it is a part of many of our packages.
From Day to Night…Your Winter Escape at Chehalem Ridge B&B
Since you’re out discovering quality bubbly at all of these amazing Willamette Valley boutique wineries, extend your day-trip into a wine country Bed & Breakfast getaway by relaxing in the convenient, cozy comfort of Chehalem Ridge B&B. Our five-room mountaintop retreat, 3-course gourmet breakfasts, and personal concierge service awaits you. We promise that a glass of bubbly, a luxury stay and our outstanding views will ensure a sparkling start to your new year.
By Liz Bethell, Assistant Innkeeper
