Enchanting Destination in Willamette Valley

The Pacific Northwest provides so many diverse wine experiences and one of my favorites is in the heart of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. With its unique soil diversity and various Pinot Noir clones, learning about wine is almost as fun as sipping it in this beautiful region. Willamette Valley Vineyards, located south of Portland in the Salem area, offers the ultimate wine adventure with so many options to relax, enjoy wine and food pairings, and even be winemaker for a day through an educational and interactive experience.

About Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate

Willamette Valley Vineyards (WVV) is a world class winery in Oregon, specializing in the region’s cherished Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals. My first experience with WVV was through my late, great aunt who was a stock owner of the winery many years ago. I recall her pouring WVV wine for us when my palate was quite young, and she would proudly boast about being an owner (more on the ownership program later in this post).

Fast forward about 25 years later and my husband and I were enroute to the beautiful estate. To my delight, as we neared the winery we drove by the Enchanted Forest. As a kid who grew up in the dry desert landscape of Arizona, I would visit my maternal grandmother, a native of Salem, in the summer and every visit she would take me and my sister to the Enchanted Forest. It was this magical fairyland that transported me to a dreamy place I could hardly believe was real. (I recommend keeping the Enchanted Forest in mind if you have kiddos in tow on your visit to WVV!)

Little did my child self know that as I climbed on, under, and over the funky garden sculptures nestled under the towering trees of my favorite playground in the woods, my favorite adult playground would be built and waiting for me right next door!

Needless to say, as we drove under the grand entrance, I already had this sense of place, a sense of peace and anticipation. Upon entering the large tasting room, we were welcomed by expansive, sweeping views that go on for miles and a friendly greeting from Sandra as she handed us some sparkling wine, creating a full-fledged sensory experience.

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We settled into a table by the window and perused the full menu of small bites, salads and entrees, opting for the steamed clams and a seasonal, locally inspired salad with a glass of Chardonnay — the Tualatin Estate for me, and the Bernau Block for my husband. Until we began visiting Oregon, Chardonnay was a varietal neither of us would order at a restaurant, or even buy for our cellar. We were used to the heavy, oaky versions produced in California. Yet Oregon Chardonnay is simply beautiful, with aromatics and structure that don’t elicit oaky or buttery notes but rather a leaner, more complex and elegant profile.

The Winery Suites

We booked a two-night stay at one of the Winery Suites. The winery has two beautiful suites located onsite and are open for owners to reserve. Each year, typically in the summer, Jim Bernau releases an offering of preferred stock. As an owner, you receive many benefits, including the ability to make a reservation for one or both of the suites. (For more information: Stock ownership provides club member benefits)

After lunch, we made the short walk over to our winery suite. Upon opening the front door, our breath was literally taken away as we looked across the room and out the window, where the vineyards were framed with layers of hills and the Oregon coast mountain range in the far distance. A bottle of wine and two glasses awaited us on the table, which we took outside after settling in. A set of glass double doors off the living room provide access to a private outdoor patio, feeling something like a luxurious hillside home in the vineyards.

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As the sun began to set over the horizon, we marveled over the luck of arriving on a day with such beautiful weather. And, as staff began closing things down, the activity of the day was replaced with peaceful silence and a sky changing from pink to orange to deep red.

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Pinot Noir Clonal Blending Experience

WVV offers several ways to explore and enjoy its varied collection of wine, from flights at the tasting bar, glasses or bottles tableside with food pairings, and its crown jewel — the Pinor Noir Clonal Blending Experience. This experience enables guests to explore signature Pinot Noir clones and create blends of their choosing.

Our friends from the local area joined us for this special tasting and we started the day with an early lunch in the tasting room, which offers a cozy environment during cooler weather, and a terraced patio outdoors for those warmer sunny days.

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After lunch, we were introduced to our Winery Ambassador, Veronica Ball, who kicked off the experience with a beautiful sparkler, the Bernau Brut Rosé. Named after the founder, Jim Bernau, the Brut Rosé is grown from estate Pinot Noir and was bright, crisp, and also a bit creamy in texture. As we sipped, Veronica shared the story of Bernau and the inception of WVV, including how Bernau’s innovative financing strategy in the 1980s established WVV as a crowd funded winery, even before that term existed.

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Glasses in hand, we followed Veronica downstairs to where the magic begins. The room is literally like a Willy Wonka wine factory, with the focal point being a wall adorned with seven wine barrels and dials controlled by a touch-screen computer.

Each barrel contains a specific Pinot Noir clone, and the clones we tasted during this experience included the following: Pommard, Wädenswil, Dijon 113, 114, 115, 667 and 777. These clones and more can be found throughout Oregon vineyards and originate from Burgundy, France. For those who geek out on wine details, see this PinotFile newsletter for more about the clones.

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The experience begins with a taste of each individual clone, with the goal to identify your preferences based on the style, aroma and flavor imparted by each clone. Veronica programmed each barrel to dispense one ounce. We each took turns pushing the magic button, releasing the wine into our glasses.

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Interestingly, the four of us had similar preferences and leaned toward the same clones. My personal favorites were the Pommard, 667 and 777. With notes written and favorites established, we were ready for the next step — to each create two of our own unique blends. To do this, each individual selects a specific combination of any of the seven clones and identifies the percent each clone contributes to the blend. Veronica then uses the mechanical dials to apply the percentages and create the blends.

With seven clones and percentages ranging from 1-100, the possibilities are endless. We each documented the composition of our two blends and, as chance has it, my husband and I each chose a blend that was identical!

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Overall, what a fun, educational way to sample our way through the clones that make Oregon Pinot Noir such a stately example of this magnificent varietal. Now when we drink a glass, we do so with a bit more intention and appreciation. We will definitely return to WVV for its incredibly knowledgeable and friendly staff, diverse collection of high-quality wine, and beautiful scenery.

Cheers!

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More to Know about WVV

• The Estate property in Turner offers a retail store, tasting room/dining area, indoor and outdoor seating, and two winery suites available for reservation by owners. Dogs are allowed on the outdoor patios and lawn areas.
• WVV has several other tasting rooms across Oregon, Washington and California.
• In addition to its WVV label, other brands include Pambrun, Elton, and Maison Bleue.
• WVV offers both common and preferred stock and is traded on the NASDAQ. Stock ownership provides club member benefits.
• Sustainability is a key value for Bernau and the winemaking practices he leads. Vineyards are certified sustainable through LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon-Safe.