Portland is one of the USA’s most interesting cities. Famous for its coffee (I’ve had the best coffee in my life here), hipsters, the thriving restaurant scene and craft breweries,…
Exploring Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
This year, the theme for the formal tasting at the Central Otago Pinot Celebration was Pinot from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The session was ably led by Elaine Brown,…
Oregon Pinot Noir: tasting 11 top examples blind
For the last few days I’ve been at the Southern Pinot Noir workshop at Hamner Springs. It’s an event that brings together winemakers from across New Zealand to taste and…
IPNC: notes on 33 Pinot Noirs from Oregon
The International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) is held each July in McMinnville, Oregon. This was my third time at this remarkable event, which brings together consumers and trade in a…
Brooks: Pinot Noir and Riesling from this top Oregon estate
Brooks is one of Oregon’s unsung stars. Their 14 000 case production is split among many small lots, with the largest fermentation in the winery occurring in 2.5 ton fermenters….
Texsom: some Oregon whites
Today’s team lunch at Texsom featured Oregon wines. But no reds! This was a chance to look at some of Oregon’s whites, and also to branch out beyond the Willamette…
Tasting Eyrie, Oregon’s Pinot pioneer, with Jason Lett
This week while I was in McMinnville I had a chance to taste through the Eyrie range with Jason Lett. Back in the mid-1960s Jason’s dad, David, planted the first…
Some wine folk, Oregon and beyond, snapped this week
I’m leaving Oregon tonight after a very successful International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC). Over the course of the last four days, at the celebration and also today in Portland, I…
Video: Alternative America – three producers from the USA doing something a bit differently
At the Real Wine Fair I caught up with three producers from the USA who are doing something a bit different, and making excellent wines in the process. Scott…