Winetastic Holiday Picks: Best Wines Under $20

Today I was painfully reminded that I am on a budget. I feel like I'm constantly on the go and it can be so hard to sit back and take the time to think about where you are right now, in this very moment.

Luckily, drinking a glass of wine is one of those hobbies that can help you to make the time to relax and reflect. The holiday time of year can be a very expensive time for everyone. Between gifts, holiday parties, housewarmings, and just celebrations around this time in general...it can all add up pretty quickly. Below I've listed my absolute favorite wines under $20 that I would recommend for all of your upcoming holiday needs. Trust me - no one will know that you found these amazing wines on a budget:

Napa Valley Cabernet
Starmont, 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, $16-$27
This wine is very impressive and perfect as a gift or dinner accompaniment with your favorite cab lover. Starmont is a part of Merryvale Vineyards, which produces several delicious cabernets, but at a much higher price point than this gem!
Tip: I've found the best pricing for this wine at Trader Joe's

Perfect Sauv Blanc
Joel Gott, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, $9-$14
I first tasted this wine at a hip sushi restaurant in the city about five years ago and loved it. To this day it is definitely the best sauvignon blanc I've found under $20.
Tip: I've found the best pricing for this wine at Safeway/Vons

Delicious Pinot Noir 
Meiomi, 2012 Pinot Noir, $18-$21
This wine completely blew me away! It is a blend of grapes from three different regions (Sonoma, Monterey, and Santa Barbara) and it was the first regionally blended wine (that I knew of) I had ever tried. It is such a beautiful wine year after year and it is part of the Wagner Family of wine which includes Belle Glos and Caymus. This is one that you do not want to pass up!
Tip: I've found the best pricing for this wine at Safeway/Vons

Celebration Bubbles
Bortolomiol "Filanda" Pinot Nero Brut Rose, $15-$25
This Italian bubbly was the perfect pre-dinner drink to start off an amazing date night. I highly recommend it for NYE. It is crisp, dry, and perfect for celebrating...plus it's pink! How chic is that?
Tip: I've found the best pricing for this wine at K&L or try finding it on wine-searcher.com

Collector's Series: Quintessa Winery: The Illumination of Rutherford

Quintessa from the Silverado Trail

 I've been curious about Quintessa for a very long time. Who wouldn't be? If you have ever passed it while driving along the Silverado Trail...you know what I'm talking about! There is a gorgeous brick wall stretches across the vineyard, it is incredible and definitely hard to miss. Prior to heading back to school for the beginning of the next 3 years of my "new" life, I had to plan an epic Napa trip to get ready for my next chapter. Quintessa was the winery to visit - and the adventure was just about to begin!

Sipping Illumination on the Lake

 We arrived at the vineyard and were greeted by our private tour guide. She took us for a walk through the vineyard and I was extremely grateful to have worn my walking boots (heels would have been a very unfortunate idea here), because the winery's view was amazing! We sat in beautiful barrel chairs and tasted the small production sauvignon blanc "Illumination", and it was pure bliss. Honestly, we wish that we could have completed the entire tasting from outside, because looking out at the lake and vines was so relaxing and peaceful...exactly what we both needed.

The Waterfall in the Gorgeous Cave

After enjoying the beautiful views and wine, we toured the winery and the gorgeous caves. This truly is an impressive place to visit. Afterwards we headed back to the tasting room for a seated tasting of several vintages of the "Quintessa" paired with cheeses. The tastings were in a room that reminded me of almost a restaurant or lounge. It was a complete contrast from our outside private lake view. The wines were delicious, we especially loved the 2006 vintage of the "Quintessa". However, we couldn't stop thinking about the "Illumination", which is the only white wine produced by the winery. The wine was so beautiful and our experience enjoying over the lake made it a must buy for us!

Quintessa Vertical Tasting

Tips - Quintessa Winery:

• I would recommend this tour and tasting for wine lovers who appreciate red blends, a gorgeous sauvignon blanc, and a little bit of a hike that is well worth it
• Tours are $65/person and are waived with a 6-bottle/person purchase or sometimes with a wine club membership sign-up (depending on the size of your party)
• Quintessa is by appointment only, and since each tour is private there is limited availability to schedule an appointment e-mail info@quintessa.com
• Plan to spend approximately 1.5 hours at the winery for this experience

Cabernet grapes

Collector's Series: Fantesca Estate: Majestic Spring Mountain Secret

Fantesca Estate Cave

 I was in love at first taste, literally. I purchased the Fantesca Chardonnay on Gilt Taste a little over a year ago in a Heidi Barrett Series Pack that I could not resist. Finally, once I found the guts to open the most expensive Chardonnay that I had ever purchased, I tried it for the first time. My first reaction was "Wow", seriously....followed by, "I can't believe I feel this way about a Chardonnay!" It was one of the most incredible things ever to hit my lips, and I haven't been able to shake the memory since.

Inside the Cave

I began to research Fantesca...Where was the winery? How could I get more? What other wines do they produce? Alex and I had to try the Fantesca again to make sure that it was all we had hyped it up to be. We contacted the winery and visited the vineyard for an unforgettable experience.

Estate Vineyard

Fantesca Estate Winery is a gorgeous gem along the rolling Spring Mountain hillside. We drove up to the winery and were greeted by Stacey Ross, who began to tour us around the secluded property. We walked down to the vineyard and took in the breathtaking views of the 10 acres of cabernet sauvignon treasures below. Then we retreated back to the cave for a very special treat. The cave was immaculate and very romantic inside. We were introduced to Tony Arcudi, the Associate Winemaker, and enjoyed a special barrel sample of what would eventually make up the King Richard's Reserve Pinot Noir. It was incredible! It was a complete tease to a wine that few will ever get the opportunity to try, due to its extremely limited production.

King Richard's Reserve Barrel Samples

We moved into the winery for a tasting of the current releases of Fantesca's portfolio. We tried the 2010 Chardonnay and were immediately brought back to our last memory of this incredible wine. We tasted the La Petite Rose, All Great Things Freedom (Proprietary Blend), and the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It was an amazing treat. I was impressed by all of the wines and was so glad to have found Fantesca. It truly lives up to it's motto of being sexy, smart, and unpretentious. For a winery that produces approximately 2,000 cases a year with Spring Mountain grapes, Heidi Barrett and Tony Arcudi as the winemaking artists, and a gorgeous property to reside - Fantesca has every right to be pretentious, but as you will find if you visit, it isn't. I ended up falling in love with it just a little bit more because of this. We had a great time tasting, joking around, reading different fortune corkies, and hearing stories of the winery during our tasting. We purchased the Chardonnay (no brainer) and are happy to report that we received news that we will receive our first Estate Cabernet allocation this October.

Fantesca Tasting Flight

Tips - Fantesca Estate Winery:

• I would recommend this winery to serious wine collectors, Fantesca is a gem to be appreciated and enjoyed for cult wine collectors looking for a low production, high quality Spring Mountain treasure
• Fantesca is by appointment only and has very limited availability to the public. I suggest planning to purchase wines ahead of your trip and asking if a tour and tasting would be available. The wines are mostly allocated, but if they are available definitely snatch up a few bottles
• Plan to spend approximately 2 hours for this experience

Current Releases

Collector's Series: The Vineyard House: Under-the-Radar Cult Wine from Oakville

The latest release from The Vineyard House

Have you ever stumbled upon something so amazing and special, that part of you wants to shout about it from the rooftops? But at the same time, you want to keep it close to you, and maybe just tell a select few? That is exactly how I feel about The Vineyard House (TVH). It all started when somehow I found my way onto the Lot18 Elite list and was offered this incredible wine. A few things about the bottle's description immediately peaked my interest...cult wine, extremely limited production, bordering some of Napa's finest estates (Bond, Far Niente...the list goes on), and an opportunity to try the next big thing before everyone knows about it.  I thought, "What the heck, I'm going to buy a bottle of this."

Welcome to The Vineyard House

 While I was waiting for my first TVH bottle to arrive, I began researching the winery and discovered that it was Gil Nickel's son Jeremy who started this amazing winery in memory of his father. If you are familiar with Far Niente or Nickel & Nickel, Gil Nickel is the Napa legend who founded these amazing wineries. I decided that I had to see this place for myself, so I contacted the winery and made an appointment for a tasting.

Gorgeous Tasting in the Vineyard

When we arrived at the property, we were warmly greeted by Todd Blum, a consultant for this growing winery. He was very knowledgeable, funny, and definitely the kind of guy that any wine collector could spend the entire day with. We hiked around the property, learning all about the history behind the property, the crafting of the wine, and plans for the winery's future. The tasting was incredible, two beautiful vintages (06' and 07') on a table in the vineyard with a cheese plate. The wines were so complex and delicious, easily ones that both of us would compare to the best that we had ever tasted. The single offering is a Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Petit Verdot and Malbec. I am excited to report that I enjoyed the 2008 vintage last Thursday at Gary Danko, and it was the best cabernet I've ever tasted. The food was amazing and this wine truly complemented the meal (and maybe even slightly stole the show during a few courses).

Enjoying the 2008 Vintage at Gary Danko

 One detail about our conversation at the winery that I found truly amazing, was about the two blind tastings that Jeremy Nickel conducts annually with his wine. The Vineyard House, along with some of the best wines in Napa Valley, including: Screaming Eagle, Araujo, Hundred Acre, Harlan Estate, and Bryant Family are all tasted blindly and ranked by a group of sommeliers, winemakers, wine critics, etc. I loved this because it shows the vineyards commitment to challenge itself and continue to work to improve against the best of the best. Year after year, TVH consistently is ranked in the top three. In short order, this will be the next Napa cult cabernet, and collectors will fight over each bottle in the 350 cases produced. The Vineyard House is a winery that I plan to follow over the years, because it has set the bar. If I ever find another wine (that I can afford), that would even come close to it, I may need to plan a blind tasting of my own!

Walking through the Vineyard

Tips - The Vineyard House:

• I would recommend planning a visit to the winery if you are a wine collector or if you are a wine enthusiast seeking very special wines that are completely under the radar
• TVH is by appointment only, please try to schedule far in advance for a private tasting and tour
• To schedule your appointment, fill out the form under "Contact Us" on their website
• Plan to spend approximately 2 hours for this experience
• For updates on the winery, like their Facebook page

Willamette Valley Series: Brick House Vineyards, The Biodynamic Hidden Gem

Porch at Brick House

Brick House Vineyards is an amazing hidden gem in the Willamette Valley that Alex and I had the pleasure of visiting during our trip. We arrived at the vineyard and enjoyed an amazing view from the laid-back winery. It was interesting (and very cool) that the full production facility and the tasting room were combined in this cozy little house. I loved that they had a wood burning fire to warm up the chilly wines on the cold winter's day. The charm alone, made this visit well worth the trip, and the amazing wines will bring us back. We were fortunate enough to enjoy our tasting with another young couple who both work in the wine industry in Paso Robles and Santa Barbara, which made for great conversation and recommendations for the rest of our trip.

Enjoying the Tasting

 All of the wines were very delicious and bio-dynamic (think organic but to a whole new level, for more info click here). We tasted a beautiful Chardonnay, Gamay Noir (my first!), and several amazing Pinot Noirs. The wine that we tasted at Brick House had a very unique style to them that was completely different from anything else that we tasted during our Oregon stay. The wines are elegant, reserved, and extremely complex; a fun treat for any wine collector or pinot lover looking for something interesting. This was the first winery in Oregon that we purchased wine at and we enjoyed one bottle recently with a close friend and fellow pinot lover. We unanimously agreed that the Evelyn Pinot Noir was a wonderful, elegant, and very special pinot that we will have to purchase again. If you have not been to this gorgeous winery, it is one that you will not want to miss on your next Willamette Valley trip!

Tips - Brick House Vineyards:

• The winery is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday by appointment. To book your tasting, call (503) 538-5136.
• Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to get here, it is off the beaten path.
• Plan to spend approximately 1 hour to enjoy your tasting.
• If you would like to make a day trip in this area, plan a tour or tasting at neighbor Archery Summit and stop in Bergstrom Wines tasting room, all three are completely different and are within a 10 minute drive.

The Perfect Case Project: Megan Henderson, Everyday Sommelier

Megan Henderson is one of my dear friends and she has been a huge part of my wine journey. She actually poured my first taste of Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir, the wine that sparked my passion. Below is her amazing perfect case project feature. Enjoy!

"I guess why I am "WineTastic" would be the desire that I have to share my passion and interest for wine with others. I have had a great many wonderful wine experiences through work, schooling and on my own, and I want the opportunity to share it. Wine, the industry and the culture that surrounds it is such an awesome thing that shouldn't intimidate people but allow people to explore and, in so doing, make people more aware of their community and a more conscientious consumer.

My company, Everyday Sommelier, tries to do just that! I host private, educational tastings, small events and wine consultations for groups interested in learning more about wine. People shouldn't be limited to a certain price point, expectation or level of understanding to order a glass of wine at a restaurant. The ultimate point of it all is to be enjoyed and have fun and whatever that means to you is great! This would also describe how I enjoy wine. There is no such thing as bad wine as long as someone makes a connection with it. I have a vast many friends with many different preferences and they are all right and good. That is the fun of wine and to me, the point!

The first bottle that made be fall in love with wine was a Salamandre Menage a Trois. It is a small producer from the Santa Cruz Mountains, my home town, and I tried it while in culinary school. It was so well balanced, smooth and elegant that I was immediately hooked! It definitely opened me up to a whole different world that I didn't ever think about until then. Still love it to this day!

Although there are many wine moments shared with friends or otherwise, I would say the most memorable wine moment was while working for Treasury Wine Estates. In their portfolio, they carry the Penfolds line from Australia. We would host different events for their luxury wines during times of releases. About five years ago, we were hosting a trade tasting called "The Rewards of Patience". There were about 12 wines being tasted from their world renowned Grange to a one time release of their Bin 60A from 1962! Once the tasting began, our manager noticed an entire table of guests didn't not arrive, and immediately sat all of his employees to participate! They had to have been some of the most dynamic and interesting wines I have been able to taste to date, and many things I will never taste again! It was a great opportunity that I will never forget.

My perfect case:

Penfolds Bin 707, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
Equinox Blanc de Blanc, Vintage Champagne, 1997
Santa Cruz Mountain Winery Durif, 2007
Etude Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
Penfolds Great Grandfather Tawny Port, NV
Stags' Leap Ne Cede Malis, Petite Sirah, 1999
Beringer Private Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001
Pelican Ranch Babcock Vineyards, Pinot Noir, 2007
Veuve Cliquot Le Grande Dame Champagne Vintage, 2004
Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos, Garnacha, 2009
St. Clement Oroppas, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
Bonny Doon Le Cigare Blanc, Rhone Style White Wine, 2007

I would love to have the opportunity to share all these wines! I think though, the one I would share the most would be the Etude Cabernet. I believe it can make a wine lover out of anyone and definitely has the power to make people want to explore wine more. I think the wine I would save for my last would be a toss up between the Penfolds Bin 707 and the Equinox Champagne. I have had many wonderful dinners surrounding the 707 and hope to have my next bottle the same way! At the same time, I am a sucker for Champagne, and LOVE this Champagne made in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It has a special place in my heart and I would probably hold on to those bottles for a long time.

Overall, I chose these wines because they all have a certain sentimental quality attached to them. Whether it be the Pelican Ranch Pinot, my first job in the wine industry, the St. Clement Oroppas, which I had one of my favorite meals with one my of best friends, or the Penfolds Great Grandfather, something I will never have again, unless I get to Australia! Putting these wines together have made me take a step back and not only think about how much wine is apart of my life, but also how fortunate I am to have had these experiences and how lucky I am to have shared them with some amazing people."

The Perfect Case Project

Would I Find These in Your Perfect Case?

 I recently went on a week long road trip...and we all know that the drive back home from a week away (especially over 600 miles) can feel like an eternity. However, the opportunity to spend so much time with Alex gave us both plenty of time to talk about everything...and nothing. About an hour shy of San Francisco we started talking about the perfect case of wine. What if your entire collection of wine vanished? Where would you start? What would be the 12 bottles that you would have to buy first? This was fun! Really fun!

We both had different opinions and it created an awesome conversation, that made the last 60 miles fly by. I wanted to post my perfect case, to tell you a little about my wine style and get you thinking about yours. After discussing our perfect cases, we started to think about who we would want to ask that question to, and developed a massive list of "perfect cases" that we need to discover! I plan to feature different people who have made an impact in my "wine life" including some of my followers in future posts as a side project to my winery experiences. This should give you many great ideas of new wines to try and maybe even a few wineries to visit. So to kick things off, click here to view my perfect case!

The Perfect Case Project: Michelle Nishikubo

Sipping Around Wine Country

 My love for wine began after my first taste of Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir four years ago. I quickly found myself searching all over Napa for other wines that gave me the same excitement as that first taste. Today I am an avid wine adventurer, documenting my experiences and helping others to find the unforgettable memories and wines that they are searching for. Here is my perfect case:

1. 2007 Etude, Heirloom Pinot Noir
2. 2008 Fantesca, Chardonnay
3. 2009 Nickel & Nickel, Reguchi Block 4 Cabernet Sauvignon
4. 2008 Tres Sabores, Zinfandel
5. 2005 Kenzo Estate, Rindo
6. 2008 Palmaz, Gaston Cabernet Sauvignon
7. 2009 Soter, Mineral Springs White Label Pinot Noir 
8. 2007 Schramsberg, Brut Rose
9. 2007 The Vineyard House, Cabernet Sauvignon
10. 2007 Merryvale, Profile
11. 2009 Cakebread, Rubiyat
12. 2008 Swanson Estate, Merlot

The wine that I would love to share with my friends is the 2009 Cakebread Rubiyat, there is just something about this amazing wine that made this vintage so special and unique. Each year the blend is very different, no two Rubiyats taste alike. This vintage featured a Pinot Noir/Syrah blend. I discovered it at an event at the winery and purchased every bottle that I could get my hands on...I am sadly down to my final bottle!

The wine that I would save as my very last bottle would be the 2007 Merryvale Profile. This wine was a beautiful, well balanced work of art. On my 25th birthday I tasted it for the first time, and I will never forget how delicious it was and how I immediately felt that I had found the perfect blend. This is a treasure that I would save for a very special occasion.

Each wine that I chose has a special memory, distinct taste, and will have a lasting experience as I enjoy them either today, or in years to come.

Cheers,
Michelle

Willamette Valley Series: Alexana Winery, A Behind The Scenes Look at a Great Oregon Winery

Alexana's Associate Winemaker - Bryan Weil

Alex and I met Bryan Weil, the Associate Winemaker of Alexana Winery, while wrapping up our evening at Soter Vineyards. He was very nice, humble, and extremely approachable from the get-go. He offered to give us a tour and tasting at his winery the next day…and of course, we jumped at the opportunity!

Alexana Winery

Honestly, we had no idea what was going to be in store for us at the winery, but by the end of the day we both felt that this experience truly blew us away. We arrived at Alexana on New Year's Eve, and began with a tour of this high tech new winery. One thing that immediately caught my eye was the soil display in the tasting room which showed off the vineyard's profile. It reminded me of a similar display at Nickel & Nickel Winery's (one of my Napa favorites), which gives a visual perspective as to why all of their wine taste so different, although they are essentially made the same. Alexana's 31 microblocks covering the 55 acre vineyard, provide many different soil profiles to pair with their ideal varietals.

Soils from the Vineyard

After poking around the amazing Gold LEED Certified tasting room, we made our way into the winery and learned about Alexana's gravity flow processes. Alexana’s facility is truly a winemaker’s dream with seemingly endless equipment representing the latest technology in pristine condition, and this was no mistake. The talented winemakers (Lynn Penner-Ash, with associate Bryan Weil) and passionate founder (Dr. Madiah Revana) built an amazing place from concept to the dream winery it is today. Once we were able to taste the finished product, we both agreed that the wines here were some of the best that we had tasted in Oregon.

Gravity Flow Winery

 Getting to know Bryan and being able to experience a “behind the scenes” look into the wine making process was incredible. He is very organized and meticulous, and it was great to discuss how much patience and diligence is required to develop these beautiful wines. The Revana Vineyard Pinot Noir ($42) and the Riesling ($30) were both very delicious, and all of the wines had price points between $26-$75 per bottle. It was great to see such a gorgeous facility and imagine all of the endless possibilities for this winery’s events in the future: maybe an outdoor barbeque or live music and wine pairings? Either way I know that we will be back, and we would love to attend another tasting or event at Alexana soon!

Enjoying the Views of the Vineyard with Bryan

Tips - Alexana Winery:

• The winery is open Monday-Sunday 11-5, and you can drop by for a tasting during that time.
•  Check out their Facebook Page for upcoming events.
• Make sure to try their Riesling, even if you're not a white wine lover - it is AMAZING!
• Plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour to enjoy your tasting.
• Looking for a special cabernet sauvignon? Ask about "Revana". 

The Amazing Reds

 

Willamette Valley Series: Soter Vineyards, Following My Heirloom Obsession

The Winery

After hearing that the owner of Soter Vineyards (Tony Soter) was the founder of one of my favorite Napa wineries, Etude, it automatically rose to number one on my list of places to visit during our Willamette Valley trip. They have limited group appointments to keep their tastings intimate, but (after a little begging) we were able to join their wine club member tasting on an afternoon during our trip. We arrived at the tasting room and were immediately greeted with a delicious taste of rose and a friendly smile from Mari, our tasting hostess. As soon as I walked into the winery, I immediately noticed the similarities in architecture with Ram's Gate and Kenzo Estate wineries, low and behold, it was the same builder. The inviting structure and assimilation to something familiar in my home (Napa), made me feel immediately relaxed and excited for the afternoon to come.

Tasting with the Wine Club

We sat down at a long community table and began meeting with all of the awesome wine club members. Some of which were originally from the Bay Area. After tasting several of the wines, I could easily tell how Bay Area transplants to Oregon would find themselves at Soter Vineyards. The taste and quality were exactly what you would expect from an amazing winemaker who has made some of the best pinots I have ever tasted. I was in search for my 2007 Etude Heirloom Pinot comparison, and Soter's 2009 Mineral Springs White Label Pinot was its match.

Soter's Current Releases

The relaxing atmosphere, amazing people, and delicious wines made for a great wine tasting experience. Every wine was incredible, and each was one that I would be happy to buy for myself and/or share with others. The winery featured bottles at every price point from $20 to $100+, which made it very approachable to wine lovers at every budget. I loved everything so much that Alex convinced me to join the wine club (just so we wouldn't end up buying all of the wines in one shot). One wine that I couldn't leave behind was the 2009 Brut Rose, Mari offered me a taste and I was hooked! It was by far the best sparkling that I had tasted in Oregon, and definitely one that I needed for a special occasion with my girl friends. We connected with Rob Ortiz, the Trade and Hospitality Specialist, and became fast friends with this fun and extremely welcoming team. We left the winery that evening with new friends, great memories, and a delicious bottle of bubbly! Also, a date for another amazing experience with Associate Winemaker Bryan Weil at Alexana Winery the following day, which will be featured in my next post. I highly recommend planning a reservation at Soter Vineyards during your next Willamette Valley trip. The wines and the experience were equally outstanding, and any wine lover will enjoy their experience here. I can't wait to come back to visit this special place.

Tips - Soter Vineyards:

• The winery offers three tasting experience daily at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm for $20/person by reservation only, call the winery at 503-662-5600 during the week to book your appointment. 
•  Your tasting fee will be waived if you purchase a bottle of wine.
• Finding Soter can be difficult, it is unmarked, so definitely use the winery's directions.
• Expect to spend approximately 1.5 hours at the winery for your tasting.  

Willamette Valley Series: How to Plan Your Oregon Wine Trip

Taking in the Views at Soter Vineyards

 Each year Alex and I try to plan a big trip around new years. This time we were on a slightly tighter budget than our typical new year splurge, so we decided to take a road trip and check out the Willamette Valley. Planning the trip was a big deal. I had never been to Oregon before and was unfamiliar with the wineries. Luckily, I received several amazing referrals from several Napa winemakers and Facebook followers to launch my planning. I will be posting a series of wineries this month that were truly standouts, however I wanted to kick off this series with some of the tips that I have for you when planning your Oregon wine country adventure!
 

Delicious Lunch at Red Hills Market

Red Hills Market

   

1. Splurge at least one night and stay at The Allison Hotel. The rooms are amazing, and they have cocktails that are to die for! Also, the hotel's location is close to many fabulous wineries.
2. Begin your day at Willamette Valley Cheese Company. This free cheese tasting is the perfect way to start your day, and a great snack to purchase and bring to tasting rooms throughout your trip.
3. Stop in at Red Hills Market and Dundee Bistro for delicious meals between tastings. Both of these places had great food! We loved the pizza at Red Hills Market and the burger at Dundee Bistro.
4. Do NOT look for wineries on Yelp in Oregon. Although I often rely on Yelp, especially while in the Bay Area, this was not a very reliable source for this trip. I'll just leave it at that.
5. Visit a mix of appointment only wineries and walk-in tasting rooms. Below is my must-try Willamette Valley recommendations. You can expect to see posts of some of the following wineries over the next few weeks!

• Soter Vineyards, Following My Heirloom Obsession
• Alexana Winery, My Favorite Experience in Oregon
• Brick House Vineyards, The Hidden Gem
• Bergstrom Wines, The Best Tasting Bar
• Archery Summit, The Full On Tour and Tasting
• Argyle Winery, A Bubbly Change of Pace

Cheese Tasting at Willamette Valley Cheese Company

Cocktails at The Allison

Wine Tasting at Soter Vineyards

Porter Family Vineyards: Coombsville Cave Tastings

Inside the Porter Family Vineyards Cave

Personally, I love wine tasting in a cave. Especially when the wines are delicious and there is an intimate setting. As you might have guessed by now, I'm not a huge fan of large group tours! My experience at Porter Family Vineyards was a perfect introduction to Coombsville at an amazing family run winery. We were greeted by Rebecca, our tasting guide for the day, (fun fact: her family runs a vineyard in Coombsville as well). After peeking around the rolling hills of vines, we retreated to the cave for a seated tasting of their current offerings.

View of the Vineyard

Before we began the tasting, I walked around the cave and noticed a very interesting looking bottle labeled "Time".  It was etched with different stages of the moon, and the vintage was not labeled. I asked Rebecca about it, and she explained that "Time" is a bottling of all previous vintages of Porter Family's cabernet sauvignon blended into one wine. There are different percentages of each vintage (the 2010 distribution is significantly higher than the 2005) in the single bottle and it makes a cabernet sauvignon that encompasses a true tasting of the estate-grown grapes over time. I was blown away at this concept and definitely consider this one of the coolest and most cutting edge finds in my wine tasting adventures! The production of Time is extremely limited (only 50 cases total production), so unfortunately it is not included as part of the tasting. It is available for purchase at the winery, and some day I will definitely come back to reward myself with this exclusive bottle.

Time

Now back to the tasting...we tried four delicious reds and learned a lot about the history of the winery, the family, and the high tech wine making processes that make this family owned gem unique. Rebecca has a wonderful personality and is very easy to talk to while you taste your way through the Porter portfolio. We were very impressed with the wines and especially loved the 2009 Cave Dweller, a delicious blend that we will open up in another year or two. The price points of this winery were reasonable as well, with most wines within the $28-$55 range. I would recommend this tour and tasting experience for a red wine lover looking for an intimate tasting experience in a cave setting. We really enjoyed our time here and can't wait to return when we introduce others to Coombsville!

The Delicious Tasting

Tips - Porter Family Vineyards:

• The winery offers a tour and tasting experience between 10am and 4pm for $40/person by reservation only.
• You can book your tasting online here.
• Expect to spend a little over an hour here and plan an extra 10-15 minutes for your drive to the winery. 

Loved These Reds!

Ackerman Family Vineyards: Cult Coombsville Cabernets

First Glimpse of Ackerman

From the first sip, I knew that Ackerman's cabernet sauvignon was something special. It stood out above the rest during an amazing Napa tasting event and I knew that I needed to: 1) Get my hands on more 2) Visit the winery 3) Understand what made this such an exceptional cabernet. I can say that, finally, I have completed all three!

Alex Making Friends

 Upon driving up to the winery, farm, and family home of the Ackerman's, we were warmly greeted by Julie Webster, the hospitality and events manager. She handed us our first sips of the delicious 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, and we were off to begin our tour. We strolled around the property, petting horses, meeting dogs, and avoiding several cats (since I am extremely allergic). We looked at the vines and noticed that they were structured differently from other vineyards that we had seen. Julie explained how this practice was to allow the appropriate amount of sunlight needed for the grapes. The vineyard produces a very small production, at only 400 cases, of very high quality, cellar worthy, cabernet sauvignon. The Ackerman family is very involved in every step of the wine making process. Bob and Lauren originally purchased the winery to support their passion for horses and their love for Napa Valley. You will taste their dedication and labor of love, as it is reflected in their perfect bordeaux style cabernets.

Close Up View of the Vines

 After touring the property, we were seated in the Carriage House for a vertical tasting of the 2005, 2007, and 2008 vintages of their prized cabernet sauvignon, the single offering of the vineyard. Each vintage was produced similarly year after year, allowing the taster to discover subtle differences in the growing seasons, but with the same grapes and the same wine making methodologies. The wines were accompanied by delicious cheeses, fruits, crackers, and wonderful conversation with Julie!

The 2008 Vintage

Japanese Artwork in the Tasting Room

This winery is a perfect visit for the cult cabernet collector looking for their next new treasures. All of the cabernets were amazing, and with a price point under $100 for each vintage, they were also an exceptional value for such a high quality, limited production wine. I can't wait to open my 2004 bottle of Ackerman this Valentine's day with my love!

Sipping Wine Near the Arena

Tips - Ackerman Family Vineyards:

• Ackerman offers three tasting experiences: The Carriage House Tasting, for up to a party of 8 which includes a tour, tasting of 3 cabernets, and small bites for $45/person, another great offering is the Picnic Experience, including a full gourmet lunch in the vineyard and a tasting of 3 cabernets for up to a party of 4 for $60/person, the final, most unique tasting experience is the Poolside Vista Experience, allowing a private party up to 12 to enjoy a 3 course meal, passed appetizers, and four selections of Ackerman vintages for $125-$250/person.
• All experiences are by appointment only, please call 855-AFV-WINE or email wineconcierge@ackermanfamilyvineyards.com, to schedule your tasting appointment.
• Expect to spend 1.5 to 2 hours at the vineyard, and plan extra time for the drive. 
• Wear comfortable walking shoes and plan to come on a nice day, the tour is outdoors and you will LOVE the views!