OREGON: The Wonderful Wines of the Willamette Valley

If You Go

What: Wine Academy — The Wines of Willamette Valley

When: 7 p.m. April 23

Where: Avalon Golf and Country Club at Squaw Creek

Tickets: www.myvalleyvino.com or 330-539-5008

Ten years ago, if you asked the average American wine drinker where the best domestic wines are produced it would be a simple, no-brainer answer. California was the undisputed and mostly unchallenged leader of the pack in terms of production, variety and quality.

It is fair to say that many local wine lovers were simply unaware of the growing wine industry just to the north of the golden state border. My, how the times have changed over the past decade. Oregon’s Willamette Valley has now established itself as one of the United States’ and the world’s best wine regions.

The growth and expansion of Willamette has been largely tied to Pinot Noir. The delicate, fickle grape needs a cooler, damper climate and thrives in soil types indigenous to the hilly terrain just south of Portland.

Some pioneering winemakers and smart investors figured out the favorable wine equation, and the dramatic growth and development of Oregon’s wine industry was underway. Today, Pinot Noir is still king, but other varietals have found a home in Oregon, including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and some amazing sparkling wines are now getting national attention.

The Willamette style of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is much more closely related to the Burgundy region of France than anything coming out of California or any other domestic wine region. The French influence is evident throughout the Valley, and recently several prestigious Burgundy wineries and winemakers have begun investing in Willamette vineyard acreage.

Although the collaboration with the French is evident and largely positive, the Willamette Valley is a decidedly American success story. Many of the wineries I visited were founded by hardworking immigrants and are still family owned and operated.

The people who helped build the Valley take great pride in the recent international attention they’ve received. The 2012 vintage from Willamette is considered historic with several wines getting ratings of 95 to 98 points on the 100-point grading scale. A recent Wine Spectator article heaped praise on the 2012 wines and those who made them.

Take a look at a few of the wineries I visited along with some of my favorite wines on C2.

Stoller Family Estate, Dundee Hills

2013 Chardonnay: Lush and elegant with incredible balance

2012 Pinot Noir: Full-bodied for a Pinot with great fruit and hints of terroir

Ponzi Family Vineyards, Sherwood

2013 Pinot Gris: Bright and fresh with citrus fruits and floral elements

2012 Tavola Pinot Noir: Well constructed with great cherry and berry fruits

Argyle Winery, Newberg

2010 Blanc de Blancs: Enticing orchard and stone fruit flavors

2011 Vintage Brut: Generous plum and ginger-nut with edgy minerality

Beaux Freres, Newberg

2013 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: Immensely aromatic with supple tannins

2012 Upper Terrace Pinot Noir: Amazing! One of the highest rated wines this year

All of these wines are distributed in Ohio, so you should be able to get them at area wine shops and restaurants. If you haven’t begun your investigation of Oregon wines, now is a great time to start!