i just completed three amazing days of touring and tasting in Oregon's Willamette Valley. It was my first trip to the region just south of Portland. I knew I would taste some amazing Pinot Noir out there as they have built quite reputation for that varietal over the last fifteen years. I was also incredibly impressed by the quality of their Chardonnay and Sparkling Wines.

The Willamette Valley holds many similarities to the Burgundy Region of France in terms of temperature, average rainfall, soil types and topography. As a result, there has been an influx of French winemakers, vineyard managers and even winery owners involved in winemaking and scouting land to plan their own vineyards.

Despite this international influence, the Willamette Valley is a decidely American story. Many of the estates I visited were founded decades ago by hard working American families who built their wineries on a dream (and some science) of helping to establish the next great American wine region.

I'll be writing a detailed feature article on my trip in a future edition of The Vindicator, but here's a quick review of some of the top wineries I visited over the last three days:

1. Stoller Family Estate

This was my home for two nights as I stayed in one of their vineyard cottages. I had the opportunity to walk the vineyards twice and gain a great understanding of their soil types and winemaking style.

2. Big Table Farm Winery

I tasted their outstanding 2013 vintages in the kitchen of their farm house with the husband and wife team of Brian and Clare Carver. The wines showed beautifully and the Carver's commitment to quality and biodynamic production shown through during our conversation.

3. Evening Land Vineyards

I enjpyed an incredibly impressive tasting on a picnic table at their Springhill Vineyard site. Assistant Winemaker Thomas Gavre poured both their 2011 and 2012 vintages of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which have received some impressive scores from The Wine Spectator.

4. Ponzi Family Vineyards

A beautiful new wiinery and tasting room were recently built on the site of some of Willamette's most respected vineyards. The Ponzi family built the winery with their own hands and have now passed it on to their daughters Louisa and Maria.

I'm now writing this in a hotel in Walla Walla, Washington where I just spent an amazing day of tasting. The Washington wine scene is growing rapidly in terms of volume and quality. I'm extrememely impressed by what I've seen here thus far and look forward to two more full days of tasting and touring to come.

Stay tuned for more blogs and articles on this amazing trip!