Stoller Vineyards

"This is farming we're talking about, not a controlled lab experiment." - Stoller

Chemicals and rolling hills just don't mix. (Run off can pollute other water sources.) Which is one reason why it was important for us to muscle our way into a tasting at Stoller.* (Solar power, too!)

Stoller Vineyards is annually recognized for sustainable viticultural practices in grape wine production. (Lots of the Willamette Wineries have a strong commitment to green.)

On this particular day, we were the only ones there. Just us, a knowledge person to pour and her cute little dog. (Reasons #51 & #52 why Willamette is fun. No crowds, plus how often do you see dogs running around Napa? Unless, of course, they're peeking out of a purse.)

Be prepared for something a little different at Stoller. It feels more like a gallery than a tasting room. Surroundings are sparse, light, airy, with ultra-clean lines.

We fell in love with their Estate Chardonnay. Back at home, my own dogsitter went ga-ga over their very delightful Pinot Noir Rosé. (We try to buy a lot of Rosé because it's high time this type of wine lost its undeserved stigma.) And, we confiscated a case of Pinot Noir, too. Bold berry flavors with a teensy bit of spice.

* Stoller Vineyards makes you work extra hard because, sometimes, they are only open by appointment.

Call them to book a tasting: 503.864.3404. (Or, just show up and bang on the door until they let you in.) 16161 N. E. McDougall Rd, Dayton, Oregon. Willamette Valley.

Williamette Valley Vineyards

There are lots of ways to go green. Along with greening up our own lives, let's support the companies dedicated to the same cause.

Willamette Valley Vineyards is the first Oregon-based winery to use cork stoppers from responsibly managed forestlands certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

Sure, plastic is cheaper. As are metal screw caps. But, cork forests are home to many endangered species and an important forest ecosystem in Western Europe.

Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir
Simply fabulous! Distinctive aromas and bright, fruity flavor with a hint of warm spice. Enjoy it with sharp cheeses.

Start your tour with one of the best. Willamette Valley Vineyards is located high atop Illahee Hill, in Turner, Oregon.

White Rose Wines

We couldn't find a white rose anywhere.
But, they do have lavender. And, gorgeous views!

We almost missed these guys and that would have been a cryin' shame. Their website is hard to navigate. Plus, it gives zero information that would inspire out-of-towners to visit. (Call me crazy, but an address on their 'find us' web page would have been nice.)

Isn't it funny how the one place you aren't even planning to visit ends up grabbing the lion's share of your money? Our rental car was 3 cases heavier after a visit to the White Rose.

And, now, for the weird stuff. This is concomitantly why we love and sometimes hate the Willamette Valley: predicting a winery visit is almost always a lost cause.

We sought out White Rose Wines because one member of our group was enamoured with the name 'White Rose.' There's not a rose on the premises.

And, the label? Well, that's a dragon. Go figure.

As for the tasting room... It's kind of cool but, honestly, you feel like you should be swilling an ale with Hobbits, rather than savoring a luscious red.

Whatever the case, you might enjoy a visit to White Rose Wines. We certainly did!

It's off the beaten path, a little off in the head but spot on when they claim "Oregon will take it's place as the premiere Pinot Noir growing region of the world."

If the batch we tasted is any indication, we think they've already arrived.

6250 NE Hilltop Lane, Dayton, Oregon. (Call them when you get lost: 949-275-8021.) Willamette Valley.

White Rose Wines Tasting Room

(Only drunk people sit here.)

Wildwood Cafe - Great Breakfast

Your eyes are not deceiving you.
Those are eggbeaters stuck to the ceiling.

At some point, even on a wine tour, you gotta sober up. You can do this willingly or wait until the tasting rooms close and sleep it off.

Let's assume you followed Plan B. The following morning, you'll need more sustenance than an over-priced cup of Starbucks.

That's when you should visit the Wildwood Cafe. This cute, eclectic, standing room only on a Sunday morning, restaurant takes their food very seriously. Everything else? Well, not so much.

Pounce on the Wildwood French Toast. (Trust me. You won't be satisfied with a little taste off your companion's plate.) Thick, scrumptious slices of homemade bread are rolled in granola and grilled to a crisp, golden brown. J thought their 'Whine Country' breakfast was to die for. If you're really high maintenance, just hollar "Lydia's Luxury!" and they'll cook up whatever your little heart desires.

PS: Remember, now, you're heading into the wilds of Willamette. So, order a Sophie's Sub for the road. (Because restaurants this cool are few and far between.)

Blink and you'll miss it: The Wildwood Cafe, 319 NE Baker St., Mcminnville, OR. Willamette Valley.

Domaine Serene Winery

If, by some fabulous stroke of luck, you've talked your significant other into a romantic weekend in the Willamette Valley... don't, whatever you do, blow it by going to Domaine Serene early in the day.

Time your visit for later in the afternoon. Because this is a romantic place where you'll both want to linger ~ for as long as they'll let you stay.

Domaine Serene might be as close to Napa as you're ever going to get in the Willamette Valley. A picture-perfect setting with spectacular views, an incredible tasting room and (bonus!) a very knowledgable crew of bright, friendly people who really and truly love their jobs and love the wine, too.

Now, this is a little embarrassing. Domaine Serene probably wins more awards than all the other Willamette wineries, combined.

One woman in our group whole-heartedly agrees. She joined their wine club and bought a bottle of Syrah for her Father, too. The rest of us couldn't muster the same excitement. We'll attribute that to our unsophisticated palettes. Or, maybe we were just too preoccupied with the fabulous view.

We did, however, unanimously agree that if you can visit two wineries in the Willamette Valley, Domaine Serene should be one of them. We'll tell you about the other one later.

Domaine Serene's name says it all. Their tasting room is currently open Wednesdays through Sundays. Willamette Valley. Find them at 6555 N.E. Hilltop Lane, Dayton, Oregon. A hop, skip and a jump from a polar opposite, yet equally delightful, tasting experience.

Erath Vineyards Winery

'Heart Earth Erath' appears on the back of my most favorite t-shirt.

I bought it at the Erath Vineyards pretty sweet sampling room. Sweet for many reasons, including breathtaking views of the Dundee Hills and a Gold Medal winner: 2005 Estate Selection Pinot Noir. (Which, incidentally, is just about the best thing under the sun when paired with chocolate truffles.)

Everytime I wear my beloved Erath t-shirt out in public, people ask. And, that's when I get to sound off about how the Willamette Valley is good for more than just Pinot Noir.

2005 Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc
Crisp, light, fruity and an unbelievably low price. We consider Erath's Pinot Blanc to be the ideal summertime wine. Enjoy it with cracked crab. Their Pinot Gris is equally delightful, though a tad sweeter.

Place Erath Vineyards near the top of your wine tour list. And, don't forget to buy a t-shirt! Tasting Room: 9409 NE Worden Hill Road, Dundee, Oregon. Willamette Valley.

Duck Pond Cellars

Why a Duck? That has confounded us for years...

If you can get beyond the name and the wine label that looks like an ad for a hunting magazine, you'll be rewarded with one of the better Pinot Noirs in the Willamette Valley.

Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Noir
Yum. Voted best quaffing wine from our last visit. Subtle, delicious flavors of their special Pinot Noir inspired us to nickname this, 'The Official Beverage of Women Who Wine.'

A must visit on your Willamette Valley tour and make sure you're sporting a Mastercard. I spent a fortune on wine accessories in their gift boutique.

Why are we hard on the Duck?
We've known them forever. And, it's alot easier to jab old friends. We've been imbibing in Duck Pond Pinot Noirs since they came available, in our coastal, vacation town of Netarts, OR. Back then, the low, low price of $7.00 persuaded the purchase. Times have changed, but Duck Pond is still a screaming deal. After a bottle, or two, we'd always get creative, inventing better names and prettier label designs for this favorite vino.

There is, however, one thing we can never improve upon. And, that's the subtle, delightful flavor of this most favorite quaffing wine.

* Find Duck Pond Cellars Tasting Room at 23145 Route 99W in the sweet little town of Dundee. Willamette Valley.

Why, Oh Why?

Well, we're women who wine, that's why. And, when we visited the Willamette Valley we realized what a gem this place is... though no one seems to be trying that hard to help out the dumb tourists.

And, so we thought we'd fill you in on a few of the special places we've found. Don't worry. We're not going to be mean to any of the vineyards we don't like. We'll leave that to the snotty pros. We just want inquiring minds to know that Oregon is more fun than Napa, infinitely less expensive. And, the wines taste better, too.

Fool Me Once

We have long been fans of Oregon's Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs. And, since we were in desperate need of a vacation, we took an impulsive leap of faith... We booked a flight to Portland and headed one hour south in our crappy little rental car to explore the great unknown.

It being wine country, we assumed a visit here would be as easy to orchestrate as our annual trips to Napa. Not so. Few maps. Fewer hot tips. Lots of wineries hoping you'll pay them a visit but one does not survive on wine, alone. It must accompany cheese and chocolate and all sorts of other sustenance, including a strong cup of coffee and a well-baked croissant.

Finding a decent restaurant was hit or miss. On the upside, Joel Palmer's and Tina's provided a beacon of hope.

On the down side, our incredibly overpriced B&B ($200+ per room per night got us a ratty old Lazy Boy chair and a tub/shower that does one or the other on a whim) left a lot to be desired.

This place has a good bit of potential. Only right now it's a hard nut to crack.

So, we're hold up in our crappy B & B, at 9 p.m. on a Saturday night. And, we're schemin' and dreamin' on how to create a resource that saves you and other winos from the same fate.

Stay tuned...

* Bed & Breakfast Inns, located in wine country, should really consider catering to women who whine. For the most part, they're all romantic little one bed per room places. There are lots of single women in the world - me being one of them and I'm sure as hell not gonna sleep with my pal T. Therefore we're shelling out $200/night for two separate bedrooms, even though we're hold up in one room yakking most of the night anyway. It's a travesty...

** Our thoughts on the subject come from years of serious research: we've never met a man who loves wine as much as women love wine. And, we've never met a woman who loves beer as much as men do. So, how about twin beds at the inns in wine country and king-size beds at the inns near Milwaukee and Shea Stadium? That's a happy compromise if ever we heard one...