An epic weekend of wine and food in Portland and Oregon’s Willamette Valley

As some of you may have read, back in January I wrote a blog post on the things I was hoping to accomplish with my blog and with my own learning about the world of wine. For those who have not seen it, the post can be found here. I have definitely been accomplishing my goal of buying more wine but one of the biggest things I wanted to accomplish was to do more wine-related travel. My good friend Claire and I have been talking about taking a trip to wine country for ages but with our crazy schedules we could never quite make it work. One day on Christmas Eve, we decided that in February we would finally do it. I gave her a choice between Napa or Oregon. We’re both very familiar with Napa but not as much with Oregon’s wine country, plus we both love the city of Portland, so the decision was made. The fact that our good friend Beau was now living in the Portland area made the decision even easier. We got to hang out with him and meet Becky.

I know that we have been back from the trip for a few weeks already however due to a relative being hospitalized and making frequent trips to Los Angeles and being consumed with work, I am just now getting around to posting about the trip. The wonderful hospitality we received at every winery we visited deserves to be recognized. I wanted this to also serve as a resource for anyone who might be making a trip to Oregon’s Willamette Valley and is looking for wineries to visit.

The weekend was filled with winery visits that were divided into both Friday and Saturday. There were also epic meals consumed along the way. We set out to the Willamette Valley on Friday morning with our first stop being at Kramer Vineyards. This winery is owned by Becky’s family and is located in the town of Gaston. We were warmly greeted by her sister Kim Kramer who happens to be the winemaker. Kim is a wealth of information and her passion and enthusiasm for wine-making is evident. She poured some of Kramer’s delicious sparkling wines. The sparkling Müller-Thurgau was one of my favorites. I wrote about this delicious sparkling wine last summer and if you are interested in learning more about it, you can find the post here. We also tasted through their lovely Pinots. Kim was even gracious enough to let us do some barrel tasting of their upcoming Pinots and their Barbera which I am really excited about. Definitely stop by Kramer Vineyards when you are visiting the Willamette Valley for some great Pinot Noir and Sparkling wine. You will be welcomed with gracious hospitality.

Here is the lovely Kim Kramer tasting us on some of Kramer's delicious wines.

The next stop on our agenda was a visit to ADEA Wine Company to taste some of Alex Nichols wines. We had met up with Alex earlier at Kramer and tasted with him there. We then went over to meet him at ADEA where he makes his wines under the A.F Nichols label. I had been emailing with Alex since late last year about having his wines shipped to me, however when the opportunity for the trip to Oregon presented itself, we had made plans to visit him in person to taste his wines. He currently makes 2 wines, both Pinot Noir. One is the 2010 Principio Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and the other is the 2010 Lillie’s Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Both these wines are very small production. I had heard a lot of wonderful things about Alex’s wines from Beau prior to tasting them and when I finally had the opportunity to taste them, I was excited. These two Pinot Noirs are absolutely beautiful and among some of the best I have tasted. Alex was also gracious enough to let us do some barrel tasting as well. While we were at ADEA, we also got the chance to meet Dean and taste some of ADEA’s wonderful Pinot Noir.

2010 A.F. Nichols Pinot Noir

After a brief stop for a much needed lunch and rehydration break, we were off to Johan Vineyards and were greeted by Stacy McGinnis who poured Johan’s Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir for us. This was another Oregon producer who got a lot of praise from Beau and other mutual friends and for very good reason; the wines were wonderful. I had already signed up for their wine club prior to this trip to ensure I would get shipments of their wine. I walked out with several of their wines to add to the collection.

Johan Vineyards

The tasting lineup at Johan

Our first day in the Willamette Valley was finished and it was time to head back to the city for dinner. Claire and Beau had worked together on finding a great restaurant in downtown Portland. After much thought about where we would have dinner they decided on Andina in downtown Portland. Andina is a Peruvian restaurant specializing in small plates along with extensive selections of seafood and meat dishes as well. We decided on ordering an array of small plates to share. The wine selections were Kramer’s 2010 Pinot Blanc along with a 2005 Tempranillo which Beau selected from the restaurant’s extensive wine list. Both wines were perfect compliments to the vast selection of small plates that we ordered. I took a bunch of pictures of the food, as we all did however Becky wrote up the entire experience in her blog and it was documented with pictures of all the small plates we ordered along with the wine. Please take a moment to visit her blog to read all about the meal and see all the lovely pictures she took. The meal was finished off by dessert and glasses of various dessert wines. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this was one of the best meals I have ever had and I dine out quite frequently. Every small plate we shared was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. If you are in Portland, this place is HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended. I will absolutely be back to this restaurant everytime I visit Portland.

After a much needed night’s sleep, it was time to head back to the Willamette Valley to start day number two of our epic adventure in Oregon’s beautiful wine country. This time, we were joined by Dan of Wine Is Serious Business. Dan and his buddy Chas have a wonderful video blog where they review wines and talk about the industry. I highly recommend checking it out. Our first stop of the day was to Domaine Drouhin Oregon in Dundee. Anyone that knows me well knows my love of Burgundy’s wines. Domain Drouhin Oregon (DDO) is owned by Burgundy’s legendary wine-making family, The Drouhins. This winery was definitely a priority for me so before the trip, I connected with David who does the social media for DDO and let him know that I would be in town and wanted to stop by. Though David was not going to be in town the weekend of our trip (he was in Orange County ironically), he put me in touch with Terrie who is in charge of sales and guest relations for the winery who took absolutely phenomenal care of us. She gave us the VIP treatment upon arrival that included a tour of the winery and a formal tasting of several of their wines, both local and some of the Burgundies. We tasted through several amazing wines and I walked out a club member. Terrie made us feel at home and was a joy to speak with.

Domaine Drouhin Oregon

Terrie pouring wine for us at Domaine Drouin Oregon

After a lovely morning at Domain Drouhin Oregon, we stopped for a quick lunch and were off to Newberg to taste at Anam Cara. We had the opportunity to meet Sheila Nicholas, owner and winemaker at Anam Cara. We learned about the winery’s history and the meaning of the winery’s name. Anam Cara is Gaelic for “soul friend.” Sheila poured her refreshing Gewürztraminer and her lovely Pinots.

Next, we headed over to Trisaetum for a brief visit and tasted their Nuit Blanche and several of their Pinots. Our last stop of the day was in Carlton where the boys went to taste at Scott Paul and Claire, Becky, and I headed off to Seven of Hearts to taste there. At Seven of Hearts, we were enthusiastically greeted by owner/winemaker Byron who took very good care of us and poured his Pinot Gris, Viognier Roussanne blend, and his Pinots. We loved every one of his wines and enjoyed listening to Byron tell the story of each wine. We walked out with a case of wine between Claire and I.

Seven of Hearts 2010 Luminous Hills Pinot Noir LUX

We ended the day by having dinner back in Portland followed by cocktails on the rooftop back at our hotel, The Nines. For any other travel geeks and road warriors out there who like loyalty points, The Nines is part of the Starwood group and is an absolutely trendy, modern, and chic hotel. My next trip back will be at this hotel.

Bubbles and the view of downtown Portland from the hotel's rooftop

No trip to Portland is complete without tasting some of the city’s craft beers. In addition to a huge wine and food scene, Oregon is home to amazing craft beers. Our last afternoon in Portland was devoted to tasting some of these craft beers the city had to offer. We stopped at Bridgeport Brewing Company for lunch and a tasting tray consisting of eight awesome craft beers. We left Bridgeport full and very happy. We wanted to make one more stop before Claire and I had to depart, so we stopped at Rogue Ales Public House. Rogue Ales has several location across Oregon, Washington, and California. We, of course, visited the location in downtown Portland. We had a tasting tray consisting of four craft beers of our choosing. The Mocha Porter, Brutal IPA, Sig, and Dead Guy were my beers of choice and enjoyed each one. After our time at Rogue, it was time for us to depart and head home (me) and to the next business trip (Claire).

The trip to Portland ended quickly. I had an absolutely amazing time. I came home with a wealth of knowledge in Oregon wine. I learned something from each winery and each person I had the pleasure of speaking with. Oregon wine country is vast and spread out, and absolutely stuffing. As we all know, their flagship grape is Pinot Noir however I tasted some great Rieslings and Chardonnays, as well as other whites. For any wine enthusiast who has not traveled to Oregon, I encourage you to do so. They are producing some of the best Pinots out there. Portland also has a huge food and craft beer scene that is worth checking out as well. You’ll also find some of the friendliest, down to earth people there who are passionate about wine and will welcome you with open arms. A HUGE thank you to Beau who helped us with planning the trip. He is a wealth of information in Oregon wine and wine in general. If you are visiting the Willamette Valley, also be sure to stop into the Cathedral Ridge tasting room in Dundee where Beau is the tasting room manager. Unfortunately we ran out of time and were not able to stop in but will definitely be by on the next trip. If you have any additional questions on this blog post or would like information on planning a trip to Portland, feel free to contact me.

And of course no trip to Oregon is complete without a couple bottles of wine to take home…  :)

Oregon Wine!

Until the next time friends.

Cheers!

~Monica

Mollydooker 2011 The Violinist…Music To My Ears

Unlike a lot of wine drinkers, I continue drinking white wine straight through the winter months. It was a crisp winter afternoon and I was pondering (as always) what I would open. I was in the mood for white wine and one colorful bottle stood out from the rest…Mollydooker Wines 2011 The Violinist.

This wine is a continuation of tasting the wines of Mollydooker’s Lefty Wine collection. I am particularly excited about this wine because it is the only white wine Mollydooker makes. They are known for their powerful, bold Shiraz, Cabernets, and red blends so naturally this wine is a refreshing change of pace from their reds. The 2011 Violinist gets its name from the days when Sarah Marquis used to play the violin. She was forced to play the violin with her right hand to keep her from poking her neighbor in the eye with her bow, which I am sure her neighbor greatly appreciated!

The 2011 Violinist is made 100% from the Verdelho grape. Verdelho has its origin in Portugal though it is widely planted in Australia and also in various regions throughout the world. The wine pours a pale yellow color in the glass. The nose has lush tropical fruits with the barest hints of herbs and spice. The nose is very pleasant and perfume-like. It makes you want to keep sniffing the glass. The explosion of tropical fruits on the palate is intense. You get a lot of juicy pineapple and hints of mango. Flavors of crisp green apple, pear, ruby grapefruit, and lemon meringue were also abundant with a long, spicey finish. This is a full-bodied white wine and pairs beautifully with sea food dishes and pasta with cream sauces. I paired it with linguine with clams and scallops in a cream sauce. The acidity of the wine was a perfect compliment to the heavy sauce.

For this wine being the only white wine that they produce, it definitely did not disappoint. This wine is a great example of the wonderful, complex wines that Mollydooker produces. It would be interesting to see them produce other white wine varieties; perhaps a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Who knows. Maybe in the future?

This wine retails for $25 per bottle from the Mollydooker website. Many people throughout the past couple years have asked me where to locate Mollydooker wines near them. The best website to locate their wines in wine shops closest to you is Wine-Searcher. Their wines can always be ordered online through the Mollydooker Wines website. All orders within the United States ship via their Napa Valley warehouse.

I definitely enjoyed this wine and would recommend it, especially for people that may not really be into white wines because it is a heavier, bolder, white wine. I shared a glass with one of my cousins who does not even like white wine and she loved it and is willing to give other white wines a try now. It just goes to show you that it is always a good idea to have an open mind when it comes to tasting wine.

Happy sipping and until the next time friends!

Cheers!

~Monica

* This wine was provided as a media sample for review.

Latin America Meets Germany For A Fun Food And Wine Pairing

Several months ago on one of my many weekend jaunts to San Diego to visit my good friend and fellow wine geek Beau, he had given me a bottle of Riesling. I promised him that I would pair it up with something fun and write about it and I will never break a promise to a friend, no matter how long it may take. I know I have been sitting on this wine for several months but the opportunity for a fun pairing finally presented itself.

Every December, my mother takes a weekend before Christmas to make an outrageous batch of homemade tamales which the family eats for Christmas Eve. This year I helped her with this daunting task because it was time I learned how to make them to carry on the family traditions. We made the traditional spicey pork variety, a green chile and cotija cheese variety, and a sweet variety. Her tamales are in a word, epic! This is one thing I truly look forward to all year. She makes so many of them that she will often give some to friends and I give some to mine as well. They make one hell of a breakfast on Christmas morning with a Bloody Mary or Mimosa. That was one of my own traditions that I started.

At long last, Christmas weekend came. It was Christmas Eve and family and friend’s were gathered at my parent’s house, just like every other year. The collection of wines that would be consumed that evening was phenomenal. Among the collection was the bottle of Riesling Beau gave me, a Dauenhauer Vineyard 2007 Pacific Rim Riesling from Oregon.

This wine comes from Oregon’s beautiful Willamette Valley. This particular Riesling is considered medium dry and has an abv of 8.6% and 3.9% residual sugar. In the glass it pours a light, but golden straw color. On the nose, I got faint scents of pear and tropical fruits. On the palate, I got huge flavors of white peaches and honey, along with tropical fruits such as pineapple and guava. I also got a lot of hints of apple and some citrus such as lemon on a medium finish. All the flavors along with the crisp acid made this wine very balanced and refreshing. The sweetness of the wine and the vibrant acidity were the perfect compliment to the heat and spiciness of the pork tamales. This wine was so much fun to pair with our traditional Christmas tamales. It was evident that this native Latin American and native German pairing was a hit! This wine would also pair beautifully with spicy Thai or Chinese cuisine or even Indian curries.

Searching for this wine on Google brought up several online retailers that carry the wine for around $22 per bottle. Definitely a great price on a solid Riesling that is very food friendly and a lot of fun to pair with spicy foods. A very special thank you to Beau for giving this wine to me. I typically prefer my Rieslings on the dry side but he introduced me to this sweeter style of Riesling that was a perfect compliment for the tamales. I would like to pair this up with some Indian Curry next time. I definitely recommend this wine and encourage you to experiment with a fun food pairing like I did. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Cheers!

~Monica

What I am looking forward to accomplishing in 2012

The holidays have come and gone yet again with the last of the decorations being stored away. The last of the holiday cookies and fudge have been consumed and then it came time to toast the new year. We all lifted our champagne glasses in a toast to welcome all the wonderful things in store for us in 2012. This is also the time when many of us make our resolutions in anticipation of a brand new year, or for many, a brand new beginning. Many of us make the traditional resolutions to lose weight, make more money, advance in our careers, find love, fame, and so fourth. Yes, like most people, I made some personal resolutions. I had also thought about making my “wine resolutions” for the new year…basically what I want to accomplish in 2012, wine-wise. One of my good friends had suggested that I do that and because he was one of my inspirations for starting this blog in the first place, I figured it was a wonderful idea.

In 2011, I tasted many great wines as well as not so great wines, did some travel, met some wonderful new people in the social media wine community, and had a lot of fun, as I usually do! I did get some blogging done but not as much as I had liked. There is so much I want to do, learn, and accomplish this new year. For those who know me well, as well as those who I may not know as well yet, I hope you can keep me accountable for some of these. Without further ado, I give to you what I want to accomplish in 2012, wine-wise:

1) Become a better writer: I’m not saying I’m a horrible writer but there is always room for improvement. As someone once said, in order to become a better writer, you just have to write, and write often. Practice makes perfect. I used to be an excellent writer in my high school and college days and loved doing it. I need to get back to that mode.

2) Write more blog posts: This ties into #1. I’m very lucky to be able to drink so many great wines and not so great (unlucky maybe?) wines. I should be writing more about those wines. I also want to write more about the experiences each particular wine gives as well as any emotions associated with it in addition to reviews and tasting notes. I would also like to do some writing on other wine-related topics. I will have to give that some more thought as to the specific topics I want to explore. I am always open to ideas.

3) More wine-related travel: I have had the opportunity to visit some wine regions in depth such as Napa and various Spanish wine regions. I have plans on re-visiting these places as well as visit new wine regions and learn about the wines they produce. I do have some domestic travel already booked this year however I am aiming to visit France and Spain as well later on in the year. As many of you know I have an affinity for French and Spanish wines (my Spanish side of the family is to blame for that!). I would love to spend some time exploring various French wine-producing regions such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, as well as others. I am very familiar with some Spanish wine regions but there are many more I would like to explore as well. I am also interested in heading to Australia and New Zealand to sample the amazing wines there and learn about the wine-producing regions there as well as the culture. All of these experiences would be happily documented on my blog, through social media, and pictures of course!

4) Buy More Wine: Yes you read that right! One of the best ways to find great new wines is to taste many new wines. I am never afraid to step out of my comfort zone but I admit, I do not do it often enough. Doing so helps one discover great new wines and expand the palate. In addition, it gives you more opportunities to write even more great blog posts to share the experiences with others.

5) Further my own education: The world of wine is a never ending plethora of learning and information and can be very overwhelming. I want to learn as much as I can through research, books, classes and certifications, hands on learning, learning from those with much more experience…basically learning anyway possible.

There you have it…what I am looking to accomplish wine-wise in 2012. Sounds like a lot but I want to push myself to be a better writer and continue my learning. I am always open to suggestions, advice, help, constructive criticism, and whatever it takes to push myself to be better. I am hoping you all can help keep me accountable for at least the writing part. I am so lucky to have such amazing friends that I have learned from and shared many great bottles of wine with in the past. I look forward to more good times with them this year as well as learning more from them. I am also excited to meet those of you who I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet. I look forward to learning from you all and sharing great wine with you.

Raising my glass to a fabulous 2012 filled with growth, learning, friends, travel, and of course an abundance of great wine!

Salud!

~Monica

Mollydooker 2010 Two Left Feet…A perfect winter red blend

The fire was roaring, the Christmas lights were strung, and then the Christmas tree was finally decorated. Wine o’clock was fast approaching. It was a very cold winter’s evening and I wanted a big, bold wine. I looked over my collection and pondered my choice.  I was eager to continue tasting through the Mollydooker Wines current releases. Thus, a bottle of Mollydooker 2010 Two Left Feet called my name.

This blog post is a continuation in tasting through the latest Mollydooker releases. This post will continue on with the wines of The Lefty collection, which this wine is a part of. The 2010 Two Left Feet, named after Sparky and Sarah’s dancing ability, is a red blend composed of 72% Shiraz, 16% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged in 94% American oak and 6% French oak. In the glass, the wine poured a deep, dark purple color. Swirling the wine in the glass revealed the wine’s long, thick legs. This wine has an abundance of fruit on the nose from plums, to raspberries, and cherries. There is also a touch of vanilla, oak and spice that you get as well. On the palate, the wine is very big and luscious. Flavors of plum, currant, and cherry are predominant, as well as a touch of cocoa powder. This wine is super silky and smooth on the palate and finishes long with a touch of vanilla. This wine comes in at a high 16% alcohol content however there is no heat present that you would normally get from a wine with a higher alcohol content and it is very balanced.

This is a great winter red blend and one that you would enjoy on a cold winter’s night next to a roaring fire like I did. It would make a great pairing for hearty winter stews, beef, pork, or lamb dishes. Don’t forget to do the Mollydooker Shake before enjoying this wine.

Sparky and Sarah hit another home run with this one. I have tasted several of Mollydooker’s wines across several vintages over the last year or so and Two Left Feet has consistently been one of my favorites. I really love this wine and would highly recommend it to you. You can find it on the Mollydooker website for $25 per bottle. To find it closer to where you are, use Wine-Searcher. At around $25 per bottle (depending on where you purchase it), it is definitely a great value on a wonderful winter wine you will want to have on hand. Be sure to check out the Mollydooker website to learn more about all their wines.

Cheers!

~Monica

*This wine was sent as a media sample for review purposes

Happy New Year From FabOCWineChick!

I cannot believe 2011 is hours away from being over. It has been a great year of making new friends, travel, and tasting and buying some amazing new wines. I am very excited for 2012 and all the wonderful things in store. I have a great year of travel planned. I look forward to continuing my quest for finding more great new wines and sharing my findings with you in the new year. I am also very excited to continue broadening my knowledge about the world of wine.

Thank you all for a wonderful 2011 filled with friends, fun, and much learning. My best wishes to you all for a fabulous, healthy, and prosperous new year. I look forward to seeing many of you in the new year and sharing great bottles of wine with those who I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet. A toast to you all!

Cheers!

~Monica

Mollydooker 2010 The Maitre D Cabernet Sauvignon

Mollydooker is a term Aussies affectionately use for a left-handed person. In the world of wine, Mollydooker is a premier winery in Australia’s McLaren Vale owned by Sparky and Sarah Marquis, who both happen to be left-handed. Mollydooker was born in March 2006 out of Sparky and Sarah’s passion for making quality wines that will make you go “WOW” through their commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Sparky and Sarah’s wines have received many honorable mentions. In 2006, The Wine Advocate named The Boxer (Shiraz) the Best Value Red Wine in the World. Their red blend, Two Left Feet was chosen as the second, and the Maitre D as the third. The only white wine that they produce, The Violinist was chosen as the Best Value White Wine in the World.

Their collection is known for their fun, bold wines. The collection is divided into three categories, The Lefty wines, The Party wines, and The Love wines. This blog post marks the first one in a series I will do on their current releases. I will start with the wines of The Lefty collection, followed by the wines of The Party collection, and concluding with the romantic wines of The Love collection.

The first wine up of the Lefty collection is the 2010 Maitre D Cabernet Sauvignon. The first order of business before tasting the wine is the Mollydooker Shake. No, this is not the latest dance move. This is what you want to do in order to prepare the wine to drink. This method is only to be done on Mollydooker red wines under two years of age. This method allows the nitrogen gas that is used to protect the wine from oxygen to be released. Now that I have taken care of business, on to the best part…tasting the wine!

This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass it pours a deep, dark garnet color. Swirling the wine in the glass reveals the wine’s long, thick legs. Right away you know this wine is going to be a big one. The nose is full of fresh, ripe blueberry, raspberry, spice and coffee notes. Many complex flavors dance on the palate from dark cherry, to black licorice, while getting the barest hint of eucalyptus and oak. The finish is long and there is a wonderful hint of coffee on the finish. This Cabernet comes in at 15.5% alcohol so, yes it is indeed a powerful one, however it is definitely a balanced wine. This wine is perfect for a cold winter’s night where you will definitely want to pair it with hearty fare such as a big juicy New York steak smothered in sauteed mushrooms, which is what I did and it was pure heaven. It will also pair beautifully with lamb dishes or for those of you who happen to love chocolate, this wine also pairs great with it. I also enjoyed that particular pairing very much.

Every Mollydooker wine has its own unique, quirky, label which tells its own story. Sarah used her artistic flair to design the labels of the entire Mollydooker collection The Maitre D Cabernet has a whimsical picture of a Maitre D. This particular label signifies Sparky who put himself through winemaking college as a left-handed Maitre D.

This wine can be purchased directly from the Mollydooker website for $25 per bottle. It was delicious and I enjoyed it very much. I definitely recommend this wine as a delicious winter wine perfect for heavier dishes and hearty winter fare.

Cheers!

~Monica

* This wine was provided as a media sample for review purposes