For the first time ever, we are excited to offer three wines from the United States! We’ve picked wines from Oregon, Washington, and California that highlight each of those states’ unique approach to wine. From Oregon we offer a Willamette Valley Chardonnay; an orange field blend from Washington that highlights Rhone varietals; and a classic coastal Pinot Noir from California.
Salem Wine Company Chardonnay 2021
This affable white wine has a clean, bright nose that speaks to the lesser-known mineral and floral side of Chardonnay, with Anjou pear, wet stone, Parmesan rind and white flowers. Snappy clover, honeydew, and pear on the palate. 100% Chardonnay. Pair with linguine & clams.
The Producer: Evening Land Vineyards
Salem Wine Company is one of the labels of Evening Land Vineyards, located in Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon. A collaboration between Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman, Evening Land believes that land stewardship, vineyard sensitivity, and conscientious farming are key to producing high-quality, age-worthy wines that depict a true sense of place. They practice biodynamic farming and were awarded a LIVE™ (Low Impact Viticulture & Enology) certification in 2007. Their historic Seven Springs is planted overwhelmingly with Pinot Noir, followed by Chardonnay, and Gamay. The oldest own-rooted blocks of Pinot Noir and Gamay are a testament to Oregon’s incredible history and potential.
The Region: Eola-Amity Hills (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Eola-Amity Hills is an Oregon AVA located just west of the city of Salem. It has a unique terroir that sets it apart from the surrounding Willamette Valley viticultural area. Ancient lava flows and tectonic shifts created the hills, and the weathered basalt soils here have proven perfect for premium winemaking. About 50 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, coastal breezes cool the region. Eola-Amity Hills is partly named for these winds – Eola derives from Aeolus, a minor Greek god who was in charge of the winds.
This lively orange wine is made with a blend of white Rhône varietals that remain on their skins for six weeks. The wine is then aged in neutral French barrels with weekly bâtonnage (stirring). Viognier is added during fermentation to add brightness and vibrancy. It is a light, bright wine with hints of spring flowers and candied orange peel. 90% white grape field blend; 10% Viognier. Pair with spicy lentil soup.
The Producer: Sonder
Sonder is an up-and-coming winery in Washington state. It is owned by Riley Miller, a first-generation grower who studied viticulture and enology at Washington State University. After graduation, Riley spent time working at wineries in Australia. He returned home with a new appreciation and understanding of how to craft quality wine and the rigors of winemaking. Driven by simplicity & authenticity, Riley strives to make lo-fi wines that showcase each vineyard.
The Region: Columbia Valley (Washington)
Columbia Valley is located in southeastern Washington, centered around the Columbia River and its tributaries. It is the largest AVA in the United States and many of Washington’s smaller regions are contained within its boundaries. There are a diversity of soils in the Columbia Valley as a result of the ancient Missoula floods and the consequent weathering of the landscape. Volcanic, alluvial, and windblown material can be found throughout the valley, and soil textures range from silt to gravel to sand.
The Grapes: Field Blend
The term ‘field blend’ is used when different grape varietals are harvested at the same time and made into wine together in one fermentation tank. This technique makes it impossible to know the exact distribution of the varietals within the wine.
This delicious red wine is expressive on the nose with lush scents of freshly macerated red and black berries, muddled with warm spice and notes of autumn forest. The palate is highlighted with dark plum and hints of citrus rind which carries through with great length. Sourced from various vineyard sites across the North Coast, it is a California Pinot through and through. 100% Pinot Noir. Pair with grilled salmon.
The Producer: BloodRoot
The spirit of BloodRoot is simple – make wines that reflect the soul of a place, and make them at a quality and price level that make them absolute no-brainers to drink. Spearheaded by Noah and Kelly Dorrance of Reeve Wines, BloodRoot is a collaboration between esteemed winemakers with great vineyard sourcing who have come together to make masterful, value-minded wines. The wines, sourced from multiple benchmark vineyards throughout California’s most respected wine growing regions, reflect the soul of each place, creating wines that are timeless expressions of California’s dynamic terroir.
The Region: Sonoma County (California)
Sonoma County, California, stretches from the Pacific Coast in the west to the Mayacamas Mountains in the east. Almost 60,000 acres of vineyards and more than 425 wineries fall within the borders of 19 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), or appellations, each with its own distinctive characteristics. Located on the northern edge of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma County is the largest wine producer in Northern California.
