Not only were the views stunning from the hilltop looking over fields of grapes on the
vines below, but they were pressing grapes for chardonnay and the air was permeated with the sweetness of fresh, crisp grapes. A crowd had gathered on the lawn overlooking the vines and we headed inside for a taste. We opted for the $10 special, a fruit white, a chardonnay with hints of subtle pears and two reds covering the palate of pomegranates and berries. Divine.

When you can’t go to Tuscany, an hour outside of Portland hits the spot. We left Tuscany, for Japan and headed down the road to Torii Mor, known for their Pinot Noir and Japanese gardens. After a White flight of three smooth white wines we wandered out into the garden to a table in the shade. The perfect location for a girl’s day conversation and lots of laughter. Before we knew it we were rolling through hills of vineyards on an Indian summer’s day dancing to the radio and anticipating the final winery. We landed at Erath and didn’t even make it inside. We stood in awe at the landscape, the rolling hills in afternoon sun, the smell of warm red dirt and grapes, the whooshing of wind through the leaves. It was utterly breathtaking and the perfect photo opt. We stood taking it all in and for a moment and feeling like the world stood still long enough to let us imagine we were transported to the far away wine country of Europe. A heavenly Saturday.

Sarah McMurray is a wanderlust, a hopeful romantic, an artist, a writer and a passionate connoisseur of coffee and culture. She holds a BA from Seattle Pacific University and has been transitioning from higher education to the non-profit sector. Currently she resides in Bend, Oregon where she feels she is the luckiest girl in the world to call herself a native.

I was in the town of Monroe, Oregon for a business presentation at the local library, and arrived an hour early. Looking for something to do, I headed south out of town and stumbled upon one of Oregon’s best-kept treasures. Just a mile or two to the south, Benton-Lane Winery prides itself on its organic and earth-friendly approach, and has earned certification under the internationally sanctioned L.I.V.E (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) program, and regionally sanctioned Salmon Safe program. In short, these winery folks take not only pride in the wines that they produce, but care for the land from which the vintages are derived.

I pulled into the driveway and was struck immediately by the surrounding scenery. Entering the tasting room, a foyer to the left directed my attention to a gorgeous and spacious patio outside. What a perfect gathering spot for a wedding, special event or a wine party!

Venturing up to the counter, I was immediately greeted by a friendly wine tasting attendant (Oregon seems to have a lot of these!) and offered tastes of some of the open wines. Oh, delight!

Their 2006 First Class Pinot Noir couldn’t have been more aptly named; it’s first-class and top notch. Wine Spectator gave the wine 92 points and wow, is that ever the truth. I was amazed and immediately bought a bottle.

A few more purchases later, I walked out, marveling at this exquisite family-run winery. To me, as a (almost) native Oregonian, this is what makes the state special. Oregon’s close-knit wine community are so focused on quality and integrity of their product, and Benton-Lane’s connection to the land that they cultivate are true attributes of what makes this such a great state.

In honor of Oregon Bounty, OPB’s Think Out Loud recently featured an introspective on the Oregon wine industry. Featuring panelists including Jason Lett (Eyrie Vineyards), David Adelsheim (Adelsheim Vineyards) and Eric Hamacher (Carlton Winemakers Studio), the show examined the storied past of Oregon’s wine industry and explores how the industry continues to push the limitations of its boundaries.

Listen to the entire show below and join in on the conversation on the Think Out Loud site.

In this show we’ll talk about the heritage of wine in Oregon — including a discussion about its founder, David Lett, who passed away last month, leaving his son to run Eyrie Vineyards — and then move forward to what’s happening now: Tempranillo and other “big reds” in Southern Oregon, a Reisling resurgence, and even vineyards popping up in Central Oregon.

Lett first came to Oregon in 1965 seeking a place that could produce Pinot noir that was equal to the wines coming from the Burgundy region of France. Although he was at first viewed as “naive” to think that this cantankerous grape would take off in Oregon, David soon proved his critics wrong. The rest as they say, is history. Read more about David Lett here.

On a day when we remember the unwavering optimism of David Lett, the words we used to describe him in our first “Dreamer” print ad a few years ago seem appropriate.

As it so happened one day, a man who came to be known as Papa Pinot fell in love with a curious spirit—the curious spirit being a kind of grape they call pinot. He was so head over heels for the mysteriously delicious fruit and what happens to it when left to sit in a barrel for a bit with some yeast, that he set out to create his own special vineyard just for them. He searched high and low and as it so happened the grapes with whom he fell in love just so happened to fall in love with the long, cool growing season of the beautiful green hillsides in Oregon.

So they settled here to start their life together. And instead of listening to the ways of the European and Californian wine makers, Papa Pinot decided to listen to what his vines had to say. He tended them with care and admiration, not forcing them to be anything but what they wanted to be. And he found that when given the chance, Oregon pinots have many secrets to share. So when you come to Oregon, be sure to try a bottle or seven. Their secrets are delicious. See the ad here

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lett family today as they say goodbye to a true Oregon dreamer.