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.

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.

Thanksgiving is a great time to enjoy delicious food and some quality time with the family. What’s the best way to spend the long weekend following the big feast? We invite you to check out Oregon’s wine country where more than 120 Oregon vineyards and wineries will be offering special tasting events over the entire Thanksgiving weekend.

Festivities include tasting of new releases and older vintages, barrel tastings, specialty foods and sales of limited quantity wines. Not to mention live music, local artist’s creations, and winery keepsakes. For more on what makes Oregon wine country so special, watch Alex Sokol Blosser’s interview with WineTasteTV.