Wine Tasting for Dummies

From a wine lover’s perspective, one of the great things about living in Oregon is proximity to some of the greatest vineyards and wineries in the world. Not only can you see where this state’s great wines are made, you can actually sample the stuff the rest of the world will soon be raving about.

This activity is called wine tasting, and the upcoming Memorial Day weekend is a great time to go.  Not only is the weather cooperative, but some wineries typically closed to the public open their doors for Memorial Day (and Thanksgiving) weekends only. 

So if this sounds like a fun way to spend a day, where does one start?

First, choose where you want to do your tasting.  Oregon roughly breaks into four wine-growing regions:  the Columbia Gorge, the Willamette Valley (roughly between Portland and Eugene), the Umpqua Valley and the Rogue Valley. 

Generally, the Columbia Gorge is known for bigger, fuller, richer wines with big fruit flavor.  The area is notable for the wide variety of grapes grown, thanks to big variations in climate. The biggest drawback to the Gorge is that the wineries are spread out, so you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time driving. 

The Willamette Valley is the best known of Oregon’s wine regions.  It is famous for its pinot noir, especially its subtle, elegant pinots that show lovely floral, cherry and strawberry flavors and aromas.  The Willamette Valley also makes some wonderful pinot gris.  Some of my favorite wineries to visit in this region are King Estate (excellent pinot gris and beautiful grounds), Torii Mor (beautiful Japanese gardens) and Bergstrom (my favorite pinot noirs, though very expensive).  If you are new to wine tasting, the Willamette Valley might be the best place for you to start because you can get to several wineries in one day, you can take advantage of one of the many tour companies that provide designated drivers, and you can learn the fundamentals of Oregon wine from the most established region and wineries in the state.

The Umpqua Valley has not yet developed a real identity for its wines.  Although some pinot noir is grown here, my favorite wines from this region are made from tempranillo (famous in Spain) and grenache (famous in France).  If you go there, I recommend one of my very favorite Oregon wineries, Abacela.

The Rogue Valley gets more sunshine than the regions to the north. Warm-weather grapes thrive here. Chardonnay, which isn’t typically thought of as an Oregon grape, is gaining popularity here. Rogue wines are too often ignored by the wine elite because they lack the subtlety and nuances of Willamette Valley pinots, but this is the place you want to visit if you want approachable wine that doesn’t need a lot of analyzing. Rogue wines are just plain fun to enjoy at picnics, barbecues or over pizza. Check out Bridgeview with its famous Blue Moon Riesling, the reasonably priced sweet wine in the pretty blue bottle.  Alternatively, discover Foris and its lovely cabernet franc.

Once you have chosen a region, I recommend doing a little research on the area to choose the wineries and map out your itinerary.  Two web sites, www.winesoforegon.com or www.oregonwines.com will help you.  I also like www.oregonwinepress.com for its schedules and lists of special events.  It currently has a fairly comprehensive listing of Memorial Day special attractions. 

Next, select your designated driver and you’re ready to go.

When you arrive at a winery, you may find that there is a tasting fee, which will range from $5 to $25, depending on the quality of wine and the number of tastings offered.  Many wineries will waive this fee or refund it if/when you buy wines.  Depending on the winery, you may taste everything on display or you may be asked to choose a few wines from a larger selection. You can try everything from white to red to dessert to port or you may want to simply limit yourself to all-whites or all reds. Your server will pour them in the correct order moving from the lightest wine you have selected to the heaviest.

You will note that the server only pours a small amount of each wine into your glass.  This is why they call it “wine tasting.”  With each wine that you taste, swirl the glass and note the color of the wine.  Then stick your nose deep into the glass and sniff.  Finally, take a sip and swirl the wine around in your mouth.  Remember to take notes as you go or you’ll never remember what you liked when you are next faced with the “wall of wines” at the grocery store!  Inevitably, you will like some of the wines you taste and dislike others. If you don’t care for a wine or you want to keep your senses sharp for the next wintery, simply spit out the wine you’re tasting and/or pour the contents of your glass into the spit bucket on the counter. Really, it’s OK!

Many wineries will offer you a bit of bread, crackers and/or cheese. These are intended as palate cleansers or to enhance the flavors of the wine. If you want lunch, you should probably bring your own and buy a bottle of wine to go with it or find a nearby restaurant. Wineries will not typically rinse your glass with water or offer you a glass of water between tastings. Water in your glass will dilute the wine, and drinking water between tastings can throw the taste of the wine off. If you do not see a pitcher of water sitting on the counter, don’t ask for any!

My favorite part about wine tasting is not just the opportunity to try new wines.  It’s also an opportunity for me to learn from folks who know a whole lot more than I do.  The person pouring the wine is a great resource for information about the wines, the winery, the region and winemaking in general.  It’s not unusual for him or her to be the owner and/or the wine maker.  I have probably been wine tasting more than 100 times, and I can honestly say that I have learned something new every single time.

Most importantly, remember that for the people serving you their wine, this is most likely their life’s passion. They’ve poured their hearts, souls and fortunes into that glass you’re tasting. They are rightfully proud of the product of their labor. Remember to be sensitive to that. If you like the wine, say so. If you don’t, remember what Mom told you – if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.