Oregon isn’t up and coming—it’s arrived!
And, if you’ve been paying attention, it arrived a long time ago.
First planted in the mid-1800s, Oregon found its stride by the 1960s. Looking north from California, ambitious minds saw visions of Burgundy. It took a couple of decades, but by the 1980's, Oregon began to gain recognition as a premier wine-growing region, evolving and improving with every passing vintage.
Oregon is special; the wines feel like they made themselves, never engineered. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay built Oregon's reputation, but the land isn't limited to that either. Even when the wines are rich, there's a restraint at their core. Nothing feels pushed too far. While a lot of modern wine is still built to impress you for thirty seconds, Oregon has always been a rebellion against that.
The regions never fully bought into the idea that bigger meant better. While much of the wine world spent decades chasing ripeness, extraction, and power, Oregon quietly built its own identity around balance and place.
Oregon succeeded by refusing to chase the loudest version of wine. It never really tried to become Napa. That's probably why it became Oregon.
It's been a fun challenge—but I've managed to narrow it down to ten wines for this Friday's tasting. Some of the bottles I'm most excited for…
Domaine Drouhin—one of the foundational producers in Oregon and a direct link back to Burgundy. I've always loved these wines for their balance—bright cherry notes, savory undertones, and the restraint that makes Dundee Hills so appealing.
Dundee Hills in Oregon
Cristom has a deserved reputation for some of the best Pinot Noir in Oregon, and Marjorie Vineyard has long been one of my favorite sites in Eola-Amity. The wines always feel layered—rich fruit, savory, fresh, and well-structured all at once.
Purple Hands' West Wind Vineyard Pinot Noir out of Ribbon Ridge might be my favorite out of the tasting. These wines from Xander and Marit Tunnell are energetic, alive, and unmistakably Oregon—dark fruit, spice, structure, and life—all working together. Some of the most exciting Pinot Noir I've had in a long time.
Beautiful Willamette Valley vineyard in Oregon
Chardonnay, too — Morgen Long's 2023 Willamette Valley Chardonnay feels like a glimpse into where Oregon is heading. Electric, mineral, precise, and full of energy.
We'll be opening these wines this Friday, May 29th. Hope to see you there.