Oregon, Washington State & The Pinot Noir Festival

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Oregon, Washington State & The Pinot Noir Festival

Oregon, Washington State & The Pinot Noir Festival

Oregon, Washington State & The Pinot Noir Festival

22 July - 2 August 2007

We are very pleased to reintroduce our pioneering trip to the Pacific Northwest. Washington State and Oregon are producing world class wines in a dynamic and innovative environment. This trip is an exciting exploration of the region.
We’ll meet many of the top wine makers in the region, but because production is limited, and much of it is taken up by demand within the USA, the wines can be difficult to obtain here in the UK.

Our trip begins in Seattle, with its beautiful mountain backdrop and the hub of the Pacific Northwest’s coffee shop craze (and computer industry), base for the comedy ‘Frasier’. Once a conservative, tranquil place, Seattle is now a progressive, city buzzing with life.

Within easy reach of Seattle is Washington’s first premium winery, Columbia Winery and also the oldest, Chateau Ste Michelle. After a few days exploring the wineries and sights of Seattle, we set off for a stunning scenic drive via the Snoqualmie Pass over the Cascade Mountains (setting for the cult TV series Twin Peaks).

East of the mountains the climate and scenery change dramatically from lush greenery to a starkly beautiful, barren landscape. We spend a couple of days exploring the desert-like Yakima Valley where water rights are fiercely guarded. Here, Red Mountain is emerging as Washington’s most up and coming wine region with some of the state’s best Merlot. We visit top producers, Kiona, Thurston Wolfe and Hedges.

The Walla Walla region, tucked away in Washington’s eastern corner, typifies the energy and dynamism of Washington’s wineries. From just a handful of wineries in the early 90s there are now over a dozen including the top producers Woodward Canyon, L’Ecole 41 and Glen Fiona, all of whom we visit. From here we travel into Oregon via the dramatic Columbia River Gorge, pausing briefly at Hood River Winery,

McMinnville (home to the famous international Pinot Noir festival which will coincide with our visit) is our base for several days. We explore the Willamette Valley, which many see as one of the world’s greatest places on earth for this variety. Fantastic Pinot Noirs have been produced since the late 70s and we will visit some of the ‘heroes of Pinot Noir’, those responsible for putting Oregon Pinot Noir on the map, such as Eyrie, Erath and Ponzi, who have a great winery bistro.

We spend the whole of today visiting wineries in the Northern Willamette Valley, including Erath for Pinot Noir and Argyle for superb sparkling wine. Lunchtime is in Dundee. Tonight we dine in a McMinnville landmark, Nick’s Italian Cafe. Our gastronomic meal is accompanied by local wine treasures unavailable elsewhere.

We return North to Oregon’s capital, Portland. We will stop on the way for a tasting at Domaine Drouhin, star performing outpost of Joseph Drouhin, the great Burgundian negociant.

Our final night is spent in Portland famous for it book shops, museums, galleries and more coffee shops!