Wine tasting in the Willamette Valley
Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for Willamette Valley vineyards and tasting rooms. More than 100 wineries kick off the season with traditional open houses—some opening their doors to the public for just three days—May 23, 24, 25. Music, refreshments, tours, and the opportunity to taste special reserves and premium wines are part of the festivities. Does wine tasting sound fun but also a bit intimidating? Not sure you know how to do it “right”? Rattled by the thought of exploring the “body” and “legs” of wine around strangers? Don’t know the difference between “smoky undertones” and “hints of oak and leather” Not sure if you should swish, swirl or just slurp?
Relax! Vintners are down-to-earth and love to educate visitors about tasting, and also about the grape varieties they produce. So ask lots of questions. Tasters aren’t expected to be connoisseurs. Although you might be a little apprehensive at first, just keep one main question in mind “Do I like it?” If not, don’t buy the wine. Set a goal this holiday weekend to have fun while finding your new favorite pinot, riesling, chardonnay, or whatever you fancy. Then take home a drinkable souvenir!
After you’ve stopped at a winery or two, you’ll feel more confident and discover that traditional wine tasting techniques and jargon, although they may sound silly, actually make some sense. The time-honored methods allow tasters to discern the many ways in which wine impacts all of the senses—which makes wine tasting a unique experience and a lot of fun!
To taste wine like an expert (or just look like one), start by sampling the driest, lightest wines first and save the sweeter ones for last. Not to worry if you forget this rule of thumb—that’s the order in which samples are poured anyway. Before taking the first sip, hold the glass by the stem only so as not to warm the liquid too much with your hand. Then, swirl the wine in the glass to bring out the aromas. This is the “body” of the wine. Also sniff and concentrate on the “nose.” It’s amazing how many different fragrances can be distinguished if you go slowly. A wine that has “good legs” will lightly coat the sides of the glass.
Take a sip and enjoy the first impression of the wine. Is it silky, crisp, viscous, or plush? It might seem odd to identify wine by those textures, but you can certainly liken the flavors and aromas to common tastes such as fruit, vanilla, berries, and yes, even oak and leather. And good news—it’s fine not to finish a wine you don’t like. Just politely pour out what’s left in your glass (decanters are provided for this purpose) and move on to the next one being sampled.
In addition to the delicious libations, a good reason to visit wine country is for the lovely, peaceful scenery. Many wineries take advantage of their hilltop locations by providing guests with patio or garden seating that showcases a panorama of snow-capped mountains, green valleys, and rolling acres of vines. Larger estates also offer gourmet marketplaces that sell food—crackers, chocolates and other snacks—as well as gifts. Browsing the shops can be as intoxicating as the wines! Fancy linens, cool wine gadgets, and hand-blown wine glasses set a magical mood for treating oneself!
Go ahead—don’t be shy. Give wine tasting a try. But remember, this is supposed to be fun, so don’t take it too seriously. With all the white, red, sweet, dry, full-bodied, and even organic wines to sample, you’ll find that variety really is the spice of life—especially with a view of the beautiful Willamette Valley over your shoulder.
Vineyard in Oregon's verdant Willamette Valley