Italian Varieties Becoming Popular to Make in Oregon

Oregon has been enamored with Italian wine for many years. As a state, it has long been in second position for consumption of Italian wines, per capita, behind New York. Italian winemakers regularly visit and work the market in Oregon, reinforcing loyalty to their brands.

So it is not surprising that entrepreneurial Oregon wineries got on the Italian bandwagon; some of these producers are of Italian descent; others just like the wines.

Sunday, a tasting was held to spotlight Italian varietals made by Willamette Valley winemakers.

The walk around tasting was held at Cana's Feast winery in Carlton, itself a producer of Sangiovese and Nebbiolo; 13 producers poured wines to a crowded group of tasters.

With the exception of varieties made and grown at Ponzi, and made at Remy Wines, all the fruit from the other 11 producers was sourced from Washington state vineyards. It is hard to estimate the vineyard land planted to Italian varieties in Oregon, as the amount is so small, they fall into the "other" category.

Ponzi grows and produces both a fine Arenis and Dolcetto on its own vineyards in Oregon; Ponzi's Italy connection stems from a close relationship with the Vietti winery and family, as well as Dick Ponzi's Italian ancestry: Luca Viet/ti Corrado did a stage at Ponzi and Luisa Ponzi did the same at Vietti. Remy Drabkin at Remy Wine produces a very lovely, if a bit toasty, Lagrein with fruit grown near Dallas, Oregon, west of Salem. Interestingly, these three wines were also the best wines at the tasting.

Missing from this tasting was a Nebbiolo that Cameron producer John Paul makes; he released his first version of this just before VinItaly in Alba, the largest town in Barola and Babaresco country in Italy.

In Southern Oregon, Sangiovese and the somewhat obscure Teroldego (most often seen in the Trentino /Alto Adige region of Italy) are also grown with mixed success.