Articles from registerguard.com

1. Big squeeze for rare dessert wine: Vintner Ray Walsh ekes out a rich “straw wine” from “raisined” sauvignon blanc grapes Explore registerguard.com (May 22 2013) Wineries in the News You can’t quite say the idea was ripe for the picking. So-called “straw” or “raisin” wine, where the grapes dry out on straw beds before pressed and fermented into a super-sweet delicacy, got started before Roman times. But the time was ripe for Ray Walsh, who crafts a variety of boutique wines under his local Capitello label. He appears to be the first Oregon winemaker of note to dabble with straw wine, which requires about three times more work — for probably less than a third of the yield — than ordinary wines, Walsh says. His 70 cases of the dessert ... (Read Full Article)

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2. Days of wine & grosses Explore registerguard.com (May 19 2013) Wine Business And consumers are willing to pay more for a wine based on its reputation, or the reputation of its region, according to a recent study by Linfield College, the Oregon Wine Board and the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. Local vineyards are building on (Read Full Article)

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3. Pinot pioneers: In a relatively short time, Oregon vintners have come a long way to a place on the world stage Explore registerguard.com (Apr 24 2013) Wineries in the News Paris, 1979. The event was the Gault-Millau wine tasting of French Burgundies, made from pinot noir, versus their counterparts from the United States. The wines were tasted “blind” so no one knew what they were judging. The winner was a 1959 Domaine Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny, a classic wine from a great vintage by one of the greatest wine houses in the world. The shock came with the wine in 10th place: 1975 Eyrie Vineyards South Block Reserve Pinot Noir from Oregon. This could not be! So Robert Drouhin, owner of his namesake winery, duplicated the tasting. This time, the results were ... (Read Full Article)

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4. Things looking up at J. Scott Cellars: Jonathan Oberlander has a new Eugene winery to grow his boutique brand, which showcases his never-staid approach to winemaking. Explore registerguard.com (Mar 1 2013) Wineries in the News Now, J. Scott Cellars of Eugene is a winery with walls. The boutique label, established by Jonathan Oberlander — also the general manager at Silvan Ridge Winery, where he’s been a winemaker since 2004 — now has a brick-and-mortar place to call home. During the 2012 crush, Oberlander got his own winery up and running in a west Eugene industrial park. In the coming months, he plans to add a tasting area, renovate a restroom for public use, and host periodic events there. Until now Oberlander has forged ahead with his personal project as many independent winemakers do, buying or growing ... (Read Full Article)

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5. Fade to blanc: Oregon winemakers dabble in white Pinot noir, a true white wine made from the same grapes that constitute the state’s iconic red Explore registerguard.com (Dec 6 2012) Wineries in the News Pretty weird making white wine from a red grape. But that’s what white pinot noir is all about. Ironic that the French word “noir” means dark, and in this case refers to the purplish, almost black skin of the pinot noir grape. Oregon winemakers, always pushing the envelope, are creating a buzz (thanks largely to a highlight in Sunset magazine’s September 2012 issue) by pressing the dark redness out and coming up with remarkable wines that have the full body of a red, but the enticing light flavors and exuberance of a white. “The industry in Oregon is ... (Read Full Article)

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6. Elevation of an appellation: Southern Oregon Wine Institute sows the seeds of what could be the next great Western wine region. Explore registerguard.com (Dec 4 2012) Wine Business Umpqua Valley wine is hardly in its infancy. Some of the state’s oldest vineyards and pioneering vintners — and most acclaimed newer producers — are found in the region around Roseburg. Yet when most people outside that area think “Oregon wine,” they think Willamette Valley. They think pinot noir and pinot gris. That long-established Burgundian association has started to evolve as vintners in the Umpqua and more southerly Rogue valleys continue their run of success with Bordeaux, Alsatian, Iberian and other varietals that thrive in Southern Oregon’s higher daytime temperatures, longer growing seasons and rockier soils. And now, at Umpqua ... (Read Full Article)

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7. From vine to glass: Women in the wine industry give thanks for a great harvest and savor, each in their own way, the drink they love most Explore registerguard.com (Nov 7 2012) Wineries in the News A few weeks ago you could have taken the scenic drive from Eugene to Pfeiffer Vineyards near Junction City and caught sight of the always elegant Danuta Pfeiffer, co-owner with husband Robin, harvesting rows of grapes on a tractor. More often you will find her driving home from one community improvement project or another. Recently, in fact, Danuta was appointed to the board of the statewide Oregon Travel Experience. But driving a tractor, too? No problem. “Carrying three-quarter ton totes of grapes,” she elaborates. “We brought them down and then, in the evening, we crushed and pressed grapes for wine ... (Read Full Article)

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8. Umpqua vineyards seeing bountiful harvest After a pair of so-so-years, grape growers are rejoicing as warm, clear weather delivers a choice crop Explore registerguard.com (Oct 11 2012) Wine Business ROSEBURG — The Umpqua Valley wine grape harvest has been busy, noisy and productive — far different than last year’s low output. “Last year was a practical disaster,” said Greg Cramer, owner of MarshAnne Landing outside Oakland. “I’m very pleased with the fruit that came in this year. We’re about three weeks ahead of last year.” No rain has fallen in central Douglas County since July 20, and sunny days have allowed grapes to ripen. Clear skies also have meant the risk of an early frost, prompting wineries to fire up commercial fans to keep the fruit from freezing ... (Read Full Article)

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9. Adventurous winemakers enjoy growing success with new varietals and prove that “Oregon wine” is not defined by pinot noir and pinot gris Explore registerguard.com (Aug 23 2012) Wineries in the News The state’s expanding wine depth chart is a testament to Oregon growers and winemakers who continue to produce and improve their pinot noir and pinot gris, but also take risks to create a whole array of additional wines. The No. 1 Oregon varietal by far is pinot noir, making up 60 percent of total acreage and wine production, followed by pinot gris. But wines such as gewürztraminer, pinot blanc, tempranillo, chardonnay (currently the hottest white wine, says Oregon Wine Board’s Charles Humble) and viognier are among the rising stars in the Oregon wine tapestry. Spanish infusion One ... (Read Full Article)

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10. Oregon wine state of mind Explore registerguard.com (May 24 2012) Wine Business Oregon Wine Board’s marketing-savvy director wants to bring the whole world here to savor the state’s lauded, innovative wine industry. When Tom Danowski talks about Oregon wine, it’s as if he holds a beautiful rare jewel in his hands that glows brighter and more intriguing with each detail he shares about the ascent of the state’s third-largest industry — which is being celebrated throughout May, designated as Oregon Wine Month by Gov. John Kitzhaber. Production of fine wine grapes rose to a record high of 41,500 tons last year in Oregon, and that record could be ... (Read Full Article)

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11. Oregon grows record 41500 tons of grapes Explore registerguard.com (Apr 17 2012) Oregon Wine Features , Oregon Wine News Production of wine grapes hit a record high in Oregon last year — 41,500 tons, a whopping 33 percent increase over the previous year, according to a report released by the Oregon Wine Board on Monday. The increase came despite a small — 100 acres — decrease in the amount of land planted in wine grapes. But, while the acreage devoted to wine grapes dipped to 20,400, overall yields were better and there were fewer unharvested acres, according to the 2011 Oregon Vineyard Report. (Read Full Article)

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12. Oregon grows record 41,500 tons of grapes Explore registerguard.com (Apr 16 2012) Oregon Wine Features , Oregon Wine News Production of wine grapes hit a record high in Oregon last year — 41,500 tons, a whopping 33 percent increase over the previous year, according to a report released by the Oregon Wine Board on Monday. The increase came despite a small — 100 acres — decrease in the amount … (Read Full Article)

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