This past Saturday was the Umpqua Valley Barrel Tour here in Southern Oregon. This year, I attended in two capacities, with friends to have fun, and also, as a "wine Guy". They break up the wineries into three areas, North, Central, and South Tour. I was on the North Tour, on one of four bus's.
We started at 9:00 AM, and were at our 1st winery by 10 AM. We visited a total of 6 Wineries, ending up back at thew cars in Sutherlin at 4 PM. We visited Bradley, Brandborg, Rivers Edge, Sienna Ridge, Reustle and MarshAnne Landing.
Each Winery had prepared food pairings to go with the wines they were serving. Some wineries actually did "Barrel Tastings". I'm thinking individual straws would have been better ?
As this is my blog, I get to rate the wines and food pairings, right ? So, that being said, Brandborg Vineyard and Winery in Elkton,wins my award, 4 gold corkscrews, for the food and wine pairings. Their Gewurztraminer with Thai Curry Shrimp, and 09' Pinot Noir samples from the barrel, served with Duck Stew ??? Come on ! Blew me away !
In 2nd Place, MarshAnne Landing in Oakland. They have a beautiful country Tasting Room.
Their Syrah served up with Tri-Tip cooked to perfection !
In 3rd Place, but not ever last in my opinion, was Reustle Prayer Rock in Umpqua.
Their 09' Gruner Veltliner served with Smoked Salmon Crostini, Oh My God !
Reustle was the 1st to bring this wonderful white wine grape to the U.S., and currently, there is only one other small production winery producing it in Oregon.
So, Cheers to the Umpqua Valley Wine Growers Association for what they bring to us all.
See you next year....
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