Just back from a great couple of days tasting in the Willamette Valley based in Eugene, Oregon and visiting the following vineyards:
Walnut Ridge
McBeth
Lingua Franca
Kuenzi
Brigadoon
Bethel Heights
Evesham Wood
Overall impressions were that quality was universally very high indeed, regardless of the size of the operation. The general vibe was similarly great- friendly people at every stop who were really enthusiastic about what they are producing, which was great to see.
There’s obviously a widening pricing gap between the more commercialised operations and the ‘mom and pop’ producers, and I wouldn’t say that it is necessarily reflected in the quality of the wine, but that’s definitely not unique to Oregon.
No hesitation in recommending a visit to any of these, but particular highlights were Evesham
Wood (beautiful place, wines so French that it was almost unbelievable, and one of the best and cleanest US chardonnays I have ever tasted), Brigadoon (tiny operation, great owner, cool tasting room, and really solid and tasty wines), Kuenzi (QPR just totally off the charts), and McBeth (amazing owners, brilliant dog, really good wines, and the most fun l have had tasting wine for a very long time).
Thoroughly recommend a visit. Shout out to Kevin from Oregon Vine2Wine- if you are looking for a driver/ guide who knows his stuff and can curate a trip to what you want to taste then he is absolutely the man to talk to.
by Major-Cheesecake-822