Local wineries capturing nation’s
attention, offering unique blends
By Cathy Peterson
Emeiald Reporter
Oregonians drank 7 5 million gallons of wine
in ]<)8t). according to an Oregon l.i(|uor (Control
Cominission report. That's almost three gallons
for every person in the state
And Oregon wineries are keeping up with the
demand, producing almost 780.not) gallons ot
dessert and table wine in 108(1 nearly triple the
amount produced in 1080
Oregon wines i aught the country 's attention in
108.1 when several wineries released pinot nous
ot as good a quality as California or European
wines Since then, wineries have experimented
with pinot grapes, as well as other grapes to pro
duce w inns ot national reputation
Local wine fans have the happy predicament ol
shopping for their wines at Oregon's best wine
store, or lasting their wines at one of the third
largest wineries in the state, both within 1> min
utes of downtuw n Kugene
"We sell an incredible amount ol Oregon
wines." said Cavin \h Comas, owner of Sun
dance Natural Foods In lllttti Sundant e w.is
named the best wine retailer in the state ol Ore
gon by wine industry members
Sundance's wine selection once filled a lone
shelf above the hulk foods section, but has now
become a $4011.OOll-a year item lor Sundance. 1U
late September. McComas said he hopes to open a
store just for wines at 747(1 Alder St
The new store will have a larger stoi k than the
current 1,200 to 1.500 bottles available now
Mi (lomas said
"Whites far outsell reds, and chardonnavs are
the number one wine, period." he said
He said his prices range trom a St> bottle of
white table wine to a $2(10.0:") bottle of Madiera
wine pressed in 187f> Oregon wines make up 20
pen ent of the stock at Sunil.mi e. he said
There are 84 licensed and bonded wineries in
Oregon, ranging from cottage operations located
in private homes, sin h as Oregon Fstates Winery
m Selma, to the largest producing winery in Ore
gon. knudseii Krath in Dundee
Most of the wineries produce their wines tor
( onsumption in Oregon or the Northwest St w end
ot tile huger wineries sin h ns llinman h.n e
looked into marketing in other regions ot the
lountrv. but most of their wine still ends up on
Oregon t.ihles said llinman bookkeeper U.md.i
Smith
One ill the re.isons Oregon prodiu es good
wines ui.iv he its i lunate whir h is siiiii!,u to the
premium grow ing regions in I i.iru e Met minis
s.nd Oregon is able to prodiu e w ines ( .ditornia
( .in I liei ,iuse ot its climate 1 nlortiiii.itelv the
i lim.lie here is less ((insistent than ( .ihtorni.i N
he s.ud Hut 'when we hit we hit something
le.ilK line
I lie sidle is divided up into gi.uie growing or
viticiillur.il regions l.arie (iountv tolls into the
South Willamette grape growing region whnli
spans the area trom Album to I ugene
There are II vinevards in the region, including
the award winning Sprmghill t ellars Meridian
\ 'miners. which received the Oregon (liiveinni s
(hip lor their wines in I'lHU said Mike Ihllet,
South Willamette i hapter spokesman
Dillex said the award was a sign of excellence
and a t oup for the i hapter. whit h must compete
lor the award with the larger or older wineries in
Northern (begun
Wine drinkers who can't decide between red
and w hile, or sweet or dr\ . i an visit several local
wineries which offer tastings and tours
I stahlished in 1'172 l urgeron Vinevards in I I
mira spei iali/.es in pinot nous, i ahernet sauvi
gnons. i hardonn.iys and while lieslmgs as well
as a limited amount of rare pinot gns a blush
colored w ine
lasting room host Laura Magnuson said most
ot the w me made at I'orgeron Is consumed b\ t )i
egou drinkers In 1‘IHu, the winerv prodiu cd
12.000 cases of wine made mosth from then
own grapes
Magnuson said the neslmg is the best selling
wine although the pinot gns is becoming popu
lar as v\ell
I'orgeron Vinevnrds is ill Klimr.i oil of llighwax
lltli 1 lie tasting room will he open !p III to a
Turn to WINE Page 28
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