Among the underappreciated legacies of the Fries family of Duck Pond Cellars fame is Coles Valley Vineyard near Sutherlin, Ore., in the Umpqua Valley. Second-generation grower Greg Fries took a special sense of pride in this planting, which is viewed by some as Oregon's first commercially farmed vineyard to remove the use of the pesticide glyphosate, which led to its receiving … [Read more...] about LifeVine Cellars 2019 Certified Pesticide Free Pinot Noir, Oregon, $18
Best Buy
Foris Vineyards 2019 Moscato, Southern Oregon, $15
Best Buy! Ted Gerber invested in Oregon's Illinois Valley back in 1971, and 2021 also marks the 35th anniversary of Foris Vineyards as a wine producer — marked by its bond of No. 110 in the state. One of his first grape plantings was Early Muscat in 1976, and Bryan Wilson's stellar tradition with variety has been extended by Stephanie Pao in this her third vintage at Foris. … [Read more...] about Foris Vineyards 2019 Moscato, Southern Oregon, $15
Chemistry Wine 2019 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $14
Best Buy! Soon after Bill Stoller took over ownership of Chehalem Wines, his tasked the winemaking teams at both Chehalem and Stoller Family Estate to create another project that could range beyond the Dundee Hills. Chemistry is one of those. This marks the third vintage under the name brand, and they quickly hit on the interest in Oregon Pinot Gris, more than doubling their … [Read more...] about Chemistry Wine 2019 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $14
Abiqua Wind Vineyard 2018 Estate Chloe’s Breeze Müller-Thurgau, Willamette Valley, $15
Best Buy! A Swiss researcher, Hermann Müller, crossed Riesling with Madeleine Royale in 1882. A century later, it rivaled Riesling among Germans in terms of popularity, and its ability to ripen early inspired this Cascade Foothills producer to build a fan base. Aromas of baked pear and dusty Granny Smith apple lead to off-dry flavors of pear pie and apple cobbler with a fun … [Read more...] about Abiqua Wind Vineyard 2018 Estate Chloe’s Breeze Müller-Thurgau, Willamette Valley, $15
Cavatappi Winery 2019 Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, $13
Best Buy! Seattle restaurateur/winemaker/distributor Peter Dow became infatuated with Italy in the early 1970s, and his connection continues thanks to his relationship with Precept Wine. Their Pinot Gris collaboration gathers up fruit from two legacy vineyards in the Yakima Valley — Phil Church and Willow Crest - and went into bottle in Walla Walla. There's food-friendly … [Read more...] about Cavatappi Winery 2019 Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, $13