Some wine regions, such as the Ribbon Ridge American Viticultural Area (AVA), a sub-AVA within the Willamette Valley, are extra special. Why has the Ribbon Ridge AVA, established July 1, 2005, become so special? Oregon's smallest AVA, with only 500 planted acres, is one of the most prestigious wine growing regions in the world. Ribbon Ridge, 3.5-mile long by 1.75-mile wide is a ridge that extends from the Chehalem Mountains. This AVA rises from the Chehalem Valley floor, giving it an island-like appearance. Here the growing conditions allow longer, cooler growing seasons, making it ideal for delicate varietals like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Ribbon Ridge’s island-like characteristics, and its proximity of surrounding landmasses, help shield and protect this viticultural area from the extremes, which affect the other agricultural microclimates in the Willamette Valley.
Ribbon Ridge is one of the most decorated AVA's, with 90+ scores according to Wine Advocate. For example in 1) 2017, 88% of the Ribbon Ridge wines were rated 90+ (89% of those were for Pinot Noir), and 2) 2018, Ribbon Ridge continued to net the highest scores of all AVAs as rated by the Wine Advocate (87% of the wines submitted receiving 90+ scores). Clearly, this motivated me to checkout Ribbon Ridge on a Wine Media pre-conference tour #WMC21.
Welcome to Oregon's Ribbon Ridge's AVA
After arriving in Newberg and checking into our hotel, we departed for a driving tour of the Ribbon Ridge AVA to view its geography, and get an overview of the area. We stopped at Domaine Divio Winery for a quick wine tasting with the winemaker, before continuing onto Utopia Vineyard for a quick tour. Then onto dinner at Allison Inn.
Domaine Divio: Let's Take a Peek
Domaine Divio's philosophy is to makes wines with minimal intervention. There is a strong Burgundian influence on the wines produced, given Bruno Corneaux, proprietor and winemaker is a 4th generation Burgundy producer.
While working on his Master’s Degree in Enology & Viticulture Bruno met his Domaine Divio partner André Weil. In 2012 André and Bruno found the best spot in the Willamette Valley to create a wine estate, It was in 2014 that they established the Clos Gallia Estate on Ribbon Ridge.
Domaine Divio in the Glass © Spaswinefood
Domaine Divio, Passetoutgrain, Willamette Valley 2020
Domaine Divio, Passetoutgrain, Willamette Valley 2020 © Spaswinefood
After a welcomed tasting at Domaine Divio, along our way to the Allison, we also stopped at Utopia Estate Vineyard for a brief tour.
Utopia Estate Vineyard: Let's Take a Peek
Utopia's hands-on owner Dan Warnshuis is, not only winemaker and vineyard manage, but also a key leader of the Ribbon Ridge AVA. We were most fortunately that Dan was our host for the pre-conference tour.
Winemaker Dinner at the Allison Inn
Next, is was onto a Winemaker's Dinner at the Allison Inn. Dinner included a 3-course meal co-hosted by Taste Newberg and The Allison Inn & Spa. The wines were donated by Ribbon Ridge AVA's Divio and Utopia wineries. The wine pairings were Chardonnay, Pinot Noir with entrée, and Riesling with dessert. Amongst the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines served at dinner were the following:
Time for Chardonnay
After a fabulous dinner with great wines, it was back to the hotel to rest.
Welcome to Ribbon Ridge Wineries
1. Ribbon Ridge Winery
Next morning, our vine-filled day, began with a visit to the Ribbon Ridge Winery. Here we were introduced to Ribbon Ridge and Ridgecrest Estate wines (Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner and Gamay Noir). These estate-grown wines are reflective of the Ribbon Ridge’s reputation as one of the worlds truly special wine regions.
It was an awesome setting for an introduction to the AVA’s history by Harry Peterson-Nedry. Hearing this history, while we sipped Ridgecrest and Ribbon Ridge wines, was such a delight.
Hearing about the history of the Ribbon Ridge AVA certainly set the stage for our Ribbon Ridge wine country explorations.
Ribbon Ridge & Ridgecrest Estate Wines © Spaswinefood
What a perfect way to begin our wine country day!
2. Trisaetum Estate Vineyard and Winery
Our next stop was Trisaetum Estate Vineyard and Winery, owned since 2003 by James and Andrea Frey.
James A Frey, winemaker and artist, and Trisaetum staff did a side by side tasting of wines from their Ribbon Ridge and Coastal vineyards. We also enjoyed appetizers specially designed to pair with the wines we tasted.
Tasting Trisaetum Wines © Spaswinefood
Trisaetum Sparkling Wine © Spaswinefood
3. Utopia Estate Vineyard
We headed onto our third stop at Utopia Estate Vineyard.
Utopia Estate Vineyard © Spaswinefood
Here we enjoyed sushi with a selection of Utopia wines.
Ready for Wine, Utopia Estate Vineyard © Spaswinefood
We would conclude our winery visit with a quick stop in the vineyard.
4. Eminent Domaine
We would next, head up to the top of Ribbon Ridge to Eminent Domaine.
Welcome to Eminent Domaine © Spaswinefood Not only are the wines good here but also the views from Eminent Domaine are spectacular.
Eminent Domaine © Spaswinefood
This winery is the perfect setting to take in views from the ridge.
While tasting wines, enjoying those amazing vistas overlooking Ribbon Ridge AVA, we were treated awesome pizza prepared by David at Eminent Domaine’s outdoor kitchen.
Pizza by David, Eminent Domaine © Spaswinefood5. Styring Estate Vineyard and Winery
For our last stop, we headed a short distance down the hill to Styring Estate Vineyard and Winery for a dessert course paired with Styring wines to top off our day. Styring Estate promises Getting to Styring involves taking the road less traveled. Beautiful fields of green, rolling hills, and these wonderful little paths that make you feel you are going on a mini adventure instead of just tasting wine. It was indeed that at the end of a hot summer's day.
Styring Estate Vineyard and Winery © Spaswinefood
While it was a hot day we so loved the shade of the huge maple tree.
Dessert and wine at Styring was the perfect ending of a Ribbon Ridge Wine Country Day. After a vine-filled day we returned to our hotel to rest before traveling onto Eugene next day for #WMC2021.
Special thanks to Dan Warnshuis and his colleagues for our awesome visit to the Ribbon Ridge AVA, a Willamette Valley wine island. Given the Ribbon Ridge AVA unique island-like growing conditions we would highly recommend visiting the above wineries. Here you will discover some of Oregon's best wines. I invite you to join me in our travels in Oregon Wine Country and elsewhere in the sharing of these adventures at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
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