Our Ribbon Ridge Wine Country day began at a winery with five decades of experience in the wine industry. Ribbon Ridge Winery, home to the first vines planted on Ribbon Ridge, is where it all began. Today their estate-grown Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner and Gamay Noir is reflective of the Ribbon Ridge American Viticultural Area (AVA) reputation as one of the world's truly special wine regions.
Ribbon Ridge Winery: Where it All Began
Our vine-filled day, began at the Ribbon Ridge Winery. Here we were introduced to their Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner, and Gamay Noir wines. These estate-grown wines are great examples of what this very special wine region has to offer.
It was an awesome setting for an introduction to the AVA’s history by Harry Peterson-Nedry. I enjoyed hearing its history, while we sipped Ridgecrest and Ribbon Ridge wines.
Hearing about the history of the 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! With five decades of experience in the wine industry, and home the first vines planted on Ribbon Ridge, we came to the right place.
Ribbon Ridge Winery's story, as posted at their website, goes like this:
MAYBE I LUCKED OUT. OR MAYBE I SAW IT COMING.
In 1980, we purchased the first vineyard on Ribbon Ridge. And by we, I mean us, with our own hands. With barely 800 acres planted to vine, the Willamette Valley had just begun to envision such luxuries as vineyard consultants and planting crews. We did it. Judy, the kids, and I with some of our closest friends. Ridgecrest was more than a vineyard. It was our life.
Back then, folks thought I was just plain nuts to plant Pinot Noir on this chilly rise located on the western edge of the Willamette Valley. They told me" You're the farthest west going out this way, you don't plant grapes that far out." Ridgecrest Vineyards was the first vineyard planted on a small ridge of ocean sedimentary soils that, 25 years later, was designated the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The common thought at the time was that the site was situated too far west for grapes - too windy, too foggy, too cool.
As fate would have it, things began to heat up.
Now one of the foremost vineyards in the Willamette Valley, Ridgecrest fruit exhibits a level of intensity that is sought after by many a winemaker. (Source: Ribbon Ridge Winery)
We were most fortunate that August morning to taste wines from the Ridgecrest Vineyards and Ribbon Ridge labels.
Some of the wines we tasted included:
1. Ridgecrest Vineyards, Estate Grown Grüner Veltliner 2020
Ridgecrest Vineyards, Estate Grown Grüner Veltliner 2020 © Spaswinefood
2. Ridgecrest Vineyards, Riesling, Ribbon Ridge 2018
Ridgecrest Vineyards, Riesling, Ribbon Ridge 2018 © Spaswinefood
3. Ridgecrest Vineyards, Old Vine Estate Pinot Gris 2020
Ridgecrest Vineyards, Old Vine Estate Pinot Gris 2020 © Spaswinefood
4. Ridgecrest Vineyards, Old Vine Estate Gamay Noir 2019
Ridgecrest Vineyards, Old Vine Estate Gamay Noir 2019 © Spaswinefood
5. Ridgecrest Vineyards, Estate Pinot Noir 2019
Ridgecrest Vineyards, Estate Pinot Noir 2019 © Spaswinefood
6. Ribbon Ridge Winery, Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2018
It was beyond delightful to discover these wines. I would also like to note that the Ridgecrest Vineyards are dry-farmed according to sustainably according to LIVE (Low-Input Viticulture & Enology) Standards.
Ribbon Ridge American Viticultural Area
Ribbon Ridge Winery is located in the Ribbon Ridge American Viticultural Area (AVA), a sub-AVA within the Willamette Valley. Established July 1, 2005 Oregon's smallest AVA, with only 500 planted acres, has become one of the most prestigious wine growing regions in the world. Ribbon Ridge, 3.5-mile long by 1.75-mile wide ridge that extends from the Chehalem Mountains. The ridge rises from the Chehalem Valley floor, giving it an island-like appearance. Growing conditions on the ridge 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 the viticultural area from many of the extremes, which affect the other agricultural microclimates in the northern Willamette Valley.
That day exploring the Ribbon Ridge AVA, after our first stop at Ribbon Ridge Winery, where it all began, we also visited Trisaetum Estate Vineyard and Winery, Utopia Estate Vineyard, then headed up to Eminent Domaine at top of Ribbon Ridge with its amazing vistas overlooking the ridge; and finally traveled a short distance down the hill to Styring Estate Vineyard and Winery to top off our day.
Put wine from Ribbon Ridge Winery in your glass. After all Oregon's Ribbon Ridge Winery is where it all began. When in Oregon I would highly recommend you visit the Ribbon Ridge AVA. I invite you to join me in my travels in Oregon and elsewhere in the sharing of these adventures at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment