Our day in Oregon's Ribbon Ridge was filled with the most wonderful winery visits. After gourmet pizza and delicious wines at Eminent Domaine, we headed a short distance down the hill to Styring Vineyards for dessert. It was a hot August day's end and we so welcomed the shade of the large trees.
Steve and Kelly Styring purchased a 40 acre un-farmed parcel in 2003, which they developed into Styring Estate. They left half of the property as natural area for the original wildlife inhabitants, they live on one acre, and use sustainable farming in their vineyards. Their focus is on producing small lots of hand-crafted wines. Nine and half acres is dedicated to dry-farming Pinot Noir, and one acre for Riesling from which they produce their Whimsey Riesling and Afterglow Dessert Riesling. Besides Pinot Noir and Riesling they produce sparkling wines using the Champagne Methode. They also produce a Port Style Dessert wine, and Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from grapes sourced elsewhere.
Day's End at Styring Vineyards
It was day's end, and here we were on that hot August day at Styring Vineyards for a dessert course paired with their wines. What a fun way to top off our Ribbon Ridge 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 the perfect way end a hot summer's day.
Days End, Styring Estate Vineyard © Spaswinefood
It was not long before we discovered the shade of the huge tree.
Seeking Shade at Styring Estate © Spaswinefood
It is hard to beat being royally treated to Ribbon Ridge hospitality at day's end. The Ribbon Ridge American Viticultural Area (AVA) offers wine enthusiasts a great variety of wine country experiences. This sub-AVA within the Willamette Valley was established July 1, 2005. Since then Oregon's smallest AVA has become 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. Ribbon Ridge’s island-like characteristics, and its proximity to surrounding landmasses, help shield and protect this viticultural area from the extremes, affecting other agricultural microclimates in the Willamette Valley.
For sure dessert with Styring wines was the perfect ending of a Ribbon Ridge Wine Country Day. Styring Vineyards completed our vine-filled day exploring the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Next, we returned to our hotel to rest before traveling onto Eugene next day for #WMC2021. Styring is a very special place that is open to the public on a limited basis; so a reservation is recommended. Put it on your list of must visit wineries in the Willamette Valley, Oregon's largest wine region, which consists of seven appellations. I invite you to join me in my Oregon wine country travels and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
