A BLONDE VINTAGE

Visiting a winery kinda feels like a day in Disneyland for me. I’m serious. That is how excited I get about spending the day in wine country. Prior to adventuring out, I take an absurd amount of time to research wineries, check out their accolades, clicking through the experiences they offer, etc. etc. I totally nerd out. So, after being housebound for what seemed like forever, a few weeks ago we headed out to the northern Willamette Valley to do a little wine tasting in the Yamhill/Carlton area of Oregon Wine Country. On our list were two wineries we had been wanting to try for a while, Lemelson Vineyards and Eminent Domaine. Today, I’m going to share with you our experiences with each and  experience these amazing wineries in Oregon Wine Country (just make sure to make an appointment and grab your mask)!

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LEMELSON VINEYARDS

When we arrived, we pulled up to a very new facility with to-die for vineyard views. I had heard through colleagues and friends that their Pinots were the perfect balance of sophisticated elegance, but with a striking richness; something that could only come from the soil and vintage. I obviously was very excited to try them! You see, Lemelson Vineyards also utilizes organic farming methods and gravity flow production, to perfectly craft estate grown Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling from some of the best vineyards in the upper Willamette Valley. I knew we were in for a treat!

Our tasting began with a delightfully crisp and well-balanced rosè of Pinot noir, followed by Pinot gris and a Chardonnay. Next we moved into four different Pinot noirs, all sharing elegant characteristics, but boasting their own individualism. Delicious. We immediately fell in love with their Thea’s Selection Pinot Noir and their Jerome Reserve Pinot Noir. Both were a must-have purchase!

EMINENT DOMAINE

Arriving at Eminent Domaine is an experience. Several times I felt like we were 100% going the wrong way… but after about a 10 minute drive on a gravel road, we pulled into the driveway and I was so happy we persisted! Walking up, you’re greeted with a splash of rosè, and asked to choose our seat out on the sprawling lawns. We decided on two custom wine stave Adirondack chairs, facing a a never-ending view. Simply breathtaking!

After the Rosè, we moved into a Chardonnay, which in my opinion was the perfect expression of a delicious Oregon Chardonnay, slight oak, slight butter, but with a focus on the minerality and vintage. Afterwards we tasted through three different Pinot noirs, and decided to buy a few of our favorites and pop a bottle to leisurely enjoy the afternoon on their expansive grounds. We ended up leaving with a few bottles of the 2019 Rosè and the 2017 Estate Pinot noir which were our stand out favorites! We cannot wait to go back!

The hubs + I enjoying Eminent Domaine.

OREGON WINE COUNTRY + COVID19

– One of the first things I noticed when reaching out to wineries, was that every single winery has moved to reservations-only service. The reasoning behind this was simple! Wineries want to make sure they are able to host you in a safe and socially distanced manner. Your safety, and their employees safety is their number one priority! So make sure you call ahead and make your reservation.

– Next, make sure you bring your mask! Currently, Oregon is under strict order that everyone must wear a mask indoors in any business, and even outdoors when you cannot socially distance properly. Wineries ask that you wear a mask at all times, unless seated at your table, tasting or drinking wine.

– It’s also important to note that most wineries are limiting how many people can be in your group. I’ve seen everything from some requesting no more than 4 guests per party, to most wineries asking no more than 6 guests to a group.

– One positive change I’ve seen is that more and more wineries are now allowing you to bring your own picnic to enjoy during your visit with them. Personally, I love this and it encourages me to stay longer and purchase a few bottles to enjoy during my visit! Just make sure you call ahead to make sure the winery you’re visiting allows you to bring your own picnic.

– Some wineries are asking that you leave your children at home. However, if the winery you’re visiting allows kids then they are asking that you just make sure they stick with you at your table at all times! Just make sure you call ahead to ask the winery you’re visiting what their new children policy is.

View from Eminent Domaine.

If you’re interested in reading more about the surrounding Oregon Wine Country, consider checking out this blog post here to plan your next trip!

XO,

M

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