Yes he does!
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Not 100% sure this is the best thread, but hoping it’s close enough. We have a trip to Oregon planned for late June. With the help of many informative WB posts and other recommendations (including Ingrid Cutler of Antica Terra/Lillian and Jeff Petersen of Oregon Select Wine Tours), our final tasting itinerary is listed below. Targeted (or even random) thoughts, tips or recommendations on how to make the most of the experience would be greatly appreciated.
Tuesday June 22nd
1st Tendril 1045am
2nd Soter 1pm
3rd EIEIO 230pm
Thursday June 24th
1st Audeant 1030am
2nd Violin 12pm
3rd Harper Voit 130pm
4th Native Flora 315pm
Sunday June 27th
1st Ayoub 10am
2nd Anderson Family 11am
3rd Antica Terra with lunch 1230pm
4th Patty Green 3pm
Thanks in advance!
PS - I was told by someone that Cameron does not offer tastings. Can anyone confirm/deny?
That is a very tight schedule! I would really suggest you leave yourself 2+ hours between appointments to allow for deeper conversation and drive time.
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4 spots in one day is a lot of hustle.
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Thanks Todd and Andy. I know four per day is pushing it and we might be rushed a little. However, we focus on the wine and when offered, typically skip cellar and/or vineyard tours (unless there is something really unique or unusual). It’s been years since we’ve been in the area and really wanted to hit as many as possible. That said, you both make valid points. Just out of curiosity, which producers would you drop from Thursday and Sunday to create more breathing room?
Tim, Andy and Todd have provided great advice as usual. In a normal year, I would be in Oregon that last week of June as well and we may have crossed paths. It appears that our trip will be pushed back to August this year.
Anyway, your Sunday schedule is very close to my normal 2nd Saturday schedule with Ayoub and Anderson Family on the itinerary. You will need at least one full hour with Mo. Anderson Family is about 10 - 15 minutes away from Mo’s place. Anderson Family can be completed within an hour, so another 10-15 minutes back into Dundee for Antica Terra. I’ve never tasted at Antica Terra, so I’m assuming that 2 hours is sufficient and then another 15 - 20 minutes back to Patty Green. The Sunday schedule is probably doable with a later arrival at Anderson Family, but it will require some hustle. Anderson Family is very easy going, so just let Cliff know that you may be a few minutes late.
I’m not sure about your Tuesday and Thursday schedules. I’m familiar with most of the wineries, but I have only visited with Will Hamilton. I’m assuming that your Violin tasting will be at the wine making facility in Amity? If so, travel times may be an issue if the other wineries aren’t in the Eola Amity AVA and (I remembered correctly that) Native Flora is in the Dundee Hills. I would probably rework the Thursday schedule to spend the day in the Eola Amity AVA. Violin, Vincent, Cristom, Bethel Heights, Evesham Wood, Walter Scott (if they have reopened?) would all be great options. Minimal travel times to each. If you are tasting with Will in McMinnville, I would make it a McMinnville Day with Goodfellow, Brittan, Eyrie, Hundred Suns (if they are tasting?), Westrey, etc.
It’s my understanding that Cameron is open once or twice during a normal year, perhaps Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day weekends. Otherwise, you will need to be in the business and/or have a contact that can pull some strings and open the gates of Clos Electrique. Just kidding about the gates as they are usually open, but no tastings.
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We have visited WV four times in the last three years. I’ve never had a shorter than one hour visit and have had ones as long a three hours. These generally did not involve cellar tours and never vineyard tours. However, if you are interesting enough in the winery/winemaker to make an appointment and excited enough about the wines…well, time flies. I have tried three appointments in a day, then cut back to two, and now only do one. This is in part because of the alcohol. I cannot bring myself to spit out a winemaker’s labor of love right in front of him/her knowing how much effort went in to making each drop from the vineyard to the cellar. So to take Will Hamilton of Violin as an example. He will talk your ear off in a fast and highly engaging manner while pouring half a dozen wines. Show a bit of enthusiasm and you’ll be trying barrel samples of the next vintage. Before you know it, two hours have gone by and you are pretty buzzed. At least that is what happens to me. I’ll add that I have really hated cutting off a great visit and telling a winemaker that I have to leave so I can go see someone else.
I want to add that while some wineries are now charging a tasting fee, many still do not. Since a winemaker is pouring free wine and spending time with me, I always buy from three bottles up to a case. That can add up quickly (especially if you have to ship it), so that is another incentive to go for a few quality visits over fast quantity. Just my opinion.
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No idea on which to drop, unless one was way out of the way. You have a broad mix of producers, so if you don’t like big and extracted that could be an avenue to elimination. But you have to make that decision for yourself.
Thanks to one and all for your feedback. To a degree, on this trip and many others, we rely on our touring driver to ‘keep the pace’. In fairness, he suggested keeping it to no more than three per day, but we insisted otherwise and he obliged on two of the days. If it’s too much, epic fail on my part and no one to blame but myself. That said, we are completely respectful on the art and craft inherent with all producers and admittedly do have a tendency to (over)engage in their process (which we always find fascinating and clearly takes time). In the past, however, it typically…somehow…works out in our travels. Fingers crossed that this will follow that pattern. As far as buying is concerned, my cellar is nearing rack capacity, but plenty of room for additional inventory. If it speaks to me (or my wife), we are buyers…now and in the future.
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What driver/company are you using? Heading there in a week and would like my husband to be able to to enjoy the tastings a little more.
We asked Ingrid Cutler from Antica Terra for recommendations (she’s always steered us right!) and her top choice was Jeff Petersen. We have not been out with him yet, but so far, have been happy with his service and professionalism. His contact information is below. From what I understand, business is really picking up. If he is not available, Ingrid provided a couple other options too that may be worthwhile (let me know if you want them) or Jeff may have an alternative for you. Either way…good luck and happy sipping!
Jeff Petersen
Oregon Select Wine Tours
971-404-5178
web www.oregonselectwinetours.com
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Sun Break is Editors choice. Nice!
Berserkers already knew the story, we’re making news, not reporting it!
Wine Enthusiast Magazine Online: 10 Fabulous Oregon Pinot Noirs for Less than $30 | Wine Enthusiast.
And Trathen Hall, a new BD participant, is on the list too.
Good catch, Chris
My bad, sorry about that Blair Trathen! Guess I’ll be doing a “makeup” next Berserkerday. LOL
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Dang, I didn’t know about this being published online, so thanks for sharing! 
FYI $29 was the release price and we’ve been at $32 since Jan 1 : ) We have about 30 cases of this wine left… WB’ers can PM me for 20-40% discount info!
That a baby! Now we’re talking.
Congrats
Hi Tim,
Looking forward to seeing you next Month in Amity. Jeff scheduled this recently. If you have any preference for bringing lunch with you I am happy to arrange seating etc so you can enjoy your meals while we taste. You will need about 15 minutes to get from Amity to the Harper Voit tasting house in McMinnville, so we can taste for an hour, which is plenty to get through four or five wines. To Chris’s point, I have a bad habit of not adhering to time constraints for many customers. Cheers and thanks for your interest in visiting!
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It is also possible that we were having too much fun and refused to leave! ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
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Not that I would wish this upon anyone - but does anyone have recs where to send a Bachelorette party who “like wine but are looking for a really good time” in the WV this summer?
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You could get banned for this…
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