Visit to Soter Vineyards

WINE TALK
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Here are some pics from our Memorial Day Weekend trip to Soter Vineyards. Brand new facility in Carlton that is just awesome. Unfortunately we did not get pictures of the building from the outside. It is completely wide open with two huge doors on each side of the middle of the building with a seating area and fireplace on one end and two huge custom kitchens on the other. We tasted through the entire line-up to include the 2004 Brut Rose which I really like and both the 2005 and 2006 Mineral Springs Pinots. The 2005 easily eclipses the 2006 in my book just in style points. I’m just not a fan of 2006 anything in Oregon for the most part.

Also got to try the 2004? Napa Valley “Little Creek” Proprietary Red from a 3-acre parcel of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon surrounding the Soter home in Napa, which I believe is now sold.

It was great talking with Tony and his wife for a good 30 minutes, walking us through the vineyard and while telling us about all of the wonderful bio-dynamics they’re maintaining. It’s definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

The clover blooming in the background is absolutely stunning all over the hills of the valley.

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Nice.

At the top of the second picture (the vineyard shot), there is a gap in the trees on the ridgeline about a 1/3 of the way into the picture from the left. That’s the top of our vineyard (which isn’t visible in the photo).

I sure I’m the only one who cares :slight_smile:

j.

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Thanks for the write-up. I wanted to make it to Soter, when I was in Oregon a few weeks ago, but just did not have enough time . . . next trip.

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Those photos rock, thanks!

I love Tony’s work at Etude especially.

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I love the older Etude’s a well. The guy can flat out make great wines.