Visiting wineries on Thanksgiving weekend is an Oregon tradition. It’s the time of the year when wineries – large and small – throw open their doors for holiday visitors. East Valley wineries are no exception. You can go to wwww.eastvalleywine.com to get information to plan a tour.
Vitis Ridge Winery
990 N First, Silverton
The picking, crush and pressing of grapes has ended. It’s a unique year with high sugars and relatively low acids. One can anticipate nice wines from 2012. With the last press of whites and reds for the season comes a great feeling… a tremendous sigh of relief. During November and December, bring in two or more nonperishable food items for Silverton Area Community Aid and receive a 10 percent discount on wine.
– Chris Deckelmann
Hanson Vineyards
34948 S Barlow Road, Monitor
It’s an indescribable feeling to press out the last bit of juice of the season. We picked our Pinot Noir on the bright, warm and sunny days of early October. Never have we had such beautiful fruit. All of the prognostications and predictions about the 2012 crush have truly come true. The fermentations were quick this year, but the resulting wine is dark and intense. The last grapes to come off the vine were our Riesling, always our stubborn laggards. In all, just three of us picked over 5 tons of grapes this year! We head off into winter feeling pretty confident about a very, very successful harvest.
– Jason Hanson
Domaine Margelle Vineyards
20159 Hazelnut Ridge Rd., Scotts Mills
Domaine Margelle is gearing up to open its doors for our annual Thanksgiving Weekend Wine Tasting. We will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. along with other East Valley wineries. We invite you to visit and sample our estate bottled wines while enjoying our expansive vistas.
– Marci Taylor
St. Josef’s Winery
28836 S Barlow Road, Canby
The new wines are here! We’ve been working hard in the cellar and we’ve just released a couple of real keepers… a 2010 Merlot and a 2010 Cabernet. And special, for our Thanksgiving Open House, we’ll be releasing the Ruby Red Port and Late Harvest Gewurztraminer. We’ll be pairing our wines with delectable treats at the second annual Aurora Wine & Chocolate Walk. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. The event is noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
– Carl McKnight
Abiqua Wind Vineyard
19822 McKillop Loop Road, Scotts Mills
Overall, our crop was down about 30 percent this year; likely due to the lack of any rain in late summer. Of our whites, only the Pinot Gris is left to complete fermentation. The Pinot Noir came in dry, the first time ever it was not rained on – there are high expectations and a bit of excitement for this wine. It has started its secondary fermentation, and shows a distinct black cherry/blackberry character. As the yeast settles, we will have a better idea of the aromatics and flavors on our whites but the fruit came in well balanced, so we are optimistic!
– Pete Buffington
Piluso Vineyard and Winery
Aumsville
We had an outstanding harvest! The fruit was stellar and the harvest conditions could not have been better. Our fruit was “textbook” perfect with great color, flavor and aromas. We have pressed-off half of our fermenters and should get the rest to barrel soon. Now time for the winemaker and harvest crew to sit back and relax with a well-deserved glass of wine!
– Sandee Piluso
Mt. Angel Cellars & Vineyards
215 N. Main St., Mount Angel
The East Valley’s newest cellar invites you to stop by and taste premium fruit wines from the Scrimentis’ family winery, Carlovanna Vineyards. Thanksgiving Week Wine Tour hours are: Monday, 3-6 p.m., Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 3-6 pm., Saturdays and Sundays and other times by appointment. Call 503-779-7584 to schedule a private tasting or group event. Check out our gift baskets and locally made products, too.
