Advocate Jan 2014

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48 VOL. 72 PART 1 JANUARY <strong>2014</strong> THE ADVOCATE and showed bright and expressive flavours of cherry fruit. This winery is worth a visit for the wines alone. The location and view are a bonus. Near the White Rose Estate is Archery Summit Winery, with its highly acclaimed and, unfortunately, highly priced wines. The property is beautifully manicured and overlooks rows of vineyard and the valley below. Underneath the winery are caves where the estate’s several single-vineyard wines are aged in French oak barrels. Tasting can be done on the outdoor patio, where one can enjoy wine and view at the same time. In contrast to the upscale features of Archery Summit is the Carlton Winemakers Studio, located, as the name indicates, near the town of Carlton, minutes north of Highway 99. The “Studio” has as many as a dozen smallproduction and garage wineries in its tiny facility. This is where hidden gems can be found at reasonable prices. It is here where we were first introduced to the wines of Ayoub, a limited-production winery owned and operated by Mohamad “Mo” Ayoub. Ayoub is now producing some of the best wines in the Willamette Valley, and his own winery is worth a visit. It is by appointment only, but you need only go to the website and call Mo at the number shown. Other wineries worth a visit include Bergstrom, Les Beaux Freres, Penner-Ash and Trisaetum in Newberg, Domaine Drouhin in Dayton and The Four Graces in Dundee. As with any visit to a wine-producing area, there are only so many wineries one can see in a single trip. Whichever of these or other wineries you visit, you will be impressed with the quality, complexity and consistency of the wines that Oregon has to offer. While it is easy to do a day trip from Portland to the wine country, the Willamette has begun to develop into its own destination, and a stay in one of the small towns is highly recommended. Perhaps the finest hotel in the valley is the Allison Inn and Spa. Located just north of the town of Newberg, the Allison welcomes you with manicured gardens and a small vineyard as you meander up to the reception area. There, you are greeted with warm hospitality as you enter the sun-drenched lobby. The guest rooms themselves are spacious and luxurious, with fireplaces, large soaker tubs, separate showers and all kinds of nifty switches on the wall that control both the lighting and your window blinds (an engineering degree is helpful, but not required). Within the common areas you will find an inviting swimming pool looking out to one of the many gardens on site, a world-class spa and the hotel’s first-rate restaurant, Jory. Adding warmth to the ambience of the hotel is original artwork from local artists that hangs throughout the common areas and in every room. This is the perfect starting point for a visit to the valley, and with a single visit to the concierge desk, you will be set on your way with a detailed itinerary and directions.
THE ADVOCATE VOL. 72 PART 1 JANUARY <strong>2014</strong> 49 If you prefer smaller and more intimate accommodation, you may wish to try the Abbey Road Farm Silo Suites, a bed and breakfast set among the rolling hills of Yamhill County in Carlton on a large property of over 80 acres. This impressive inn is unique in that the well-appointed rooms are contained within renovated grain silos. We did not ask whether gluten-free rooms are available. Included in the price of the room is a hearty country breakfast using fresh ingredients from the farm located just outside your door. On Worden Hill Road in Dundee, you will find the Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard, a luxurious and serene nine-room inn nestled on a hillside overlooking the Willamette Valley with views to Mount Jefferson and Mount Hood. The inn sits on over 40 acres of farmland that includes a vineyard with plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Beautiful gardens surround the premises, and the rooms offer balconies or patios from which you can enjoy the impressive vistas. But what is a wine tour without good food? While the Willamette does not offer the abundance of restaurants found in the Napa Valley, there is no shortage of good places to eat. Start off with a visit to the Red Hills Market for something simple but tasty for a luncheon or take-away picnic. The Red Hills Market is located in Dundee just minutes from the Allison and has a great selection of local cheeses, breads and charcuterie. If you prefer to stay, you can try one of their delicious wood-fired pizzas (available with gluten-free dough) with a craft beer or glass of local wine as you enjoy the laid-back setting. It is worth a visit, even if it is just for a morning coffee and pastry. For fine dining, there may be no better restaurant in the valley than Jory, in the Allison Inn. The executive chef, Sunny Jin, is a native of South Korea who grew up in the Portland area. However, he learned his craft at Napa’s French Laundry, Sydney’s Tetsuya and Spain’s El Bulli, arguably three of the finest and most influential restaurants in the world. He has brought to Jory an innovative and flavourful menu that utilizes the best of the valley’s local ingredients, including some that are grown right on the Allison property. You can enjoy your meal indoors or have it out on the balcony overlooking the hills. When you see the wine list, you’ll be somewhat overwhelmed with the variety of Pinot Noir that has been set before you, but the sommelier will be able to help you with your choice. On one occasion, we were directed to a Pinot Noir Reserve from Aubichon Cellars, a tiny producer located by Dundee, in a small area of vineyard that we could actually see from our table. The wine was remarkably intense for a Pinot Noir and was one of the most memorable wines we consumed on that trip—for a fraction of the price you would pay for a similar wine in Vancouver.
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Because not everyone is this lucky.
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Advocate Jan 2014

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