The Willamette Valley wine industry certainly has come a long way since its infancy in the mid-1960s. After some initial experimentation, pinot noir was declared the clear winner and focus for our climate and soils. The related pinot gris soon joined pinot noir as the second signature grape. Fast forward to today, and there are many more choices coming out of our verdant valley. One of the more exciting developments over the past couple of decades has been the growth in production of sparkling wine. Below are four fine examples of Oregon bubbly that you can find locally and are sure to be a great holiday season hit.
Capitello – Celebration Cuvée Oregon Brut
Winemaker Ray Walsh, who splits his time between Eugene and his native New Zealand, has many years’ experience making sparklers, both under his Capitello label and for several other clients. Capitello’s Brut is one of the more recognizable bottlings and can be found in most wine shops in the area. He makes the wine the same way real Champagne is made, and the resulting product doesn’t have to hide behind its French brethren. Fine bubbles, pleasant acidity, and a great nose are all trademarks of this staple of Oregon bubbly. All of the grapes come from vineyards in our immediate area, so it’s a hyper-local wine. $40
RainSong – Sparkling Blanc de Noirs
Located in the idyllic little village of Cheshire, just north of Eugene, RainSong has also been a long-lived local player. This wine is a true blanc de noirs, meaning it is a white sparkling wine composed of the two primary red Champagne grapes: pinot noir and pinot meunier. It has a delightful nose of citrus and white stone fruit. Bubbles are small and even and the wine is dry to the extent that it’s pleasant but not so dry that it’s mouth-puckering. Second-generation owner Allie Hall still signs and numbers every single bottle with her gold sharpie, while her husband, Marcus, makes the wine. The wine is sealed with a pop-cap closure. $30
Planet Oregon – Brut Rosé
Planet Oregon is a label that Soter Vineyards started more than a decade ago. It is all about responsibility, whether for our environment or social justice. Their wines have a plethora of certifications, such as certified organic, Biodynamic, Salmon Safe, B Corp, and others. Soter arguably makes some of the greatest (and most pricey) sparklers in the state. This wine is made from 100% organically grown Willamette Valley pinot noir and is carbonated. The color is a very pretty light pink. The first thing that hits you about the nose is fresh forest strawberry. Overall it’s a very refreshing bubbler, ideal for any occasion, not just holidays — and at this price, that’s a real choice. $22
The Eyrie Vineyards – Spark
What a wine! Eyrie was the first post-Prohibition winery in the Willamette Valley, and to many (yours truly included), they are still the reigning heavyweight champion. You can pour me 10 different glasses of wine in a blind tasting, and I can always pick out the Eyrie among them. It has this incredibly unique, subtle note of earthy gaminess that only Eyrie seems to have. The color is a gorgeous peachy dark pink. There is complexity galore on the palate, too. Lots of red fruit, spices, even leather, but none of that takes away from the freshness and the long-lasting bubbles. This wine is carbonated, rather than fermented in the bottle, but that doesn’t really detract much from its appeal. A real steal for the price. $23
