One evening this week I opened a bottle of Pinot Gris from Oregon; I was making a zucchini/onion/ricotta cheese/Parmesan/garlic/basil/rigatoni dish, and wanted something to pair it with, something that was not too oaky or dry. What I chose was a 2015 from Pike Road Wines, and everything in the bottle came from the Willamette Valley.
Bright, fruit-forward from the beginning, the wine’s citrus notes made the zucchini sing, while the acidity and balance called out the garlic in the dish. The undertone of spice played well with the nutmeg I grated into the ricotta. A good pairing, and at $15, this wine is something you definitely want to try.
Pinot Gris was first planted in Oregon in 1965, by David Lett, the founder of Eyrie Vineyards. (In fact, Lett’s Pinot Gris plantings were the first ever in the U.S.) Eyrie still produces Pinot Gris, and the grape is widely planted in Oregon, including by Pike Road.
This wine is cold fermented in stainless steel tanks, and the grapes used come primarily from Pike Road vineyards — a small amount is purchased from other Willamette growers. It’s crisp, and I’d drink it with cheese as well as vegetable pasta, and it would make an ideal meet-and-greet choice.
Trending
- What the Garden Oaks Theater’s Final Extension From the Wrecking Ball Really Means — Inside the Fight to Save an Iconic Piece of Houston’s Movie History
- Woodlands Area Chef Aims To Take On Bobby Flay in Hit TV Show — Thomas Bille, a Trusty Knife and a Kitchen Dream
- Fast Cars, High Fashion and Philanthropy Make This Second Time Houston Best Dressed Honoree’s Heart Zoom — Getting To Know Ann Ayre
- Whistler, the Top Mountain Resort in North America, Shines Even Brighter in Summer
- 10 Best Pizza Spots in Fort Worth — A Chicago Tavern-Style Newcomer, Downtown Italian Restaurants, and Other Top Destinations
Part of the Special Series:
_md.jpg)
