A.J.'s Top Ten Wineries of 2022

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With Thanksgiving next week, I noticed only four more newsletters are going out this year (I take the last two weeks off). I am at a loss for words. It has been one helluva ride this year, and there is still more to experience. At this point in the year, it is time to slow down a bit and spend time with friends and family. Let everyone close to you know how much they mean to you. When was the last time you looked at your partner and said, “Damn, I am so incredibly lucky to have you in my life. Thank you!” We move a million miles a minute and forget to take the time to appreciate those close to us.

Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and let’s get this week's newsletter rolling!

Brooks Art Riesling got some International coverage this week.

Willamette Valley Vineyards posted their third-quarter earnings.

Have you heard of a natural wine flaw called mouse? I have heard it a couple of times, and I am not even remotely interested.

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The big news this week, King Estate purchased Pfeiffer Winery. What will happen to Mr. March 2004? Oregon Live link.

There are so many significant events happening next weekend. If you didn’t get my list a couple of weeks ago, reply to this email, and I will send it to you!

Abbey Road Farm is doing a Holiday Lights Wine Walk on Dec 2.​

There are a couple of Dundee Hills Portland Pop Up Tasting in Downtown Portland where multiple wineries are pouring on December 4th and 11th. On the 4th, Dobbes Family Estate / Erath Winery / Knudsen Vineyards / Native Flora / Nysa Vineyards / Sokol Blosser Winery / The Four Graces Winery are pouring. And on the 11th, you can taste wines from Durant Vineyards / Erath Winery / Elevèe Winegrowers / Fox Farm Vineyards / Furioso Vineyards / Great Oregon Wine Company / Winters Hill Estate.

Rue Cler is doing a wine and candle-making workshop on December 7th

The Carlton Winemaker’s Studio is doing an Open House on December 10th.

Sokol Blosser is also doing a Winter Dining Series - Fruits of the Sea dinner that sounds amazing!

So many end-of-year lists are already coming out that I decided to create my list. With that being said, here is my top ten list of wineries I visited in 2022. By no means is this my overall top ten list of every winery I have visited. It is only from the wineries I visited this year. My list is sorted alphabetically. It is next to impossible for me to choose ten of my favorite wineries for the year, much less try to pick one I like the best.

Bledsoe McDaniels

The first gathering at the Bledsoe McDaniels Coulee Estate in Eola-Amity over the summer was stupendous! The sky was crystal clear, it wasn’t too hot, the wine was great, the food was mouth-watering, and the view was breathtaking. Not to mention Josh McDaniels and Drew Bledsoe were also there talking with everyone. I will never forget shaking Drew’s hand and having a fantastic conversation.

​https://bledsoemcdaniels.com​

Brickhouse

I don’t know why it took me so long to visit Brickhouse, but I finally checked it off the list! I loved how rustic the tasting room is and diving into so many wines. The story of how Doug Tunnell got into wine is mind-blowing. I also enjoy how down-to-earth everyone is, even though Brickhouse is known all over. My biggest takeaway is how stellar the older wines are. If you have any Brickhouse wines, hold on to those bad boys, and your mind will literally explode when you pop the cork many years down the road.

​https://brickhousewines.com​

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Celestial Hill

My visit to Celestial Hill happened by chance and following the yellow brick road of hearing the name pop up multiple times in a short window of time. Sitting with Chris while he was driving the gator through the property or at the table tasting the wines, his enthusiasm shone through and through. Getting Jay Somers as the winemaker and committing to a Sparkling program from day one caught my attention. The views from the vineyard are unbelievable!

​https://www.celestialhillvineyard.com​

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De la boue

Travis, the winemaker at De la boue, is one heck of a guy! Have you ever had a friend you haven’t seen for many years, and when you reunite, it is like you picked back up where you left off? This was what it was like to meet Travis for the first time. I adore all of his wines, but I have to say his Syrah is something you must experience! Travis also has a connection with the vineyard at Celestial Hill when it was called Falcon Glen.

​https://www.delaboue.com​

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Dion

It took me almost a year to finally visit Dion, and I am so glad I did! Beth and Kevin and wonderful human beings who work their patootski off in the vineyard, winery, and tasting room. Sitting out on the deck with a view that instantly melts any stress in your shoulders is beyond incredible. Their wines stand out on many levels as well! Anything from an everyday sipper to an old vines Pinot that will knock your socks and some Sparkling that is great for a special occasion or while watching TN football on a Saturday afternoon.

​https://dionvineyard.com​

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Granville

If I felt bad about taking a year to visit Dion, I feel even worse about taking a couple of years to visit Granville. Jackson, the winemaker, has Oregon wine in his blood and is a super humble, down-to-earth human. I can’t speak enough about his Chardonnay, Pinot, and Sparkling. I was blown away, and then to see the views from the tasting room, I found I had reserves that still needed to be blown away.

​https://www.granvillewines.com​

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Iterum

What a guy Joe Dobbs is. Seeing him start his new project, Iterum, inspires me for when I grow up. I will never forget sitting with Joe, tasting his wines, and feeling like I was visiting a friend to catch up on life. The wines show through and through his desire to show off quality. His 2019 Orchard House Estate Clone 115 Pinot Noir recently won a Gold Medal at the Northwest Wine Awards held by Sip Magazine.

​https://iterumwines.com​

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Lundeen

It is still difficult for me to get my head around the fact that Lundeen Wines has been in business for a very long time, yet hardly anyone knows of Micheal's magical wine-making skills. I heard about Lundeen Wines through Beth at Dion, Dan, and Jeanne from Corollary. At the time, Micheal didn’t really have a tasting room open, and Dan was fantastic in providing an introduction. Now, Lundeen Wines has a tasting room set up and ready for tastings for anyone who wants to visit. His Pinots and Chards are superb!! I am a massive fan of his Sparkling program as well.

​https://www.lundeenwines.com​

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Nysa

It is a sign when you’ve had single vineyard designates from multiple wineries but never went to the actual vineyard. My sign was the little blue one off highway 99 saying Nysa Vineyard as I passed by countless times. Random side note, I couldn’t believe how long it took me to remember Monique’s name at Salud last weekend. I could have looked at her name tag, but it was vital for me to remember.

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When I tasted with her earlier this year, she was terrific, running me through the wines. The new tasting room is gorgeous, and I am pretty sure there is not another tasting where you can taste wines that are ten-plus years old on the flight.

​https://www.nysavineyard.com​

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White Walnut

A couple of people told me, “You have to go to White Walnut! Chris’s Chards are out of this world!” I have to say, I agree entirely. His Pinots are pretty darn tasty as well. Outside of Chris’s wines, his story about getting into wine and how he methodically pursued getting White Walnut off the ground is captivating. It takes a lot of time, money, and patience to be in the world of wine. Chris is a top-tier example of how one person can make so much happen if you stick to your guns and stay focused!

​https://www.whitewalnutestate.com​

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I have links to all the wineries' websites for you to visit. All of them are fantastic, and only including ten wineries makes life difficult for me. I wanted to include way more. So when you visit, please tell them, “A.J. sent me!”

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With Gratitude,

A.J.

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