However “LAB” stands for “Local Artisan Brands”, so you’ll also find a curated list of wine, beer, and cider from small-batch producers around Oregon. The largest label is the house brand, William Rose Wines, created by owner Mark Nicholls. What I love most about this place is the fact that you can try wine from a bunch of different winemakers. And the Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery food truck. It has a casual vibe with a ton of local art, live music, outdoor picnic tables. Oregon Wine LAB is another excellent Downtown Eugene tasting room. Website | 488 Lincoln St, Eugene, OR ( get directions) | hours: 12 pm – 9 pm Mon – Sat, 12 pm – 5 pm Sun | tasting fee: varies depending on flight | best for: wines from multiple labels under one roof But with less of that puckering boozy taste you often get with spirits.Īll in all, if you’re rolling with a party that has a varied wine palate and want to enjoy crowd-pleasing wines that won’t break the bank, Iris Vineyards is the best winery in Eugene for you. I was super impressed with how much it tasted like the classic. But instead they mimic the base spirit of popular cocktails using just their wines.įor example, the last time I went I got a Negroni created by infusing their chardonnay with botanicals so that it tastes like gin. You’d think these drinks include actual spirits. Another reason Iris should be on your list of Eugene wineries to visit is that they make wine cocktails. Why does this matter? It provides less fizz to please even the self-acclaimed sparking wine hater (for example, me). You’ll also find brut, which they make by fermenting in the bottle to produce smaller bubbles. This means you’ll find warmer-climate varietals like tempranillo and syrah in addition to their sustainably estate-grown pinots and chardonnay. They’re able to do this by supplementing their grapes with those from South Oregon’s Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley wine regions ( that’s another reason to visit Eugene, Oregon wineries: it’s only ~1 hour away from other wine areas!). Besides the ambiance, what I love about Iris is that they make ~10,000 cases a year of elegant, yet affordable wines using varietals you don’t often see at other Willamette Valley wineries. Iris’ new wine bar has a cute back patio perfect for sipping. They’ve since closed that location to the public and opened a casual wine bar in downtown Springfield, the town next to Eugene that inspired The Simpsons. I first visited their winery when it was nestled on a hill overlooking vineyards. Iris Vineyards is my favorite of the Eugene, OR wineries right now. Website | 322 Main St, Springfield, OR ( get directions) | hours: 11:30 am – 8 pm Thurs – Sun | tasting fee: ~$12 pp, waived with $60 purchase | best for: affordable, consistently excellent wines + wine cocktails That means you can typically fit in more wine tastings and don’t need to fight over who will be the designated driver. One of the benefits of visiting downtown Eugene wineries is that they are in walking distance of hotels and restaurants. Pin this for later because I’ll add more tasting rooms to my list as I discover them! Downtown tasting rooms Here are my favorite Eugene, Oregon, organized by downtown tasting rooms vs. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Emerald palate possible! Eugene, OR Wineries As always, only wineries I truly enjoyed are included and some I found on my own. They paid me to visit Eugene and provided complimentary tastings at some wineries on this list. The Gordon Hotel and Eugene Cascades and Coast sponsored this article. Once there, make sure not to miss these hidden gems of the Southern Willamette Valley. If you’re ready to try a more casual and affordable wine tasting experience than what’s available outside of Portland, head to the wineries in Eugene. For example, some are urban tasting rooms right in Downtown Eugene while others are expansive vineyards dotting the hills around the city. You’ll find more than 25 wineries in and around Eugene, each with their own personality. This is a shame, since the valley stretches for ~150 miles all the way to Eugene. But many of them stay in the northern part just outside of Portland. Nearly 7 million people visit Oregon’s Willamette Valley annually. Eugene, OR wineries are the perfect place to taste if you like experiences off the tourist path.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |