Living in Oregon gives us easy access to world-class wines made just miles away. Our state grows a wide variety of grapes that eventually become wines from very dry to sweet. Here are seven late summer sippers sure to please most every palate. Take them to the park, a neighbor’s party or enjoy on your own patio while soaking in the late summer sun. Savor these wines like you do the sun, ensuring fond memories of both during the winter doldrums to come.
2012 Kramer Vineyard Rosé of Carmine
Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley, Oregon
SRP $18
A gorgeous light ruby red color with dusty aromas mixed with ripe strawberries. This wine has lots of acidity and flavors of grapefruit, passionfruit, savory strawberries and cherries dances across your tongue. It has medium body with a hint of sweetness on the mid palate, then finishes dry with notes of white pepper. Try it with grilled vegetables, shellfish, shrimp or roast chicken.
2011 Naked Winery Riesling “Tease”
Rogue Valley, Oregon
SRP $19
A transparent pale yellow with aromatics of lemon and kumquat citrus notes coupled with lemonhead candies. This wine has a light body and mouthfeel, tastes like lemon candy and has a faint hint of sweetness. The winery says “this wine promises to be a sure thing. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. Easy. We aim to Tease!”
2012 Elk Cove Pinot gris
Willamette Valley, Oregon
SRP $19
This wine has such a pale color, it practically looks like water in the glass but smells of elderflower and lemon. The mouthfeel is slightly chalky with strong citrus flavors of meyer lemons that finishes dry. A warm weather sipper, open a bottle the next time you grill chicken or white fish and be careful not to finish it off before your food is cooked.
2012 Chehalem Wines Gruner Veltliner
Ridgecrest Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon
SRP $24
With just a hint of yellow tint, this wine is all about minerals. The nose is bright lemons and slate mixed with fresh rain. The flavors are filled with strong mineral notes of slate, wet stone, tropical fruit and passionfruit and finishes dry with a trace of saline. Really nice acidity makes this wine a great one to pair with foods of all kinds.
2012 Beckham Estate Pinot noir Rosé
Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon
SRP $20
This rosé is a beautiful bubblegum pink with rich aromas of red berries; primarily strawberries. The acidity is high and tastes of strawberries & watermelons with a dry finish and no residual sugar. Many people drink rosé wines only when the weather’s warm but try stashing a bottle of this away to sip with a hearty fall meal when you need a reminder of the long days of summer.
2012 Carabella Wine Magenté Pinot noir Rosé
Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon
SRP $17
A vibrant, bright bubblegum pink color in the glass, it smells of freshly picked strawberries alongside a dusty road. This rosé offers a full mouthfeel with surprisingly big tannins. The finish is not bone dry and has a lingering dustiness to it. Very food-friendly, it can be paired with everything from grilled salmon to potato salad.
2011 Tualatin Estate Semi-Sparkling Muscat-Frizzanté
Made by Willamette Valley Vineyards
Willamette Valley, Oregon
SRP $19
This semi-sparkling wine is a creamy butter yellow with racy bubbles. It has floral aromas of honeysuckle and orange blossom along with a tartness that hints to granny smith apples. The flavor is filled with fruity notes of green apple, apricots and peaches with soft bubbles that finish semi-sweet. Don’t save this just for special occasions!