The Oregon Trail
The Cristom Vineyard in Willamette Valley is beautiful in the fall. October is the key month in Oregon— four or five days of warmth in October can mean the difference between a good Pinot and a great one!-PN
Photo by John D’ Anna, Cristom Vineyards
One of the areas that has developed a reputation for producing world-class Pinot Noirs is Oregon’ s Willamette Valley. In the early 1960s, winemakers were defecting from California because they strongly believed in Oregon’ s potential to become a world-class wine region( against the advice of many experts). These rogue winemakers left California in search of cooler, more marginal vineyard sites. By 1979, Oregonian Pinot Noir was making headlines. In a grand tasting in
Paris, Pinots from around the world were tasted alongside their more famous French counterparts. After placing in the top ten of the competition a rematch was held, wherein the Oregon Pinot Noir came in second, less than a point shy of the winning Chambole-Musigny from Burgundy.
Since that historic tasting, the Oregon Pinot Noir industry has continued to develop and garner international acclaim. To describe a“ typical” Oregon Pinot Noir would be difficult, as a range
MEDITERREANEAN – GOURMET ODYSSEY
Come onboard L’ AUSTRAL and experience an unforgettable journey to delight your discerning palate.
Malaga( Spain)- Marseilles( France) From 13 to 20 April 2013 8 days / 7 nights From $ 3479( all inclusive)*
• New experts: Emmanuel Renaut, Christopher Hache, Olivier Dauga and Nader Chabaane..
• Two excursions to the Spanish countryside: lunch at the El Cellar de Can Roca restaurant, which currently has 3 Michelin stars and is ranked second in the list of " The World ' s 50 Best Restaurant 2012 ", and a visit to a famous vineyard.
• An introduction to the art of preparing cocktails, presented by a mixologist and leading bartender: make great cocktails at home, learn the perfect combinations, and taste exquisite recipes created during the trip.