Bounty of Yamhill County September 6-7, 2014

In addition to writing and editing all of the creative content published on therealwinejulia.com, I’m also the Oregon Correspondent for the internationally known wine-centric website, Snooth.com.  I recently wrote an article for Snooth, The terroir of the Willamete Valley, that focused on five outstanding wines that really showcased the unique characteristics of their terroirs.  These five wines are from various sub AVAs (American Viticulture Areas) of the Willamette Valley; including, Eola-Amity, McMinnville, Yamhill-Carlton, Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains and Ribbon Ridge.

I snapped this shot at Kramer Vineyards in Gaston, Oregon, during Oenocamp 2013.

Each of the AVAs are within just one county, set in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country: Yamhill County.  Some of the world-renowned wineries that are in Yamhill County include, Adelsheim, Argyle, Bergström, Domaine Drouhin, Durant Vineyards, Lange Estate, Sokol-Blosser and Stoller Family Estate –  to name just a few.  

The view from just outside the Durant Vineyards tasting room at Red Ridge Farms in Dayton, Oregon.

Many of the talented wine growers and winemakers of Yamhill County will be gathering with accomplished local chefs and farmers to celebrate the Bounty of Yamhill County (also a fundraiser for the Yamhill Enrichment Society) this Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7.  Beginning at Stoller Family Estate in Dayton, people attending the event will be able to choose one of three farm tours: cheese-making at Briar Rose Creamery, walking farm tour and mead tasting at Kookoolan Farms, or Biodynamic Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Bergström Wines.  After the farm tours, everyone will be meeting back at Stoller for a gourmet picnic lunch catered by Bon Appétit.

Fresh fruits and vegetables abound from the Willamette Valley

On Sunday evening, the BIG NIGHT: A Harvest Dinner with Farmers, Vintners and Chefs, will be taking place beginning at 5:30 pm at one of the pioneering wineries of Oregon: Sokol-Blosser.  A description of the event certainly gets my enthusiasm for wine and food on a roll:

“This extraordinary outdoor harvest dinner brings together Yamhill County’s most talented chefs, diversified family farms, and famous wineries.  Come experience farm to table excellence with Yamhill County’s nationally renowned artisan producers of food and wine.  No other county in Oregon boasts a greater concentration of agricultural bounty and culinary craftsmen.  20 chefs, 20 farms, and 20 vineyards will represent!” 

Stoller Family Estate vineyard view from tasting room

In between the lunch at Stoller and the dinner at Sokol-Blosser the following day, I’ll be staying at the Inn at Red Hills for two nights and visiting wineries in the area that I haven’t yet visited.

In my Snooth article about the Valley’s terroir, I wrote: “The terrain of Oregon’s Willamette Valley is made up of bountiful complex micro-climates that play a major role in the dynamism and charisma of the region’s variegated Pinot Noirs.”  This also holds true for the kaleidoscopic of copious fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in the Willamette Valley – it’s going to be quite a celebration and I am truly looking forward to attending and sharing my experiences upon my return.

Outdoor harvest dinner at Sokol Blosser | photo: Bounty of Yamhill County Facebook page

You, too, can attend this event! Visit bountyofyamhillcounty.com

Follow the hashtag  #BOYC2014 on Twitter and Instagram to virtually ride along with me as I experience the Bounty of Yamhill County.