For me, one of the best things about spring is the fresh produce at the market, baby vegetables, sweet peas, fresh lettuces, asparagus and don’t forget halibut is now in season and wild salmon is coming soon. I visited King Estate Winery southwest of Eugene, Oregon recently and I think their wines are the perfect match for a spring meal. And if your traveling in Oregon this Spring or Summer, make King Estate one of your stops.

The Visitor Center is open seven days a week from 11:00 am to 8:00pm. It houses the tasting room and restaurant.  Wine Tastings and Winery Tours are complimentary and lunch and dinner is served in the restaurant which features a menu of local organic produce. Much of the product comes from the Estate gardens. The Marketplace is open every weekend during the produce season. Organic vegetable plants and flower plants are available as are local cheeses, freshly baked breads, sandwiches and fresh salads.

But let’s not forget the wine here are some of my favorites:

King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2005
Pale straw color with the aroma of tropical fruit, pear, melon and honeysuckle. Silky and elegant with balanced flavors of lemon, tropical, spice and a touch of mineral ending with a long clean finish. Sustainably grown and 100% Organic from estate vineyards.

King Estate Signature Collection Oregon Pinot Noir 2005
Bright garnet with a ruby tint. Blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, currant, dried floral and dark chocolate on the nose. Round, rich, and silky. Dark cherry, blackberry, spice and cocoa bean flavors with balanced acidity, bright velvety tannins and a long silky finish.

King Estate Domaine Vin Glace – Pinot Gris 2005
Exceptional dessert wine. Golden straw color. Aromas of honey, peach, apricot, nectarine and pear. Honey like with flavors of ripe peach, apricot nectar, golden pineapple, orange, passionfruit and honeysuckle finishing with a little nutmeg spice. Vin Glacé, also known as Ice Wine, is a style of wine made from ripe frozen grapes.  Pressing the frozen grapes produces a sweet juice, while leaving the frozen water crystals and grape skins behind.  The resulting juice is very concentrated in aromas and flavors and demonstrates intense varietal character.

Interesting to note, Pinot Gris is a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape. Pinot Gris grapes are between greyish blue and brownish pink born on vines that otherwise appear identical to Pinot Noir and at one time, Pinot Gris habitually grew in among the Pinot Noir of many Burgundian vineyards adding softness and sometimes acidity to the Pinot Noir. Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are considered to be Oregon’s most successful grapes.

Susan Anderson

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