Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland - Tie City Campground

Check out the latest beers that are coming to the Texas market: Abita, Avery, Ballast Point, Bindlestick, Braindead, Karbach, NXNW, Odell, Rogue & more.

Check out the latest beers that are coming to the TX market: Alesmith, Big Bend, Bruery, Circle, NXNW, Oasis, Perdernales, Southern Star, Whitestone & more.

Check out the latest beers that are coming to the Texas market: Alesmith, Anchor, B-52, Calavera, Cascade, Firestone Walker, Funkwerks, Goliad, NXNW & more

Check out the latest beers that are coming to the Texas market: Adelbert's, Alesmith, Avery, Blue Owl, Bruery, Lakewood, NXNW, Oasis, Real Ale & more.

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I was honoured to have Sheryl MacKay visit my studio this week. The results of our discussion will be aired on CBC radio 690AM at 7:30 am, Sunday July 29th, 2007. If you missed the interview you can listen to it here: www.cbc.ca/nxnw/art.html

Our first winery stop after lunch was King Estate, known for its world-class Oregon Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, a diversity of other varietals, and single-vineyard wines. King Estate has 1,033 acres, with 470 acres under vine: 165 acres of Pinot Noir, nearly 300 acres of Pinot Gris, and other grapes. In addition to their estate vineyard, they source from the finest vineyards in the Pacific Northwest - Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley in Oregon; and Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley in Washington. Their approximately 50 vineyard partners grow grapes with distinct characteristics. This diverse geographical selection was carefully chosen to complement their estate wines. I welcomed the opportunity to return to King Estate Winery during the Wine Media Conference's (#WMC21) post-conference excursion to the South Willamette Valley. Welcome to King Estate Winery © Spaswinefood Welcome to King Estate Winery During out visit Justin King, a third-generation family member, and his wine making team introduced us to some very fine King Estate wines. The winery founded in 1991 has grown, and now is one of Oregon’s largest and most successful wineries. It was a growing interest in wine and a simple search for hay that led his father Ed to discover a spectacular piece of land on the outskirts of Eugene. The 600-acre ranch property was a ranch however, Ed envisioned a beautiful vineyard. Ed King and his father, Ed King, Jr. (1921 – 2012), purchased the land and established King Estate Winery.  Welcome to King Estate Wine Tasting © Spaswinefood Talking Wine, Kings Estate Winery © Spaswinefood As we took in the spectacular views, we enjoyed sumptuous small plates of cheese, charcuterie and other bites, prepared by their farm-to-table kitchen.   Wines Ready, Kings Estate Winery © Spaswinefood Charcuterie and More, Kings Estate Winery © Spaswinefood King Estate Wines We were introduced to the most tempting wines that August afternoon. Amongst the wines was their award winning 2016 King Estate Brut Cuvée. King Estate Brut Cuvée 2016 © Spaswinefood King Estate Brut Cuvée 2016 © Spaswinefood After the welcoming glass of King Estate Brut Cuvée we tasted a 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, and a 2019 Chardonnay.   King Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2019 King Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2019 © Spaswinefood King Estate Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 King Estate Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 © Spaswinefood Amongst the wines was Pinot Gris, one of the wines, for which King Estate is best known. Indeed, there were Pinot Gris wines to taste, like a King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2019. King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2019 King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2019 © Spaswinefood A Closer Look: King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2019 © Spaswinefood King Estate Pinot Noir  For sure there were also wonderful Pinot Noir wines. I tasted the following King Estate Pinot Noir wines: 1. King Estate Inscription Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 King Estate Inscription Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 © Spaswinefood 2. King Estate Domaine Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 King Estate Domaine Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 © Spaswinefood 3. King Estate Pinot Noir 7 Rows, Willamette Valley 2016 King Estate Pinot Noir 7 Rows, Willamette Valley 2016 © Spaswinefood These are awesome Pinot Noir wines. It was especially exciting to be introduced Justin's special project King Estate Pinot Noir 7 Rows, Willamette Valley 2016.  King Estate Winery produces four wine series (King Estate, NxNW, Single Vineyard, and Innovation). The Domaine, Signature and Acrobat series include Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, with NxNW series including wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Riesling. Biodynamic farming is practiced at King Estate, with its estate grapes being sustainably farmed.  King Estate wines get great reviews. King Estate Winery joined seven other Oregon wineries to earn a spot on Wine & Spirits magazine’s prestigious annual Top 100 Wineries list. This is the 14th time in King Estate’s 30-year history that it has made the list. Wineries on the list are selected based on “their performance in the magazine’s two-step blind-tasting process and celebrated for their exceptional wines,” according to the magazine’s website. Among the wines that helped King Estate win this distinction were the 2019 King Estate Backbone Pinot Gris, earning 92 points; 2019 King Estate Paradox Pinot Gris, 91 points; and 2016 King Estate Brut Cuvée, 91 points. Six other wines garnered 90 points each.   “As I reflect on being named among the world’s best once again, I find myself filled with gratitude,” says King Estate CEO Ed King. “I am humbled by what we have accomplished, honored to work among the industry’s best, and energized to keep going and keep getting better. Despite everything the world threw at us this year, we stayed the course, stayed true to our purpose to make great Oregon wine and share it with the world. And the world noticed.” Justin King Welcomes Us to King Estate © Spaswinefood After the welcoming reception we toured the barrel room. It was just perfect to escape to the barrel room on a hot summer's day. Yes, we visited during the Oregon heat wave. More on King Estate Winery Situated in a beautiful setting in the South Willamette Valley the view from King Estate Winery is absolutely stunning.  King Estate Winery Vineyard © Spaswinefood Besides great wines the King Estate Winery has an excellent restaurant, opened in 2006, that offers both inside and outside dining options. I first visited here during a Wine Bloggers Conference 2012 (#WBC12) on a pre-conference tour. Where possible the restaurant uses ingredients organically farmed on the estate and supplemented by products produced by local farmers and ranchers.  Dining at King Estate Winery, 2012 © Spaswinefood If you plan to visit Oregon's South Willamette Valley Wine Country the King Estate Winery is a must visit. No matter how many times you visit it will be hard to leave a setting like the King Estate. King Estate Winery on a summer afternoon spells perfection. I invite you to join me in the sharing of these adventures at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.  CHEERS!! Sharon August 2021 Eugene, Oregon © Spaswinefood A Summer Afternoon: King Estate Winery © Spaswinefood Follow me on Twitter and Facebook