Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Hikers will tell you there are two kinds of trails: one, where the trek itself is the payoff, and the other, which leads to a grand reward. While you don’t have to lace up any boots to enjoy the North Willamette Wine Trail (April 13-14), the path’s bounty of riches means you can enjoy both the journey and the destination. This weekend-long open house of more than 20 wineries, vineyards, tasting rooms and cellars offers everything from rare bottles to one-of-a-kind demonstrations, all unique to one of the country’s most vibrant winemaking valleys.

Home to around two dozen vintners, North Willamette Valley’s wine country is approximately 20 miles from downtown Portland and boasts both stunning scenery and palate-pleasing wines. The North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend, which runs the second weekend in April each year, is the ideal time to visit the wineries, which range from small boutiques like Ardiri Winery to large estates like Shafer Vineyard Cellars. Winding along the wine trail reveals riches far beyond the vine — food pairings, live music, tours and hands-on activities also abound.

And then there’s the wine. Known for some of the world’s best pinot noir grapes, the valley’s wines — sought after the world over — are abundantly accessible along this route. From new releases to reserve labels, there are tastings aplenty along the trail, with barrel tappings by winemakers a common sight throughout the weekend.

Passes are now available, with options for weekend-long ($45) or Sunday-only tickets ($30).

Curated by NASA, this exhibit explains the science behind the out-of-this world eyepiece that orbits Earth, beaming down photos that have helped us better understand the cosmos and our place in it. Visit the Washington County Museum’s new home in the Hillsboro Civic Center to take in color photographs showcasing Hubble’s most stunning discoveries, as well as a model of the telescope itself. (more…)

Photo by Leah Sinclair, courtesy of the Sherwood Robin Hood Festival

The legend of Robin Hood has been retold countless times, but the best version of all may be the one your children recant after frolicking with the Merry Men themselves at the Sherwood Robin Hood Festival (July 20-21).

A two-day celebration of renaissance fun, this free annual event takes place in Sherwood, Ore., a 30-minute drive south of downtown Portland. Featuring a knighting ceremony, castle-building contest, parade, food, crafts, live music and a teen dance, it’s every bit as exciting as the secret outlaw hangout in ye olde England — only far safer and much closer to home. The highlight of the event, which is always the third weekend in July, would have to be the archery contest, an international competition between the Nottingham Archery Society in Nottingham, England, and local bowmen who sling arrows for the honor of the festival.

Regardless of who hits the bull’s-eye, its fair to say that the locals have been legendary in their effort to keep Robin Hood’s spirit alive and well in the forests of Oregon. First held in 1954, the event has been a family favorite for generations, leaving each one with a story to tell.

The vineyard at Elk Cove in Gaston, Ore.

Okay, so maybe you won’t go wine tasting every day, but in Oregon, you could go wine tasting on any day. The winter is one of the best times to do it, because the tasting rooms are quieter, and you’re likely to find the winemaker around during their slow season to chat about their wines.

Some wineries do shorten their hours during this time, but luckily there is a group of wineries, Pinot 365, that are open every day. And these are some of the Willamette Valley’s best. Among them are Bergstrom, Elk Cove, Ponzi, Willakenzie Estate, Archery Summit, Sokol Blosser and more. Go to www.pinot365.com to see the whole list. Cheers!

I love nothing more than an open road on a clear sunny day with a few hours to spare. Call it the thrill of the “road trip,” but I also adore the fact that we can squeeze out an asphalt adventure around Portland at the drop of the hat — and in less than an hour there and back!

Want to know where that wide open bit of paradise is? Less than 15 miles west of downtown, you can cruise by old farmsteads, fields of golden wheat and roads shaded with towering firs all by cruising through the scenery in Washington County. You can do all this AND make time for a beer and burger at one of my favorite west-side haunts, Helvetia Tavern.

See you on the road!

Winemaker Alfredo Apolloni pouring barrel samples at last year's Wine Trail Weekend.

As wine lovers know, Portland is very lucky to have the Willamette Valley in its backyard. This weekend (April 9-10), the North Willamette Vintners (a group of over 20 wineries, many in Washington County, just to the west of the city), will open their doors to visitors for behind-the-scenes tours, special release tastings, barrel sampling and a bounty of delicious food pairings. This Wine Trail Weekend happens only once a year, and is only $45 for both days. Designated drivers are only $10. Meet the winemakers in their element as you learn a bit more about the latest local wine offerings. (more…)

A made-in-the-Willamette-Valley picnic

Farming by the phases of the moon, burying manure in a cow horn, letting 450 sheep loose in the vineyard to eat back the weeds — these are just a few of the things that Montinore Estate does to grow grapes biodynamically.

The technique is complicated, but the purpose is simple: to make better wine. Owner Rudy Marchesi converted this, one of the larger wineries in Oregon, to biodynamic five years ago. His wine has improved immensely since. But whatever it takes, he’ll tell you that his bottom line is to make great wine, at an affordable price. Montinore’s versatile Riesling is only $12 a bottle, and refreshing Pinot Gris is $15. Their Pinot Noir ranges in the low $20s, and for you connoisseurs out there — this is a great price for a Willamette Valley Pinot. (more…)

Balsamic barrels in Italy by Rnout via Flikr

I thought I was a foodie, but apparently, I know nothing about balsamic vinegar. I found this out recently when I visited Cooper Mountain Vineyards.

This winery not only produces delicious biodynamic wine. (They were the first winery in Oregon to be certified organic.) They also make highly concentrated, aged balsamic vinegar in the true Italian style. This stuff isn’t made for salad dressing. It takes such careful aging — at least six years – and with most of the liquid evaporated over time, it ends up being concentrated almost into syrup. A tiny bottle costs $60. I’ve heard it’s absolutely sublime drizzled over a little Parmesano Reggiano, risotto, strawberries or even on vanilla ice cream! (more…)

TheIntertwine.org — a handy online guide to Portland’s regional network of parks, trails and natural areas — highlights a wide range of visitor-friendly outdoor experiences. Here’s an excerpt of one such experience, submitted by our friend Sylke Neal-Finnegan of  the Washington County Visitors Association. Enjoy.

Photo: Rick Schafer

Exploring the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

Located in the serene suburbs on the outskirts of Sherwood, the Refuge is aptly named for the river that flows through it, providing habitat to more than 250 species of birds, mammals and insects. Once in the Refuge, I feel far removed from human civilization, and the atmosphere is eerily peaceful. With three distinct habitats along a one-mile paved walking trail, the Refuge is a great spot for wildlife and bird watching.

Continue reading >>

Grapes ready for harvesting in Sokol Blosser's vineyard.

Wine harvest is the most exciting time to be in the Willamette Valley. That’s when the action happens, and you can just feel the energy out there. It’s also one of the most beautiful times, as the grapes are still plump on the vine. I was lucky enough to visit on two occasions last week — prompted by the openings of new additions to the food and wine scene.

The Allison Inn, a luxury hotel and spa, just opened for business this month, and it is gorgeous! Eventually the vines on the property will produce wine for the hotel. It’s also going for gold LEED certification (I was happy to park in the “hybrid only” parking spot out front).

Speaking of “green” wine country — the vineyard workers are harvesting grapes as we speak at Sokol Blosser. That’s what I was told when I toured the winery on Thursday. Get out there and check out of the valley’s most sustainable wineries — the view is amazing. (more…)