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Willamette Valley Uncorked with Sara Nkemontoh
54 Plays3 months ago
Join Annie and Jimena as they dive into the beauty and craft of Willamette Valley wines with Sara Nkemontoh, a wine director located in Oregon. From the region’s signature Pinot Noir to the stories behind some of the local vineyards, the Whine Mamas explore what makes this corner of Oregon so special. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just love discovering new places, this episode will leave you ready to sip and savor. Wine of the Week: Resonance Pinot Noir
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Transcript
Introduction to Wine Mama Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to Wine Mama, a podcast where two bestie moms whine while they whine. I'm Jemina. And I'm Annie. Let's whine. Today, we are thrilled to welcome someone whose palate is as refined as the knowledge of some truly good wine.
00:00:14
Speaker
We're joined by Sarah Kamonto, wine director who seriously knows her stuff. She's here to take us on a deep dive into Willamette Valley, what makes it unique, the wines it's known for, and why it's become such a hotspot for Pinoir
Exploring Willamette Valley with Sarah Kamonto
00:00:28
Speaker
lovers. to Wine Mama, Sarah. Welcome to Wine Mama, Sarah.
00:00:31
Speaker
Hi. Wow. What an intro. I feel so cool. the cool I need you to like like record that. i It can be my like alarm when i wake up in the morning. And I'm like, I'm ready for the day.
00:00:43
Speaker
can you imagine? um you I Yeah, exactly. and she wakes up at a bed. She's like, you hear that, honey? hear that? Yeah. hear that? Exactly. Exactly. oh the confidence. I feel it. That was great.
00:00:57
Speaker
i' like Wonderful to meet you guys. Yes, we we are so happy to have you here to talk some wine. Before we really get into anything at all, though, can you tell our listeners a little bit about you?
00:01:11
Speaker
Yeah. So i am Sarah. I live here in Portland, Oregon. I'm originally from Northern California Bay Area. Uh, but my husband's from here and we, uh, how long we've married maybe about 10 years. We've been, we got married here and then we've moved across the country like seven times since then. So we've lived a lot of places, uh, San Diego, New York, Washington, North Carolina, and like very inefficiently. It was like East coast, West coast, East coast, West coast. We like could have met.
00:01:43
Speaker
Yeah. Like a little, bit like a pink We could have done like East coast tour, West coast tour, but we did not. We like lugged our stuff across the country six times. So, but now we're back in Oregon and I'm never moving again. i literally was like, if you want us to leave, I'm going to change like myself to a tree and you're going have to like cut it down to get me to leave. So we are here for good. And I'm so happy about it. But yes, so I am married. i have two girls uh one just turned five yesterday was her first day of kindergarten oh no oh you're going all the tears all the tears it's been a big week she has a loose tooth i just there's a lot of emotions there um and then i have a you one and a half year old who is like just giving me a run for my money i love her but she's we are in that phase you know so um she's like my mini like rugby player she like is just ready to take on the world um
00:02:35
Speaker
But yeah, that's a little bit about me. Oh, I guess wine. um I, well, I, we're here. um I am the wine director by wine for a little wow wine cafe coffee shop here in Portland called Yours Truly.
00:02:49
Speaker
um It's just a really sweet space. We just opened on
Sarah's Role at Yours Truly and TikTok Connection
00:02:54
Speaker
Mother's Day. So we've been only open for a few months, but just a really special little spot.
00:03:00
Speaker
I think our whole kind of ethos is we just want everyone that comes in to feel welcome and like they are part of the family. and We want wine to feel like accessible and fun and not pretentious. And, you know, like you don't have to know the right words come and like order wine with us.
00:03:16
Speaker
You could just. Thank you so much for that. Yes. There are no wrong answers. No weird questions. We're just, yeah, all about it. So that's me. I love that. And I love that you said that too, because i feel like when you go, sure, when you go to dinner and order wine, it's like, oh, just have like this here. but when you're going to a wine bar, a wine cafe, like you know that those people know their stuff. And it's sometimes intimidating to be like, hey, what's this? What's that? How do I say this?
00:03:43
Speaker
I now going through this podcast, I kind of know what I like, but I'm also, I have no fear of going into somewhere and say, hey, I like this and this, but I don't want that. Like, what else do you have offer me? And so for you to say that you guys are just like, we're an open book. We're here for people who maybe know a lot about wines and maybe don't know a lot about wine. So yeah I love that. And your the shop is so cute. i For all of our listeners, I found Sarah on TikTok.
00:04:08
Speaker
So was not on TikTok very long. And I'm not kidding. The For You page served her to me. And I was like, what kind of reading the algorithm is this? And so I just slid right into her DMs and sounded probably very salesy and was like, hey, you would be really awesome on this podcast I have.
00:04:27
Speaker
Do you want to join us? So this has really come full circle. Just Annie and all the sugar daddies in my DMs. Yes. Yes. She must have slid at a perfect time where you saw her pop up. Yeah. was she really not on their game I mean, she did stand out amongst all of them. I did not have $5,000 to send you one week whatever. you guys on TikTok, you know, you know. Okay. You know what we mean.
00:04:53
Speaker
if you know you know okay know ah we mean Amazing. um But yeah, no, it's a
Oregon Pinot Noir: Resonance and Distribution Challenges
00:05:00
Speaker
really special spot. And I think we are really like, even the we write the descriptions, we just, we write some actual facts about the wine, then we also write a description I think that everyone can relate to, like, this makes you feel like you're floating the river or like, you know, things like that. That's how I relate to wine. So I love like when other people experience it that way too.
00:05:21
Speaker
Bye. Yeah. I love that. Amazing. Good. Well, I am so excited to now wine with our wine of the week. Are you ladies ready? my gosh. So ready. What do we do?
00:05:32
Speaker
like can't wait. So Sarah was like, okay, let's drink. So this week, this week we are drinking the Resonance Pinot Noir and this was chosen by Sarah. So you can, can you tell us why you chose this specific wine?
00:05:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think, unfortunately, there's not a ton of Oregon wine that's distributed nationwide. I don't really know why that is. and But i this was a producer that I've been to their winery.
00:06:01
Speaker
um And it's wonderful. And the people are wonderful. And the fact that you could have it in Florida is so great. um But yeah, I think it just, to me, this wine represents kind of what Oregon Pinot is, that kind of really bright, fresh,
00:06:17
Speaker
and like red fruit, but like high acidity, refreshing kind of style of Pinot Noir. um Yeah. Made by real people, which I think is really important to me.
00:06:28
Speaker
I love that. yeah I honestly did not, I'll be the first one to say I did not know Oregon wine was a thing. So I'm thrilled that you're bringing this on and bringing light to this. yeah. Here I ready.
00:06:39
Speaker
Just doing the work. Yes. Sarah's like, yeah, I'm ready. I'm ready. Spreading the organ gospel. yeah Preach it. Preach it. um I am going to read a little bit of about this wine. Like we usually do our listeners know, we kind of talk about the wine.
00:06:55
Speaker
If I say something that is like off base, Sarah, just kind throw a red flag in and and and just let me know. it's going to be great. Okay. I can't wait. I'm ready. I'm doing great, sweetie. Thank you. Thank you, sweeties.
00:07:06
Speaker
um It was a crisp spring day in April 2013 when Thibaut Gagey and Jacques Lardier set out to survey a well-established Oregon vineyard named Renaissance tucked into the hills of the coast region in Oregon.
00:07:21
Speaker
Jacques had just retired from leading from after leading winemaking at Louisa Doe for 42 years, and Thibaut, whose family had operated... Louise Jadot, since 1962, was ready to enter the business with a bold new project.
00:07:35
Speaker
They immediately felt a deep connection with the place, and after tasting through dozens of wines made with the vineyard's grapes, or Yeah, made with the vineyards fruit, grapes, you guys, it's the same thing. It's literally the same thing.
00:07:48
Speaker
rights all yeah and The end. The end. That's the lesson for today. Jacques sat back and said, perfect. That was such a tongue twister, that paragraph, you guys. And no one to take me up the one thing that tripped me up was fruits and grapes.
00:08:03
Speaker
You got all those French names, though, so well. 10 out of 10. I mean, I feel like I was there. It was a great story. one thought The way you describe that on the first spring day? Yes. Jacques sat back and said, perfect. I pictured him underneath a tree watching the grapevines, okay? Right? Right?
00:08:21
Speaker
Oh, my gosh. I'm sweating over that. But I think that is so cool that they came from... And, Jamina, we've actually had... a wine from Luisa Doe before, which is yeah so cool. We've had one on this podcast, so I think it's really so cool.
00:08:37
Speaker
Yeah, it's really neat. It's like ah the winery itself is beautiful. it makes beautiful wines. But when you go to the tasting room, um since they kind of partnered with Luisa you can taste, do kind of like side-by-side tastings of like an Oregon Pinot and French Pinot from Burgundy.
00:08:54
Speaker
um because they have all the Luisa Doe wines as well. And so it's kind of like this fun experience where you get to do like a side-by-side of Oregon and France. Wow. Yeah, it's really neat.
00:09:04
Speaker
Okay. I love that. Putting Visit Oregon to my list. yeah Oh, I will make you a whole itinerary. Yes, I'm ready. Oh my gosh. I love that. I know. That's really cool.
00:09:17
Speaker
That's really cool. Yeah. that is Okay. That is... i That's such a something very interesting I don't think I've ever seen another vineyard do like to have that comparison.
Sustainable Practices and Wine Culture
00:09:29
Speaker
like Yeah. I think, you know, there's pros and cons to those kinds of like big acquisitions, but I think that's one that was done really well where I feel like you still really get that unique Oregon experience, but then there's kind of this added bonus of also getting to the taste those like bri like Burgundian style and Burgundian wines too.
00:09:49
Speaker
Oh my gosh. I love that. Okay. So a little bit more to continue on the story of Jacques underneath his tree saying perfect on the crisp spring day. all
00:10:01
Speaker
Bye. I know. I know. it's there But wait, there's more. Okay. There's more. By encouraging biodiversity on the vineyard floor using organic farming practices and controlling crop fields for optimal ripening, they believe devoting themselves to their vineyards high through sustainable, hands-on viticulture is the first step in great winemaking.
00:10:27
Speaker
It is the red Resonance team committed to the Willamette Valley. Is it Willamette? Willamette. Willamette. Willamette. Okay. Wow. You guys, this is the first thing we learned.
00:10:41
Speaker
Here we are. Look at us. Anyways, Will Valley. um yeah Perfect. Willie. Willie. Willie. ah Good old Willa.
00:10:54
Speaker
They combined with the sensibility and natural inquisitiveness developed over 170 years of winemaking in Burgundy that defines these wines. um Annie, I know i will be the first one to say that yes, I did say inquisitive.
00:11:09
Speaker
Oh, and now i can't say it. I was going to say said it correctly. And now look, I'm panicked. Inquisitiveness. I heard you and I am so proud. Also, I feel like I may have said renaissance at one point.
00:11:21
Speaker
Oh, I do it all the time. I do it all the time with this winery. I don't know what it is. So I guess like, you know, just switch those up to the room. not for the dyslexic. Yes, exactly. Yes. I always do it on my Google Maps. I'm like, why isn't it pulling it up? And then I'm like, oh, I'm literally, this is not the right word.
00:11:36
Speaker
Yeah. it brings It brings you actually to the nearest Renaissance Festival. Yeah, exactly. It's like, oh, this is mistake. Why does it have enough swords? Yeah. We're all confused. Why is that music? Is that a harp?
00:11:49
Speaker
I can't. Are those horses? Yeah. Oh my
00:11:57
Speaker
This is not the vineyard with the grapes. the first it place that a fruit who Oh my gosh, you guys. You guys grew up going to those because I really did. I'm going to be honest. I've never been to one. Okay, great. I mean, same. and i was just I was just joking. was just dipping the toes in the water to see what kind of vibe it was and it was not that bad.
00:12:18
Speaker
You probably didn't go to like the Highlands, like Scottish festivals either. Yeah. Me either. Can't, can't relate. We did not, but I would actually love that. not going to lie. would love that.
00:12:30
Speaker
I mean, you know, we love a festival. It's like, who needs Coachella when you have, yeah. Oh my God. That's so funny. Oh my God.
00:12:41
Speaker
no no yeah We have those in Orlando. Yeah. and I've never been, but to be to be honest. i never I just see it when I drive home.
00:12:52
Speaker
Oh my gosh. So not a fan of any festivals. Right. yeah This Pinot Noir is a beautiful, bright ruby color for this expressive wine with aromas of blueberry, raspberry, orange peel, rose, lavender, black pepper, and more.
00:13:08
Speaker
oh no. And moral mushroom. I thought it said, and more and moral mushrooms, Sarah. Okay. mushy Pinot. Yeah. Oh God. You're losing me. You're losing me quickly. No, no, it's so good.
00:13:22
Speaker
I mean, that's like a very specific mushroom. I don't, quite know that the depths of that tasting profile but yeah i thought it said more with an explanation that i was like oh wait that's moral mushroom i love the people that write these things i mean don't get me wrong like i love a tasting note but sometimes they're just so specific and i'm like how many glasses of wine did you have before you wrote this description and just we've we've had some literally say like dirt and meaning you're like well this is gonna be a a dump like dirt but description good but sometimes that is good it's like good dirt oh it was great i'm i'm personally the wine we had was amazing but like like you said were they already drunk when they're like they're like same like yeah let's add a little bit of dirt to that description i'm i'm feeling you got dirt on your hands and you're picking the fruit it's like that dirt you know it's good saying okay you that's a better picture than i'm like i'm i just i'm thinking like salt and what is it salt the salt day guy it was like right just so thank you
00:14:17
Speaker
That's a little dab. Exactly. im fertilizer Yeah. Yeah. I'm thinking, I'm not thinking that I'm thinking like, okay, let's just maybe, maybe they were having a dirt cup, you know, there's some gummy worms involved.
00:14:30
Speaker
That's where the sweetness is coming. You know, but sometimes I will say a Pinot noir like an earthy Pinot Noir. She loves a little, a little mushroom, a little foresty floor situation. And it's, but it's like in a cozy way.
00:14:45
Speaker
And like loves loves a mushroom pizza, you know? I do, I will say I do like mushrooms. Trust. I do like mushrooms. i was just a little alarmed with it being in the description, but it says the palate is generous, fresh, and fruity, and the tannins are well balanced by a pleasant acidity, a wine that is very alive. So there we have it.
00:15:08
Speaker
It is pretty affordable, you guys, it's between $35 and $40. So to be able to get this wine all the way out here and good old Florida, um I'm excited for this.
00:15:20
Speaker
Yeah, me too. I'm very excited. And we kind of like mentioned to Sarah that me and Annie very big Pinot Noir girlies. But as the more that we have gone through seasons, we've kind
Willamette Valley vs. Napa and Sonoma: A Comparative Discussion
00:15:33
Speaker
of like transitioned to cabs.
00:15:34
Speaker
But maybe this is this the Pinot that brings us back? Are we Pinot girlies again? hope so. I hope so. I mean, we never truly left, but didn't leave. We feel like she's in there. she just has to be awakened.
00:15:48
Speaker
know I feel like all is very, you know, she's like, here I am. I'm ready for your Thanksgiving table. Like, yeah yes, yes, yes. Will it be the moral mushrooms? Do we get a taste? When do we get it to do it?
00:16:01
Speaker
center like Let's taste, let's Are we ready to give it a try? are. And just to confirm, and so our listeners also know, you have also never tried this one specifically.
00:16:14
Speaker
Yeah, I've had other wines from this producer, but not this one. So we're all going to have a first reaction here, guys. Yes. Fresh. It's giving lavender, it's giving black pepper, it's giving moral. Let's try it. Are you guys ready? I'm ready.
00:16:28
Speaker
Cheers. Cheers. Cheers.
00:16:34
Speaker
Oh, I like that. Wait, I'm so scared of my microphone like picking up my like swishing. That's everyone like Everyone loves a good ASMR. All of a sudden, I got really self-conscious of my like wine sipping.
00:16:47
Speaker
We love an ASMR moment on here. It's okay. Just do it. They really love it. Just do it.
00:16:56
Speaker
It's good. Dare i say she's very smooth. is. She's very smooth. Wow, great choice.
00:17:06
Speaker
Yeah. How are you feeling? that I love the acid in this wine. Like I think Pinot Noir just on its own is a very acidic grape. It's like on the high acid side of on the grape spectrum.
00:17:21
Speaker
And I think sometimes certain styles of Pinot Noir, you end up with a wine that doesn't have that like bright acidity. ah And so I think this is like a really pretty like picture of what Pinot is.
00:17:36
Speaker
Like very difficult in a good way, you know? I feel like this would be a good gateway Pinot Noir for some people. the Because some Pinot Noirs can be like a little too earthy, if you will. Yeah.
00:17:52
Speaker
I think like this one, dirt, you know? Not to go back to dirt. Too much dirt. Too much dirt, right? More than a sprinkle. um So I think, I mean, that's the vibe I'm getting. Just from first impressions, you know, as we continue on our conversations, I feel like we'll probably pick up more and maybe finish the bottle. Who knows? That has happened.
00:18:10
Speaker
I love that. On land. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, no, I love this. I feel like it would it wants pizza. It wants like a cheese plate on your couch yeah while you're watching all your shows.
00:18:24
Speaker
it's it's It's yelling charcuterie. Yeah, but like really. And honestly, Thanksgiving. Like how good that would this be with like some turkey and some stuffing, some cranberry sauce? Oh my gosh. Find me, find me on the couch after that in my, what is it called?
00:18:38
Speaker
What's it, what's it called? the It's, it's in Turkey. Okay. I almost said something else and I don't know what that word means. like I was going say. but sweat here i love it awesome Also sweatpants.
00:18:51
Speaker
Words are hard. We talked about this pre-recording. Words are hard. as As we've talked about. um Okay. So remind me Will, Will, it Will, Willamette. Willamette. Can I say,
00:19:03
Speaker
and i say It's like, damn damn it. Damn it. Oh yeah. We can sell this podcast. You're welcome. yeah the landmblament You'll never say it wrong again. Okay, that's exactly great. That's what I'm... Yes, Willamette. We'll never mess it up. Yep, Willamette. We'll never mess it up.
00:19:19
Speaker
so But also don't feel bad because like everyone does. If you're not from here, like no one says it right. I've been in like high level like wine seminars and they say it wrong and I'm just like, oh God. Okay, so we'll we'll re-record your intro so that you can wake up to that. I'll send it to you as an alarm clock and you can re-record that and I'll re-record it, send it to you and it'll be Willamette
Climate Change and Future of Willamette Valley Wines
00:19:41
Speaker
Valley. Willamette There we go. You can put some background music. It's kind of like, you know, nice. Yeah,
00:19:49
Speaker
Like a little like low vibe. And then it just kind of lifts it up. Like, you know, and it's like a flow clap. Yeah, exactly. That's exactly what it was. I was thinking you could hear some like dirt in the background. Something soft, like some dirt in the background. Okay. Every time you do this, I think of the ants.
00:20:04
Speaker
I can't. Right. For our listeners that we're not part of, we did not record the initial meet and greet with, e-meet and greet with Sarah. She discovered some unwanted visitors in her recording space. Yeah, i made quite an appearance on this video call.
00:20:21
Speaker
I discovered them like three minutes before I had to be on this call and they're like eating my closet and they don't they're here with me in this space right now. So every time we do the sprinkle movement, it's in, that's what i think of. It's like, we're summoning them at this point. I'm like, don't do that. Don't do that. They'll come.
00:20:38
Speaker
It's done. It's done. We're done with that. we're I mean, winning it we're not even gonna talk about them. We're not part of this conversation. We're gonna, what'd you say? The king ant is gonna come and want to have some of this wine. So we need to just stop summoning them.
00:20:51
Speaker
i'm working not We're shoving those thoughts to the side. Let's talk a little bit more about Willamette Valley. I'm going to keep questioning myself how I say that. So what makes Willamette Valley feel different from paid places like Napa or Sonoma, right? Like I feel like it's Napa Valley, right? Like everyone talks about wine in Napa, like going on a trip to Napa.
00:21:12
Speaker
Yeah. What makes Willamette Valley kind of stand out between those places? Yeah, that's such a good question. There's so many good answers to this. I think, I mean, for anyone that's ever been to the Pacific Northwest, you know that it's just literally a magical place. It's like one of the most beautiful places in this country as someone that has lived most places in this country, I can tell you.
00:21:34
Speaker
um It really is just so beautiful. And the valley is so cool too, because it and encompasses all these urban areas. Like Portland is technically a part, it's like right on the edge of the Willamette Valley. So it's like you have this urban scene of restaurants and, you know, all the things that come with city life, but then it's pressed up against all these really just beautiful natural areas. And so the valley itself is like, I think it's like a hundred miles long and it's kind of nestled between the cascade
00:22:07
Speaker
like mountain range and then the coastal mountain range. um So like, and then there's the Pacific ocean. So it's just, if you ever come out and visit the Valley, you can stay in Portland and experience all the the beauty that is like in fun vibes that is Portland, Oregon. But then you're like a 30 minute drive and you're like in wine country and these like beautiful, just like rolling Hills and like vineyards and just It's like sometimes I drive around and I just cry because I'm like, I can't believe I live here. this is the most beautiful place in the world.
00:22:40
Speaker
ah So yeah, there's that piece, just like the natural beauty. Not that like Napa isn't that, but some I mean, i grew up in Northern California and Napa is like not the most beautiful part of California.
00:22:51
Speaker
It's very, you know, it's just a different vibe. But I think coming to the Valley here, it's just, you get like the best of all the things. um And then also I think it's just like a really,
00:23:04
Speaker
unique kind of terroir there's a ton of different like soil compositions you have like areas that have this what's called like jewelry soil it's like this red volcanic soil that like adds some really cool characteristics to wines you have marine soil from like floods back in the day you just have it's a really cool kind of um terroir one would say which basically just means like the all the things that go into like what makes the wine or the grapes what they are right the soil the land climate all the things um it's just a really unique beautiful place um and then i think too in the valley what kind of sets us apart from other regions
00:23:47
Speaker
is it's like, I think there's just like this really tight knit community of like small artisan producers. I think there's like this commitment to like quality over quantity um more so I think than other regions.
00:24:03
Speaker
Like i heard some stat that was like um only, cause it's only like 1% of wine made in the U S is made in Oregon. So overall it's like a really small percentage of like total U s wine.
00:24:15
Speaker
But Oregon wines represent like closer to 10% of wines on like top wine lists. So it's kind of, I think, a picture of like they might not make a lot of wine, but the wine that they're making is like really beautiful wine.
00:24:31
Speaker
Yeah. Quality, good wine. Exactly. Yeah. And then too, there's like a really big, I mean, probably just cause it's Oregon, but there's a really big focus on like sustainability and like environmental like practices. And so i think it's something like, like 40, 35, 40% of vineyards, um, in the Limit Valley are certified, sustained, like certified, sustainable, or organic, um,
00:24:58
Speaker
which is pretty unique too, especially like this day and age, it's hard to do. It's expensive, you know, but um there really feels like there's like a commitment to that here. So yeah, I think it's just like a really neat community ah winemakers.
Supporting Local Producers and Small Wineries
00:25:12
Speaker
and The wine coming out of the Valley right now, it's hard to get like, if you're not here, but I think that's changing.
00:25:20
Speaker
um But it definitely is a reason to come and visit because I love when my friends come to visit me here and I like take them to all the wineries and they're just like, this is incredible. incredible like this is not like the oregon wine that i can find at like the grocery store anywhere else so yeah um it's definitely a reason to come visit but yeah it's a really it's a really special place um so just like a fun fact sorry if this is boring like please i just can get really nerdy about wine so no no i'm loving it okay that's what we we we want to nerd out on wine that's why is why we are here
00:25:53
Speaker
Like, honestly, in my head, scratch Napa for a girls trip going to Oregon. Don't say it. Say it. Do it. I will, like, create you a whole itinerary of all the places you should go. There's, like, the restaurant scene here is just beautiful.
00:26:05
Speaker
There's so many great places to stay. Like, hikes you can go on. You can be at the coast. It's just, like, 10 out of 10. I can't believe I live here. But, yeah, so the Lambeth Valley AVA, so, like, wine region, um is the biggest – wine region in Oregon. There's some other like smaller AVAs in Southern Oregon and then kind of along like the Washington border along the gorge as well. But Limit Valley is like the biggest one. But then within the Limit Valley, there's like
00:26:37
Speaker
I think 10 or so like smaller sub regions that all kind of have their own unique terroir, like we talked about, but like kind of, you know, ah soil or styles of wine that are being made.
00:26:50
Speaker
um And so it's really fun to come and kind of explore all the different kind of those smaller regions and get to see kind of what makes them special. Uh, cause yes, and the wines coming out are just like literally like so beautiful. It's blown my mind. Cause we just moved back here in December and even just, we lived here before like 10 years ago. And so, so much has happened in those 10 years and it's just a really exciting time to be here in the Valley.
00:27:16
Speaker
and like be a part of what's going on in the wine world here. Oh my gosh. i i want my next trip to be to the Valley. now head sounds like it sounds like the locals call it the Valley. Is that what I'm picking up on? like You guys don't call it Willamette Valley?
00:27:31
Speaker
mean, I don't know. I do. But then probably... i don't know Well, we're going to make it that because now i I want to call it the Valley and be like, I'm going to the Valley. And they're like, what's that? i'm like Yeah.
00:27:42
Speaker
Yeah. blame it yeah yeah And I know you said, um a lot of like the wines there probably don't sell you. Like they're not really accessible. Um, but I, from someone who's been to Napa, I mean, are we, can we get subscriptions if we go? Like, are they like, can I sign up for the wine club? There's so many great wine clubs, so many like that ship to you. I just had a friend come out here and visit me and she signed up for like two wine clubs because she was just like, this wine is literally amazing. And I was like, I know I've been telling you. So yeah, join the wine clubs. And I think, yeah, and it goes, it goes to show too, right. It's like, there are just so many great small producers here.
00:28:22
Speaker
so it's just not really like logistically possible for them to distribute nationwide. and Some of them will like distribute to like New York or like maybe, you know, cause there's just smaller quantities of wine. They can't like ship it everywhere cause they don't make enough, but, um, it's worth it.
00:28:39
Speaker
I love that. I love that, but I hate that because obviously you want to be able to get it, but I also love that because it's not something that's easily accessible and something that everyone else is widely having right like i can't find it on like you know publics we have publics down here in the south i can't find it on the shelf at publics and yeah yes of course it's easy for us to go and just pick up a wine i know that she's gonna have it it's nice to have something that's different so again i love the way we're able to find this at total wine but even this being a total wine that's that's pretty big like wide spread you know totally well and even like this right so this is their
00:29:20
Speaker
just like Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. So it's like kind of their, like, this is grapes from all over the valley. But if you go to the tasting room, they probably wouldn't have this wine like on their menu, they're going have wines that are like from specific vineyards or from specific of those like smaller AVAs.
00:29:37
Speaker
So a lot of the like wineries that end up So like this one, like got getting purchased by Luigi Doe, that gives them the ability to then distribute nationwide. But then they usually pick like one skew or like one kind of like lower lower level wine that more like entry level wine that will then be the thing that's like distributed widely because they can make more of it because it's like not as specific of a wine.
00:30:04
Speaker
that Yeah, no, that definitely makes sense. Yeah, there's definitely pros and cons, right? So that like, kind of big money in the valley, I think everyone here has a lot of feelings about it, some big emotions, rightfully so, because it does change the vibes, the environment, the affordability of things. Sure, yeah.
00:30:25
Speaker
And it takes away, I think, a little bit from that kind of small producer artisan kind of feel. But at the same time, there people have to know about Oregon wine in order for that this industry to like succeed. And so you kind of need both, right? like You need to have both of those things, I think, in order for it to really work long term.
00:30:45
Speaker
um But I think there's a ah right way to do it. And then there's one, like I think what's happening in like Napa right now – its like not as great. Right. Like making a about like trying to make a balance. Like, yeah, not. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:30:59
Speaker
Which, um you know, that's I would I would think that the smaller and like more local um would want that. But we're drinking. So we're obviously we're drinking Pinot Noir tonight.
00:31:10
Speaker
How do you think? And I, you know, I feel like Pinot Noir is maybe the star. Totally. Varietal there. How did Pinot Noir become the star grape here? And how does Willamette,
00:31:21
Speaker
Pinot compared to Burgundy or California Pinot? Yeah, no, it's a great question. um Gosh, I'm not like an expert on the history of Pinot Noir in Oregon, but I do know that it was like around the 1960s was when like the first, when Pinot Noir was first planted here.
00:31:39
Speaker
um And then it's kind of grown since then. I think that there was some like, someone sent like Robert Parker some samples, you know, like the wine guy, um, the like Raider.
00:31:52
Speaker
The head honcho, if you will. Anyways, yeah. Um, and he like scored it really high and then like came out here and was like, oh my gosh, Oregon. And then i think there was some like blind tastings kind of like, are you familiar with like the judgment of Paris that kind of like put Napa on the map?
00:32:08
Speaker
Um, it was like in the 19, in the nineteen seventy s there was like this blind tasting competition in Paris with like French wines and, um like a Napa Chardonnay, like beat out all these like Burgundian Chardonnays. And that's like kind of what put Napa on the map. So there was a few of those kinds of competitions, I think um that put Oregon on the map as well, a little bit later in like the eighties or whatever.
00:32:33
Speaker
um But then I think it's just kind of continued to grow. and I think especially in the last like decade, um i think they've, this area has really earned some top,
00:32:47
Speaker
marks in, in the wine world. Um, they've earned their rank. Yeah, definitely. Um, like I was saying, you know, it's like ah small amount of wine, but as far as like top scores kind of consistently, um, Oregon does really well. So, um, yeah, Pinot i just really thrives here in this kind of cool climate. So it's, you've got these kind of like milder, cool kind of wetter winters. Um, and then,
00:33:15
Speaker
like nice, dry, warm summers. Um, and Pino does well in that. She like, she's like a finicky little lady. So she like, can't handle like super hot weather. understand She's delicate. know. I'm sorry. Did you just describe me a finicky little lady? and Exactly. She's like, I sunburn easily. I just can't get too hot.
Blending Motherhood with a Wine Career
00:33:34
Speaker
Yeah. She's only be in the sun for 15 minutes. little high maintenance. Yeah, exactly. So she loves Oregon. She really thrives here. um Yeah, she does.
00:33:44
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's a good, but then it's interesting, like with climate change and just it's getting warmer and warmer here every year like for the last 10 years, they've harvested, harvest has started earlier.
00:33:56
Speaker
um just So it's got a lot of people chit chatting about kind of the future of Pinot Noir in the Valley and um like what other varietals will thrive here as the temperatures like continue to increase. So.
00:34:10
Speaker
Yeah. For now though she's still a star. Listen, she's still president, the yeah She's like, I am not out. Don't outs me. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. She's not going anywhere yet. No. Yes. he's go She has the moment still. and Although i will say, sorry, my dog is in here and he's like dreaming. So he's like making very, Oh my God. I love it.
00:34:32
Speaker
I love it. Is he fighting bad guys? He's probably fighting but bad guys. Oh my God. Obsessed. Obsessed. But that does bring me to ask you, like you're saying, you know, She's still the queen, but what are some like lesser known varietals that are being grown there? Like maybe in preparation for perhaps the queen to be dethroned or just in general, is there other like top notch varietals that also thrive in that climate despite, you know, the weather changes, if you will? Yeah.
00:35:05
Speaker
No, I love this question because my actual favorite grape growing here in the Valley right now is Chardonnay. and Like I like Oregon Pinot, but Oregon Chardonnay to me is like the actual, like she runs the world. Like I have been like blown away by the quality of Chardonnay that I've had here and since moving back. Like Tell us a little more because we've recently found a Chardonnay don't know where it was from. I doubt it was from Oregon, we recently found a Chardonnay that we were like, oh my we have found one that we liked because Chardonnay after Chardonnay. She has a bad, naughty, bad, ew.
00:35:45
Speaker
bad naty bad you Yes. So no, I get it. by this Yeah, no, I let's chitchat. Okay. I'm going to help redeem her because yeah, she has such a bad rap. Like everyone that comes into the interiors truly is always like, I don't like Chardonnay. And I'm like, okay, like, let me talk to you about it.
00:36:04
Speaker
Cause Chardonnay is like, she can be like all things to all people. She can be whatever you want her to be. Like she can like different than Pinot Noir and that she can like thrive in like any climate, but she like,
00:36:16
Speaker
will express herself differently based on where she is. Right. So if she's in like a really hot place, like Napa, you're going to get these like really like tropical, full kind of fruity um pineapple, all those things um versus like a really cool climate, somewhere like, like Chablis and Burgundy, or like if you've ever, you know, um that's going to be like a really like lemon green apple, like really tart, bright, like,
00:36:46
Speaker
kind of version. And then you can like put Oak on her. You can put not have Oak on her and she can just like, there's like 12 versions of her. So whenever people say they don't like her, I'm like, there's a version for anyone, but I will say Oregon version is like, like reign supreme to me. Like it is.
00:37:03
Speaker
was saying kind of like the Napa version of Chardonnay is like very full body. It's like, um, if you've ever, you know, your mom's like buttery, oaky like the rombowers of the world right like really just like rich not my cup tea but some people you know no that's probably that's probably where martha's chardonnay martha's martha's martha's not to hate on martha not i mean not you harm five seasons five seasons later still talking about this chardonnay because that is how much it offended me it was so bad um okay quick so quick subplot before we get back to organ chard So I used to have this job. I worked in wine advertising.
00:37:43
Speaker
i won't name the company, but I loved it. But it just, we sold, we like created advertisements for wine being sold in grocery stores. And because i was on staff and i was like the wine expert person, sometimes I would have to do these like on camera, like video things about a wine, like kind of talking about it. But because it was advertising, I had to like talk it up. Right. So I kind of sold my soul a little bit.
00:38:08
Speaker
A lot of it. Cause one time I had to do Martha's shard and I was like, oh this might be, I have to quit. I, yeah, it was like, my resignation yeah yes, literally did. I i did quite after like right after that, because I was just like, this goes against everything I believe in my heart and soul about wine.
00:38:26
Speaker
Cause yeah, it's, I mean, Martha, God bless you. I love you as a human being, not your, not your shard name. snoop i also feel the same about yours i just i just don't think i i just you know maybe martha was still in a very bad headspace if y'all know what i'm saying when that was built um she was maybe in a troubled time yep and you know what always say drink what you like so if you like it that is so great and you should enjoy it but there are so many other things we could drink instead
00:38:59
Speaker
Yeah. Judgment for judgmentf free zone. So tell us a little bit more about the, I know we're highlighting Pianora, but tell us a little bit more about this Willamette Valley Chardonnay. Yeah. So this is one that's going to be harder, I think, to find like widely distributed right now. I do think that will change because it's really gaining a lot of like attention and traction right now, Chardonnay program here in Oregon. and But I think it's kind of like, it's much more of like a Burgundian style. So if you ever had white Burgundy, which is some of like the most expensive Chardonnay and just gent wine in general in the world, um it's in that a very similar style to that. So I've had Oregon Chardonnay
00:39:42
Speaker
that if I was like in my nerdy wine lens and like blind tasting, I would call as white burgundy because it's just so, it's kind of like you have that kind of steely, really bright, like acidic kind of like tart version of chard, like Chablis. And then you have Napa and I think Oregon kind of fits like in the middle somewhere. She's like this, you have this like a little bit of just a touch of Oak that gives it this like softness, almost like a, like a spice to it, like a warmth, but it's still really bright, really refreshing. Like you want to drink it on a hot day. You like, and it's, where you know, it and it like makes you feel all crispy and happy.
00:40:23
Speaker
um But just like really, I don't know, Chardonnay, like what, don't know what people are doing here, but it's like magic, magic. So yeah, you have to come, you have to drink the sh Chardonnay because i am like, I'm so excited about it. Like I, i could drink it every day.
00:40:38
Speaker
and I think it might be my new favorite wine. I don't even know if I'm allowed to say that. That's a bold, that's a bold. from my But I really like, it's pretty exciting.
00:40:49
Speaker
I love to hear that about Chardonnay letting her have, you know, she deserves her moment. Like you said, there's people, if you if you like what you like, drink it. No hate, no shame. If you like Martha's Chard, you're wrong, but no hate on it.
00:41:04
Speaker
But yeah I love that. love Yes. is making her stand. yeah. and love that chardone' making her and so I know we've talked about Pinot, Chardonnay, and there's a bunch of other different varietals and wines that are produced there. Do you have any favorite like bottles from the region? like ah If you know, you know. like People in the Willamette area maybe like know of a certain vineyard or like there's a bottle where you kind of gravitate towards. like Yep, that's a good one. It's a Chardonnay.
00:41:39
Speaker
I'm going to wild guess here. Gosh, okay. Well... i I feel like I have to cheat a little bit on your answer. I'm going to like split it into two. Is that okay? I'm going to do like- It's allowed. what We love options. We love options here. Right? Okay. So I'm going to do like wineries that I love, that I am a member at, that I would visit over and over again and like recommend to anyone that comes to the Valley. So um Granville is like one of my favorite- producers I've ever had there. And they're just like quality humans. Like they are, it's a couple. Um, they have two kids there. They like name their reserve wines after their kids. It's like, stop it on um, and they like live on their family property. His dad like grew the wine before they took it over. Anyways, it's just precious.
00:42:28
Speaker
um It's a beautiful property and the wines are just spectacular. Like their Chardonnay is my favorite Chardonnay. And then, but they also make really beautiful sparkling, like traditional, like champagne style, sparkling wine, really beautiful Pinot no Noir, just definitely worth a visit. Or if you see a bottle, they do distribute more than some, they have like a, like I was saying, kind of that like lower level that gets distributed a little bit more. So don't know it makes all the way to Florida, but if you ever see a bottle, Granville, purchase it.
00:42:58
Speaker
Um, and then, um a couple others I'll just list would be like white walnut, uh, ambar, jactor. those are some of my favorite wineries. So if you're ever out in the Valley, definitely visit them. Um, yeah.
00:43:14
Speaker
Or like if you see a bottle or you want to like look it up online and join their club, they're like 10 out of 10 humans, 10 out of 10 wines. You can't go wrong. Um, as far as like special bottles, um,
00:43:28
Speaker
there's the kind of the wine that I drink like all summer long is by Monument Wines. um He makes the wines like right outside of Portland. um But the wine was called Jenny and it was named after his mom.
00:43:43
Speaker
And it was like a, i don't know, like a blend, a like co-ferment blend of like a skin contact muscat and then like a rosé. So it's kind of like in between an orange wine and a rosé. It was like just so refreshing and summery. It was like, it's all gone now. I think it's like, we all drank through the whole vintage, but hopefully they make it again next year. And it's just amazing. And then Marigny, the winemaker, it's spelled like M-A-R-I-G-N-Y. The winemaker is Andy.
00:44:14
Speaker
He's just doing some like really cool, fun things. Like he has a carbonic style Oregon Pinot Noir. So carbonic is like a like a way of making wine that makes a really like fun, fresh, fruity style wine, oh like have it with a chill, like just a nice chilled red moment.
00:44:32
Speaker
Um, he does just some like really fun, yeah, different kind of styles of wine. um and like really, really fun. So yeah, those would be kind of my like bottles that I love.
00:44:47
Speaker
Love that. And if you see around, I know they're distributed like on the East Coast, I think like New York or so, but I don't know if why or like where your listeners are, but if you ever see one, buy one. little bit everywhere. Okay. One more and then I'm done, I promise. Sorry. I just like love working wine. Flaneur, you can buy them online, I think for sure, but their sparkling wines are like some of my favorite like domestically made sparkling wines.
00:45:14
Speaker
they do like a really, really good job. I love that there's sparklings that are made out there too. yeah From that list, is there one wine that you're like above all else you'd have to like from that list? You're number one.
00:45:25
Speaker
You're tried and true. You're asking me to pick my, like, which of my children is my favorite. Like that's so hard. Okay. We all have one, so it's okay. Like you can say it. Okay. I'm picking one bottle to drink for like the rest of my life. That's what I'm choosing. Okay. That's it.
00:45:39
Speaker
One that like someone's like, if you're going to try an Oregon wine, try this one. If it's like your last breath telling someone like, this is the one you got to go to. Okay. I think you have to go to Granville and you have to try their reserve Chardonnay.
00:45:55
Speaker
I had a feeling it was like, it's called Odella after their four-year-old daughter. And it's so cute. and circle We're a sucker for stories like that. like you Like that's why we research wines because we love knowing the stories of where their inspo, where it grows, like oh that. And like,
00:46:12
Speaker
Just everything that you named just sounds so like local. And like, I feel like I'm at a farmer's market, like getting like the freshest of freshest wine, like all the places you literally named.
00:46:24
Speaker
I think that's why... Oh, sorry. No, I would say, are we coming out to Willamette Valley and interviewing the Granville team? Because they sound so lovely. they sound so lovely. They're great.
00:46:35
Speaker
And honestly, I think like, that's why I love wine. i think wine to me is like the people... behind the bottle. Like, and I think that's why I'm so passionate about like small production wine as well, because it's like, you know, real people and their stories that have like built it and touched those bottles and like the wine you're drinking, it represents like a time and a place and like in time, you know, like, ah it's almost like, um, like those, like, what is Memory capsule.
00:47:05
Speaker
Yeah. Time capsule. Yes. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you. So good. Yes. Thank you. Thank you.
00:47:17
Speaker
Proud of that one. I don't know. And it's like, and once that vintage is gone, it's like never the same again. and that's sad, but also beautiful. It's like, it's just wine is so cool. And I think you lose some of that once you enter into the more like larger scale production. And again, it's an important part of the industry, but I think there's just something really beautiful about small production wine. That's like made by like families and, and real humans.
00:47:43
Speaker
Um, And I tend to notice as well that when you drink wine like that, it doesn't make you feel as shitty as the wine. We have, we have we have also noticed that. And that's was saying. Like, it's nice to be able to go to a store here.
00:47:58
Speaker
And I know that you mean, we want to find it and it's very accessible. But when you find something that is relatively local, there is a huge difference in, know,
00:48:09
Speaker
how that wine ultimately makes you feel. So I completely agree with that. So we're talking about like kind of smaller vineyards, family owned, family run.
00:48:22
Speaker
Are you starting to see a lot of big name companies, investors, corporations, so to speak, moving in and kind of changing how things go in the Valley?
00:48:38
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, there's, there is definitely that. um I think one can expect that too, as this like region and wine, you know, need to gain more attention naturally people that are like, Oh, I want to make money. i want be to invest in it, you know? So um we're you definitely seeing that.
00:48:58
Speaker
um There's some wineries in the Valley that yeah. Are like, you know, funded by like, what is it like a big pharma kind of money and, um, you know, always this like celebrities and things like that.
00:49:14
Speaker
Um, and I think there's a way to do that again. Well, and there's a way to do that. That's not as great money and it itself isn't necessarily mean, you know, bad, like you're selling out, but I think it can lean that way.
00:49:27
Speaker
So again, I think it's definitely happening in the Valley more and more places are kind of getting bought by, these bigger names like Santa Margarita, Louisa Doe, Jackson, all those kind of big, big guys. Um, so I think that is to be expected, but I think that there is this like, kind of like yearning and to protect what is here.
00:49:51
Speaker
Um, those, the smaller producers and make sure that's still like, they're still able to like survive, especially, you know, in this crazy economy that we're in. Um,
00:50:02
Speaker
tariffs and all the things. So yeah I think, um, it's definitely happening. Um, but I think it's just about like still supporting the small guys too.
00:50:13
Speaker
Um, and like the power of like where you spend your money and one I always encourage people like, you know, even if you don't live in a wine region to like shop at your local wine shop versus like a grocery store or like target or whatever. Cause I'm,
00:50:30
Speaker
I think even like a smaller shop has the ability to carry like real, like smaller production wines because they work on with like distributors, like on a smaller scale.
00:50:42
Speaker
um And so even from not necessarily from Oregon, but from all over the world, you can end up with like wines that are, you know, still made by like, mom and pops and like small families in all these wine regions all over um that you know they don't distribute at the level that they could be in a target but they distribute and the level they could be like in a small wine shop in a few states and so um and i think that there's like this misconception too that like all wine and like a wine shop is gonna be really expensive or that it's like a really intimidating experience and i'm sure that there are like
00:51:15
Speaker
annoying like bros that do work in those shops but there's also a lot of really great people that are just like me and like love wine and would talk to you about it all day long and so yeah um like don't be afraid to go into those shops and like ask for like even like a a vibe or like an adjective or kind of what you're looking for and there's a totally affordable wine and wine shops too like under 20 you can still find like really great stuff i would argue you can find better quality wine for that price point in a wine shop than you can like in a grocery store. So 100% I can validate that. I have done it here. We have some really great wine shops in Tampa and I have found some really great wines that you're not, again, you're not going to find on the shelf at Target, Publix, et cetera. Aldi I'm trying to name, Wendixie. I don't know. I'm trying to name grocery stores, but um yeah, I can, I, I agree with that for sure.
00:52:09
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, Martha's at Target, not to bring her back up, but you know. I know. When people are like, I can't drink wine, it gives me a headache. I'm like, what wine are you drinking? And why was it Martha? What wine are we drinking and why was it Martha?
00:52:22
Speaker
Stop. Again, I'm just going get it. What's the one that has the wax on top? Oh, God. I'm going to get myself in trouble. But it's like expensive. but ah Mark West?
00:52:33
Speaker
now No. cursive writing. um Josh? No. but Belle Gloss. or What is it called? it is like It's like the red o red waxy top and like the cursive-y writing. yep It's Pinot Noir, I think.
00:52:51
Speaker
Um, and it is like marketed to look like it's really expensive. but they sell it at grocery stores. Let's see. Let's see. I'm going get myself- Sarah's like, news flash. I'm going i' now I see. I'm never going to get a job in the industry again. It's Belle Gloss Clark.
00:53:06
Speaker
Yes. Okay. And you'll see it. She looks so cute. She's like $45 and you're like, oh, she must be nice. I want to- She's actually 50. It's even worse. 50. you're like, oh, I'm walking into the store. I don't know that much. I'm like, I want to buy a nice bottle.
00:53:21
Speaker
oh it looks like it's nice and fancy and it's 50. I'm going splurge. going to get it. don't get it. It's literally like mass produced shit wine, but it's just marketed in a way that makes it like look expensive and like kind of taking advantage of the fact that people don't know. And so go to your local wine shop.
00:53:38
Speaker
You can the quality of wine you can get for $50. Are you kidding me? I get $50. Anyways, I mean, I know. so But I mean, I agree because lots a lot of, yeah, I know a lot of times like that's how people choose their wines, right? Based off look, especially they don't know what they're looking for. so I mean, I'm guilty of it. I'll be, I'll be honest. Yeah, we've done that. We've purposely done that on this podcast too, to see.
00:54:01
Speaker
And honestly, it's ended up being probably some of, our worst wines that we've tried because we're just going off of looks versus like, like I get it. Labels are like, they're cute. I i buy wine based on labels all the time. It's like, it's a part of the experience, but I think I just get really mad when I could tell that like an industry is purposefully taking advantage of people's like lack of knowledge and like, who don't know they're going for the label and you're playing on that. So I completely yeah i completely agree.
00:54:31
Speaker
really are Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it's, it's easier to go in that, in that sense. But speaking of all like, you know, the local versus like corporations coming in, i know we've kind of talked about the differences of what the Valley can offer versus what Napa offers.
00:54:46
Speaker
Do you feel like the Valley is heading into like, this is the new American wine like the future of American wine? Like, do we think it's going to reach that popularity? Like, or is it already there and it's already happening? It's just not being massively distributed yet. And it's just more like, Hey, visit us, join our wine club. And that's how you can get our select creme de la creme Chardonnay, if you will.
00:55:10
Speaker
You know? Yeah. I mean, I don't know. I don't know if Oregon will ever reach like the levels of California or other, you know, wine regions, but I do think it does reflect what I hope is a larger movement and that like that kind of movement towards smaller production, like artisan high quality wine. You know, I think we've already kind of seen people in general drinking less now. And i i think that for me, at least I've noticed with like my friends and people I know, it's like,
00:55:42
Speaker
People are willing, they just want like better quality. You know, it's like, we're not necessarily like giving up on wine, but it's like, we don't want to drink like, like a bottle of like a shitty $10 wine. We want, if we're going to drink, we want it to be good. And we want it to be that kind of like craft style of um like experience. And so I hope that like that, that piece of what's happening here in Oregon, like spreads and continues other, like in other regions as well.
00:56:13
Speaker
um And just as like a buying pattern as well. I think that movement towards more like, even like, like less intervention in the winemaking a more like focus on the environment, focus on like, you know, how we're treating the soil, how we're treating the earth, like, um you know, organic, not using all the crazy pesticides, not adding a bunch of like shit to the wine when we're making it. Like that,
00:56:40
Speaker
I think that is happening a lot here in Oregon. Cause you know, obviously we like we're Portland. We, we are that, but like, I, I think that that also is happening in Europe. It's happening, you know, kind of, I, I'm a wine buyer, so I am, I taste a lot of wine.
00:56:55
Speaker
And i think what I'm seeing a lot, even in like, um, these like European wine regions that have been doing this for like hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years is that like, you have this family that's been making wine for like 11 generations, right? And this younger generation that's taking it over is moving it towards their, their like getting their winery biodynamic certified. They are moving towards like no sulfur added. Like there's this movement towards kind of that and more natural style of wine and that's happening kind of all over. And so it's happening here in Oregon and I think we'll continue to see it happen. I hope it spreads to other places in the U S cause I do think we're a little bit behind in that.
00:57:40
Speaker
Um, yeah. you know, caring for the earth we yeah and loving mother earth, if you will. know say, Hey, listen to say it plenty, but it's true. And you know, when we, when we pick up a line to do for this podcast and we see them talking about sustainability and the different practices they're doing, you can definitely, you're seeing it a lot more and it's wonderful wonderful to see because and like at the rate we're going, we gotta, we gotta give some love back to, back to the mother. Like we gotta do, we gotta do something here. So I do like that. We're starting to see those practices. And like we kind of said in the beginning with this wine, we are seeing some of those sustainability practices as well.
00:58:23
Speaker
So yeah, that's all we love a good sustainable wine on this podcast. Like let's, let's give back, you know, right. It's not about taking and Let's give back as well.
00:58:35
Speaker
One million percent. um Oh, my God. I feel like I want to come there so bad. Like, we've met – we've joked around with some of our friends being, like, next girl's trip is Napa. Next girl's trip is Napa.
00:58:48
Speaker
We're going to Oregon. Napa's so expensive. It's, like, so wildly overpriced now. Like, it's – I mean, I grew up around there, and we just went back a couple years ago. Also, they, like, hate babies, so don't you dare bring any children anywhere near Napa.
00:59:03
Speaker
ah They like won't let you in anywhere. I bring my kids with me tasting all the time here in the Valley. Like they all know mike gets my kids by name. Like I walk and they like hold them for me. I mean, but be responsible. Don't be like that mom that like lets your child run free. But like, it's a very different experience for sure.
00:59:19
Speaker
Wow. Well, interesting. Okay. Hmm. Yeah. No, even more reason. These women, they're, they're hiring a sitter. We're coming along. Like we got that full line. I get it.
00:59:30
Speaker
I mean, you get it, you get you know, it's a girl. Yes. it's a girl from you they yes No, absolutely. I fully support that. We need to come, though, before Big Pharma takes over. We need to come when it's still fresh and it's just there because, I mean, that's what happened in Napa. i mean I know. you know that's yeah I don't want to see that happen for you guys. like It sounds like these mom and pop shops are truly just like...
00:59:55
Speaker
what is making that area so special. And i love that for them. And like I said, like I love supporting it like a local, like you said, like a craft, like, yeah, love that. I love that my money is going to something.
01:00:09
Speaker
good versus a big like yeah a family yeah a family run family run business um okay but speaking of speaking of family since this is a motherhood podcast with a side of wine you've kind of talked a little bit about your kids to kind of wrap it all up because i could literally talk and i'm so now obsessed i'm gonna be gonna go into total wine but give me the most like smallest known organ wine. I know it's still all the way in Florida. Oh yeah, we're drinking it. This is the best one I could buy. I could talk about Willamette Valley for a long time now that I've learned all these things, but what is your favorite thing to completely segue back into like motherhood?
01:00:57
Speaker
What is your favorite thing about being ah mom? It sounds like you have some fun with your kids. If you're kind of like bringing them everywhere with you, which I love, yeah it's not just like, all right, mommy's going to Mom needs to go do her thing. You're bringing her. They're exploring. They're bringing both of them with you.
01:01:12
Speaker
They're exploring with you. Obviously, like, Oregon is super outdoorsy. So, like, what is your favorite part about being a mom? Super broad the question, I know. oh Well, okay. Well, before I fully answer it, just, like, as a wine mom, I, like,
01:01:28
Speaker
My girls, especially the five-year-old, like talk to her so much about wine. Like she gets it. Like when we moved here in December, we would be like driving and she'd be like, mom, the vines are dormant right now. And I was like, I'm so proud of you. Yeah. Like I – Never be more proud.
01:01:43
Speaker
Yeah. Like she just – I have her smell my wine. We know we talk about it. She's like studied with me for my like tests and stuff. um I love that. So she might – she'll grow up either like totally hate it or like, you know, be know i love like Lindsay Lohan. I want her to be like Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap and be like – Yes. That's the goal, really. um She'll be on us our next guest.
01:02:04
Speaker
The next guest, exactly. But she's gone with me to like the vineyards. She's like, she like plugs the mole holes in the vineyards and like runs around. She like helped prune earlier in the year and just, yeah, it's a, it's a sweet, it's really cool be able to invite your kids into the things that, you know, you love and you do. Especially when it's like related to the earth and, yeah you know, yeah all the things.
01:02:25
Speaker
um Okay. My favorite thing about being a mom
01:02:29
Speaker
That's so hard. i think it's so hard to pick one, but I think if I was going to say something, i think seeing my girls, my husband is like amazing. He's an amazing dad. And I, i grew up in kind of like a broken family situation. And so i think getting to see them interact with him and like how,
01:02:56
Speaker
if that makes sense. It's like, like heals part of me seeing their relationship and just how like confident and secure are going to be growing up knowing just like how loved they are and how known and cared for. And, you know, obviously we're going to like fuck up. Sorry. Can I say that? I'm so sorry. By no means are we doing it perfectly, but yeah,
01:03:19
Speaker
by no means are we doing it perfectly but I just, yeah, it's been really healing like for my like inner child getting to see their relationship with their dad. um Yeah. It's just, it's really beautiful.
01:03:34
Speaker
And also I think just like seeing my, like them grow into like their own little humans now having two and they're really like distinct personalities. Like they're so different. Eva, i don't know say my kid's name, but anyways, she's like, we're very similar and I like understand her on this like deep level.
01:03:52
Speaker
and Ellie is like so much more like Dan and is just like loud and like crazy and physical. And it's just like, it's just fun getting to see like what they're gonna, who they're gonna be and what they're gonna like grow up and do. and I don't know. I just, I like, I love them.
01:04:10
Speaker
Like I don't, I'm, I don't, I wasn't one of those people that grew up being like, I just can't wait to be a mom. That was not really me. I was really scared about it. Um, but like I, they're really, really special kids.
01:04:24
Speaker
So I just feel really like lucky that I get to be ah part of their lives. So. no I love that. I love that answer. i love, well, I love both parts, but the beginning or the, you know, the part about your husband was really beautiful and how it's like healing a part of you because it does, right? Like we've actually had a guest on here before who said something actually very similar.
01:04:45
Speaker
I that can that you can have that experience because i I came from a close family union unit. I know Jamina did as well.
01:04:58
Speaker
So we don't, I don't think we understand that, but to hear someone say ah they came from, you know, not as close of a home, of like kind of more of a broken family and to have a family that they're flipping the script for and they will not have that, I think is so beautiful. And it says a lot about you guys and how you're raising your daughters.
01:05:18
Speaker
um And being a mom is just the best, isn't it? You get the most incredible, amazing experiences. And i just, I'm, I'm, I could say there's so many things you could say, right? many you could say about being a mom and your favorite part, because yeah sure. There's tantrums and there's literally my daughter came upstairs this morning and she's like, mom, can we just have a cozy day? i just like want to like have pumpkin. i just want to light our pumpkin candle and wear our slippers and like snuggle on the couch. And I was like,
01:05:49
Speaker
I can't believe you're a real human. created you. Can you be my best friend? Yeah. A mini me, a mini me, a true mini me. Yes. I don't want to say that you're my favorite right now, but right now you're really winning that title. Well, Ellie's screaming. So yeah, for sure. Yeah. You're right.
01:06:04
Speaker
At the rank in this moment, you are on top. Like with the suggestion, you just, you just made it. ah yeah I'm going to assume that Ellie is the um second child. Yeah. Yeah. She's a 17 month old. That's usually just like covered in yogurt and like, its you know it's her second child baby yeah second copy like that what they time see yeah yeah bruns yeah yeah that's yeah no that's that one's ellie it is it is this we jameen and i are both second children like we we get it ah we both have second children my my second is the middle my second and my third are both looney tunes but you know neither here i think yours may have skipped a generation i think yours went straight to your third
01:06:46
Speaker
Not a generation, so to speak. just Oh, not oh yeah not yeah. Again, the same. Yeah, it have birth order whatever. yeah we I was doing so good. I was doing so good. We're towards the end and I was doing so good. Damn it. Every time.
01:06:56
Speaker
Every time. There's got to be one. ah Sarah, so we talked a little bit about yours truly. We've talked about how I – I was going to say stalked, I didn't stalk you. I just – you can't find my – on my For You page.
01:07:08
Speaker
So tell our listeners how they can find you, how that they can learn more about yours truly. Yes. yeah how How can they find you? How can we find you? And how can we support Oregon wines? Like keep Oregon stable and the same, like let's not get the big pharma involved here.
01:07:23
Speaker
I love this. Okay. So yes. um Follow if you want to, you don't have to, but yours truly it's so it's yours truly. PDX is like the Instagram account for ah the shop.
01:07:35
Speaker
i just think, um the owner star. She's just doing a really, ah really cool thing. So follow them. um And then I guess, yeah. So my Instagram is Sarah Sancerre and, and my TikTok. I feel so silly even saying that because I mean, you know, Annie, we like just joined TikTok as our, you know, 30 something year old selves. So I just kind of feel and like an elder per human on there, but it's been really fun. So anyways, Sarah Sancerre is my little name. Um,
01:08:07
Speaker
And if you guys don't know how to spell sincere for, well, first of Sarah is without an H. So S A R a and then sincere. We know what sincere is because we were introduced to it. We love a sincere wine. Sincere is S A N C E R R E. Correct.
01:08:24
Speaker
I had to close my eyes really think through that one. So I could like see it. It's delicious. And you should drink it and have it with goat cheese. Oh, goat cheese sold. And then I guess for Oregon, mean, if you want to follow like Granville or Jackter, all these like great wineries, I think would love any support. Check out their website. You can always order wine from them like directly um or like plan a trip. If you honestly send me a message, if you want to come to Oregon and I will literally create a whole itinerary for you because it's like, no, I'm going to look at flights after this conversation. Like I like, you think I'm joking?
01:09:00
Speaker
I'm obsessed with this idea. I love it. I'm obsessed with Granville. I don't even know anything about that. As you're naming them, I'm on Instagram, like follow, because I'm not TikTok now, so follow, i follow.
01:09:11
Speaker
Yes. Please. Jachter. Make sure you follow Jachter. They're also like just the best humans I've ever met. like they How you spell them J-A-C-H-T-E-R.
01:09:24
Speaker
It's Jachter Family Wines. Oh, Dr. Wine's done. Again, I love that these are all family wines. Okay, about this wine, though, this little we go ah sweet little lady that we're drinking, do we feel that we are ready to cork the wine? so Sarah, how we cork a wine, you can go literally 0.1 to 10.
01:09:48
Speaker
So decimal points are allowed. Just know that if you give any wine a 10, no wine has ever received a 10 on here. If you give a wine a 10, you have to get like a tattoo of it. So just- Sarah's getting a grand, like that's not even the question. She's getting a grand chardonnay. Like that's not- Odella. It won't be this one. You my child's name on you. Yeah, it's great. She's going to show up in like a tank top one day. They're to be like, sorry.
01:10:11
Speaker
what's this here? What's this here? It's so much creepier because it's their kid. It's like way weirder, you know? yeah Yeah.
Wine Ratings and Martha Stewart's Wine
01:10:19
Speaker
so the So the thing is, is that if you ever give a wine a 10, it's like, it has to be literally so good that you would get it tattooed on you. Like that's how much, i mean, we've had some, i mean, we've had some shit wines on here, but we've had some really fantastic wines on here. I think we've had like a handful of like low nines. Like when I say a handful, mean,
01:10:40
Speaker
Maybe two or three. um But anything five and above, we would try again. um so Six and above is really like you would purchase it again. You would you would bring it to a party, share it.
01:10:55
Speaker
So um just keep that in mind that no, like ratings really aren't bad unless you're in like the five and below. Then we start to question it. Yeah, yeah, Not to bring up again, but we won't we won't talk about what Martha was. We won't talk about our girl because she is she's got a lot of the other ventures that I will support, but I cannot support. We all have our gifts and maybe that's not it. Exactly. who's and No.
01:11:18
Speaker
She just needs to, you know, stick to home decor, maybe some baking, you know, I think that's her vibe. And like servant looks, she's like been servant looks. Oh my ah God. Are you kidding me?
01:11:32
Speaker
right Something insane. And I'm just like, she's a queen and this little like look that she gives, she yeah knows it. She knows that she is like, I bet you she learned that from prison.
01:11:46
Speaker
Like, I'm just going to take a wild guess here. But she had to serve a look there, I feel like. That's fair. Someone, you hardened up a bit, you know? Someone thought of that.
01:11:57
Speaker
Someone thought They're like, Martha, come here. You're looking a little weak. Come here. You're looking like you're baking cookies, and that's not the vibe we're going for. That's not the vibe. like Not the vibe. I cannot.
01:12:09
Speaker
I can't. I'm not wrong. i can i like If I could DM her right now and she could respond, like, did you serve this look in prison? Like, she would probably be like, yeah, that's where I got it from. did. I actually did. should DM her. See what she said. I am. i'm gonna damn um' I'll DM her later. who would ask blow item am and is ah wish She would absolutely block us after everything that we've said about her wine. We have not said anything about her. Yeah.
01:12:30
Speaker
Do you think she agrees? you think she's like, I'm there? It was probably a very troubled time for her. She can't agree, but she definitely agrees, but she can't verbally agree. She's probably like, no, like I love it. Like she knows good wine.
01:12:44
Speaker
She knows that ain't it. Yeah. She's probably drinking Granville. She's probably drinking white burgundy, which like she could be drinking Granville because same. Right. Like Martha, let's give you a better alternative that also is a craft and like supports a a cute little family. like let' you probably She probably dumps out hers, puts in the white burgundy and is like, who wants some wine? Oh my God, Martha, this wine is so great.
01:13:07
Speaker
I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm not going to tell her. We love Martha. we have never shared her or her character. It's just, that was not a venture for
Pinot Noir Review and Food Pairings
01:13:16
Speaker
her. Okay. We all have our trials and tribulations. And again, that was not for her.
01:13:22
Speaker
And her buddy. know this one, but this being a noir. i know one but this feed in more Are we ready to court? Resonance. Resonance? rent Resonance?
01:13:34
Speaker
Resonance. Resonance. Wait, do I have to score first? Do we all score? You get to go first as our guest. You get to go first because, you know, like a like as a guest, that's what we do. I have like maybe one.
01:13:49
Speaker
i can make this two stepss two sips, but I don't have much left here. Okay. I don't have much left either, but I'm going to. And honestly, it smells really good. Mm-hmm. No, and it, like, there's a lot happening. like's yeah Like, pretty, like, I can normally, like, make my decision. Okay, I think I would give it, like, a
01:14:10
Speaker
like, a 7.8, and this is why. I think it's, like, i think it that it is better than any other Oregon Chardonnay or Oregon Pinot that you could get in Florida.
01:14:23
Speaker
Like, I think that it's, like, a very good example like, Oregon Pinot Noir, but there's like so much better. So it's like, you can, I think it's like very well-made.
01:14:36
Speaker
i think if you like, yeah, I think that it's, it's, it's a good wine. I think it's, I would drink it. I am drinking it. I would drink it with dinner. i would bring it somewhere. and But I think that there's like so much more to Oregon Pinot. That's just like harder to like get nationwide. And so it's like, I don't want to like set the bar You know, you got to leave room for all the other we got to leave. Yes, we got to leave room for the visit.
01:15:04
Speaker
We have room for the visit. Exactly. We got leave room for the visit because, man, I mean, already see our trajectory. We got a lot of places. We got a lot of places to go.
01:15:15
Speaker
I feel really good about your corking because I was right on par with you. And I usually never go like and I'm always i don't know if I've ever set even number, but I was at a solid eight. Like I didn't want to do seven, nine, didn't want to do eight, one.
01:15:27
Speaker
Why didn't you want to do 7-9? That's my corking. Like, what's wrong with 7-9? Oh, my God. Look at us. Look at us. Nothing's wrong with her. i I could have sworn you were go to say 7-9 because I knew that was my corking. I'm like, she's going to take my cork. She's going to take my cork.
01:15:41
Speaker
No, I'm giving a solid 8. So you, 7-8, 7-9, and 8. Yeah. yeah You guys. This is probably, and I'll be honest, this is probably the first Pinot Noir that I've had in quite a long time.
01:15:53
Speaker
I don't know. Did it, did it win you back? Like, how do you feel? i think, I think you're, mean, again, she was in there, right? She was in there. She was just dormant, if you will, to use the terminology correctly.
01:16:05
Speaker
Um, she's coming back. She's coming back. Like this is, this is reviving some spice. Okay. I do think this wine, she wants food. I think she really wants the snacky pairing. That acid, it's really bright. She wants some cheese. She wants some pizza. I think she would come alive a little bit more with some food.
01:16:25
Speaker
I agree. Like I said earlier, I think she really would thrive with a charcuterie board. like ah like she would just like i think that is her That is if you will like that is what is going to really but think together in her
Social Media's Role in Wine Discovery
01:16:42
Speaker
Don't start. and Don't start because you're speaking to a fellow swiftly. And I know we are going to She's a fellow swiftly. So we are going to, we are going to, we're not going to spiral. We will not spiral. I'm going to go ahead and say that. That was just a to put it in perspective for everybody. Like, I really just think that would be her moment. That is her moment.
01:17:00
Speaker
Yeah. Yes. one Yes. The true, the true, the true lineup. um ah Sarah, this has been so wonderful. i feel like the, first of all, I know how to say Willamette Valley now.
01:17:14
Speaker
And. I cannot wait to visit one day. Napa has now gone down. It's not like, let's go to Napa. Let's do this girl's trip to Napa. It is now Willamette Valley. And I thank you so much for shedding light on this beautiful, wonderful region.
01:17:31
Speaker
These small wineries as well. Like this wine was great, but the small wineries that you mentioned, I think is, it's going to you know, it's what that region needs is those small wineries to grow in the, the best of ways. Not, I'm not talking like give it to me in public, but grow with people knowing of them and enjoying them just as much as you seem to. So, um, thank you. And Hey, I'm going to see, I'll see you on TikTok.
01:18:00
Speaker
Oh my gosh. So I'll see you on Instagram. Okay. Like I'm real to real people too. I say this all the time. Okay. Like I i give my husband like so much it. Cause he's like only in, and he like refuses to get a TikTok. And every time I see him on like He's like just scrolling his reels. I'm like, you know, whole app where you just can do that.
01:18:20
Speaker
You know, two weeks prior, you're not like seeing the left person. And he tries every time. I'm like, I feel like I've gone this far. i know I'm going to be ah forced to get it at some point. um i just have no self-control do you know when i doom scroll i'm i'm deep in doom scrolling and i just feel like if i get yeah that's the reasons only reason i haven't gotten it because i know myself i'm gonna be deep i'm gonna be up yeah before i am there i got kids i got work like i can't respect that but honestly it was taylor that first brought me because that's is that how you got in annie because i was watching the airs tour and then here we are i I got in because someone told me that like, I mean, Pinterest, like as a millennial, we all know like Pinterest is where you went for like any type of itinerary or things to do or places to eat.
01:19:00
Speaker
And someone told me like, that's TikTok. You just type in the search bar and everything comes up. And I was like, what? And so I did it and I, I started when I never posted, I would post like one or two random things. And then I just picked it up. Like literally when I messaged you, I was maybe a few weeks into a few I feel like our journey started together.
01:19:21
Speaker
Cause I felt the same way. I was like, wow. Just, you know, just, I love it. Love that for you guys. Thank you so much. One day. One day. I'll just like log in as Wine Mama. We say this all the time. I'm just going long I'll download it, but I'll be Wine Mama.
01:19:35
Speaker
ain't got the time to upkeep right now. you know I just send Dan like the links to it. And he's like, Sarah, I can't watch these. And I'm like, you know it reminds me that I want to show you later when we're sitting on the couch together.
01:19:47
Speaker
yeah And i can look at what I can look at what I sent to you on my phone. I feel you, Dan, because we used to be able to. TikTok did allow us to watch it previously and then they blocked us. So they're like, no, you you must join.
01:20:01
Speaker
yeah You have to join now. And I'm like, i can't right now. One day. When? Someday. I don't know. You know, it's like that. Is it um and slipping as it's Sleeping Beauty? When will I see you again? Never.
01:20:14
Speaker
Never. You guys don't want Sleeping Beauty? No. I
Planning a Trip to Willamette Valley
01:20:18
Speaker
know what you mean. know what you're talking about. I know y'all have seen this on TikTok. Come on. Never. Never. Yes. Yes.
01:20:25
Speaker
I know you've seen this on TikTok. Wait. What are we talking about? have no idea. It's going to be on Yonaguerlman later. Is your phone nearby? I'm ready. I hope it's listening. Yes. Yes. Beauty? No.
01:20:37
Speaker
Okay. But um no, like Annie said, thank you literally so much for coming on and shedding light on this clearly incredible place that hopefully we put a little bit of a spotlight on because I i know we're for sure going to go there now for a girl's trip.
01:20:55
Speaker
have zero desire now. I'm just like inviting myself on the girls trip. Is that a thousand percent? oh in a year create a tour yeah yeah one thousand You're in like that. that wasn't moving You're in, give us your being heard time um You're giving us the itinerary so you'll know what we're doing. So yeah, you can literally just show up. Like it's not a big deal.
01:21:13
Speaker
um But yeah, no, thank you so much. Like, thank you for introducing us to this gem, honestly, and opening my eyes. I i don't know if you knew Annie, but I had no idea Oregon wine was a thing.
01:21:24
Speaker
I didn't know this even existed. And now I'm just kind of obsessed with this little culture.
Conclusion and Farewell
01:21:29
Speaker
And i will be certainly doing my research and see if, I know you already did the research and you found very minimal things that we can find here in Florida.
01:21:37
Speaker
But I did hear you say that we can check some of these places out and they will deliver wine to us. um Specifically the Chardonnay. I feel like we have to do a Chardonnay now, Annie, from Granville, because I think Oh my gosh, I absolutely agree. Who knows? Maybe you guys will see it on an upcoming episode or season of Wine Mama.
01:21:56
Speaker
But as for this episode, that's a wrap. That's our show. That is all the Willamette Valley tea we have for today. Thank you so much for listening. Don't forget to rate and review us on whatever platform you're listening on.
01:22:07
Speaker
As always, tell all your friends and keep on whining. Cheers!