Wine can be had almost anywhere. It can be bought in nearly any store, and it is produced in almost every region of the world. Yet some of this wine is terribly expensive, of poor quality, too far away or just plain bad.
In this area, Oregonians are lucky. Home to what is becoming one of the great wine-producing regions in the world, the Willamette Valley has truly wonderful vintages and winemakers right here in the backyard. One of the best places to see the very best in the burgeoning business of Oregon wine production is Eugene’s own King Estate Vineyard and Winery. One of the largest vineyards in Oregon, King Estate is known for its excellence in producing some great Oregon wine.
Located on the Territorial Highway in the Lorane Valley, King Estate is nestled just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city to be a place reminiscent of Old World vineyards. The windy drive is well worth the effort.
The grounds are expansive: More than 800 acres of cultivated and wild rolling hills comprise the vineyard. The winding driveway leads through row after row of grapevines, now bare of fruit and leaves until the growing season begins again in the spring. The winery itself is a huge building reminiscent of a large chateau that could have been plucked from the French countryside.
Just coming onto the grounds is reason enough to visit King Estate. The view is breathtaking from all sides of the building, which oozes charm from every side, and the landscaping and architecture complete the package. Not a mere facade, this building was purposely designed inside and out for both the wine and the wine drinker. This is an excellent place for a little romantic getaway, even just for an afternoon.
In case you were wondering, the wine is smashing as well. While priced a little higher than other local wines, the wine is of better quality and justifies the few extra dollars per bottle. While King Estate produces a variety of wines, as with other Oregon winemakers, its Pinot Noir is something special.
If budget is the key word here, then check out the vineyard’s Lorane Valley label. Made of grapes produced all over the valley by outside growers, the wine is produced in-house, is of exceptional quality and is less expensive; however, it lacks some of the character and depth of the estate wines. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are quite good but are missing some complexity.
The estate wines, which are produced with grapes grown by King Estate, will most likely convince even the most miserly to splurge a little. But let’s face it: If wine-drinking is your thing, then you shouldn’t be loath to spend a little on good wine. I highly recommend the ’96 Pinot Noir and the ’97 Chardonnay. Both are good, reasonably priced and will go well with dinner and a date.
While King Estate wines can be found in local area stores, I recommend taking the drive up. To reach King Estate, head south on Willamette Street past Spencer Butte. Turn right on Fox Hollow and follow it past an intersection to the end. Turn left on the Lorane Highway and follow that to the end. Turn left on the Territorial Highway and watch for King Estate Vineyard on the right.
Free tours of the winery and barrel room are provided free with the tasting, and the outside is just charming. Not only will visiting give you a chance to sample King Estate’s repertoire, but it will also provide you with a great wine experience.
Have your eye on that special someone in class? A trip out to King Estate will surely leave a great impression on both of you.