It was back in December that my sister and brother-in-law
took my husband and I wine tasting in the Willamette Valley. They know it's
something we enjoy and there's no shortage of great wineries to explore each
time we visit. This time our tour took us to Alexana Winery an 80 acre vineyard
of largely Pinot Noir but also other varietals. I enjoyed the wine tasting in
their gorgeous tasting room and managed to catch a glimpse of the sun through
the large windows as it momentarily peaked through the rain clouds and cast its
light on the lush green expanse that is their vineyard and the Willamette
Valley. If an atmosphere could influence the wine experience for the better,
this place could indeed do just that. I loved the wines, purchased this bottle
of Pinot Gris but reserved my final opinion until I opened the bottle last
evening.
Pinot Gris as you may know is the same grape as Pinot
Grigio. The same - yet largely different. Pinot Grigio, the Italian treatment of
the varietal, in my opinion tends to result in strong citrus notes and a clear crisp
finish. Pinot Gris from the Alsace region of France tends to be a little fuller
bodied with more green apple, pear and tropical fruit notes and is a little “smoother
around the edges”. Generally, where the varietal is grown outside of these two
regions, winemakers name the wine after the preparation style it more closely
resembles – Italian Pinot Grigio or Alsatian Pinot Gris.
As you may have guessed the Alexana Pinot Gris, as is the
case with most Willamette Valley representations of the varietal, is a reflection
of the Alsation style. I found this wine extremely enjoyable sans the fancy
showroom and majestic view. On the nose, honeysuckle and pear. On the palate much the same with that
slightly rounder mouth-feel I adore in a Pinot Gris. Because it is a fuller
bodied style of the grape vs. Pinot Grigio, the food pairing expands to dishes
beyond salads, fish and seafood. Of course it would pair well with all of those
but in addition, try with my Baked Chicken and Wild Rice or Pan Fried Pork
Chops with Chismol. Click the links below to print or save the recipes.
Also, just a reminder, if you can't find some of the wines I
review in your local wine shop, most wineries can ship to most states and the
wine can be ordered from their websites.
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