Salmon-Safe Certified. While reading the label of this week’s
Wine Wednesday feature, the 2016 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Rosé, I noticed that this wine is Salmon-Safe Certified. I don’t believe I’ve seen that before so
it caused me to do a little research. No, this doesn’t mean that the wine is
safe to drink with salmon, though it most certainly would be. It refers to
ecologically sustainable viticulture.
With winegrowers, the certification focuses on reducing runoff from
hillside vineyards and enhancement of native biodiversity on vineyard sites. I
also learned that nearly half of the wine grape acreage in Oregon’s Willamette
Valley is Salmon-Safe Certified.
I recently visited Willamette Valley Vineyards while visiting family in
Oregon. The location and facility are quite impressive and the view from the
entrance, breathtaking. 
This is one of the wines we tasted and decided to bring
home with us. I always like it when I taste a wine at the winery and then when
I get home and try it again, it’s as good as I remembered it being. Sometimes, especially in cases like this,
where the setting and ambience contribute greatly to the experience, I worry
whether the wine will hold up without it. FYI, it most certainly does.
A rosé made from Pinot Noir, it is left with skin contact for 48
hours resulting in the medium pink color. On the nose, slightly floral, hints of citrus and a pleasant
minerality. Having been fermented in stainless, it is lively on the tongue with
strawberry and honey notes on the palate.
This is a great summer picnic wine, quite versatile for pairing
with lighter fare. We enjoyed it with Oven-Roasted Cornish Game Hens and Sage
and Garlic Infused Whipped Potatoes. It occurred to me that this could be my Thanksgiving 2017 wine. As I think about it, in all sincerity, it would also be perfect
with my Salmon Cucumber Canapés.
I also noticed on the label that if you bring the bottle back to
the winery, they’ll give you a 10 cent refund.
Perfect, I was looking for an excuse to go back. Click the links below for recipe paring suggestions.
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