Lavelle Wine Bar at 5th Street

Last night, my fiance and I visited Lavelle Wine Bar and Bistro located at the 5th Street Public Market in Eugene, Oregon.

I was a little concerned we would be under dressed and uncomfortable, but I found quite the opposite.

If you need a peaceful place to visit with one or two friends on a Saturday evening, this is the place!

What a relaxed and casual atmosphere! The lights were dim with candles flickering on each table. A pianist played around the corner and was distance enough for my fiance and I to still talk with one another.

I will definitely visit Lavelle Wine Bar and Bistro again. (Next time, I'll come hungry for the food!)

P.S. - The wine was great! (More reviews to come soon...)

A Guide for Beginners

So, if any of you are beginners like me, you should check out this blog all about the "basics" of wine. It reviews how to store, serve and pour wine.

http://www.howtoservewine.info/

Review: Hinman Vineyards 2005 Riesling

A good friend of mine introduced me to this Eugene area wine. Being a fan of Rieslings, I was excited to try something new.

This Riesling is slightly sweet, but not overwhelming like dessert wines. It is light and crisp and finishes with refreshing taste.

I enjoy this Riesling because of its nice sweet fruit and floral taste but without the intense residual sugar.

This wine does not a have a very complex taste, but it's refreshing finish is worth the buy!

Winemaker's Notes

"Well-ripened fruit provides an abundance of fresh fruit and floral qualities that gain complexity with mineral components and a firm backbone of acidity. While slightly sweet, this wine gains intensity from concentrated fruit and a crisp, refreshing finish. A classic Riesling!"

Appellation: Oregon Harvest
Date: Oct. 2005
Brix: 22-23.0
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar 0.3
Varietal Blend: 100%
Riesling Cooperage: Stainless Steel
Bottling Date: Jan. 2006
Release Date: August 2006
Case Production: 1,040

NxNW Walla Walla 2005 Caberet Sauvignon

Let's venture into red wine now. So, the the NxNW label is produced by King Estate Winery, which is 15 minutes outside of Eugene, Oregon. NwNW is an abbreviation for North by Northwest. King Estate's primary focus is producing Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir; however, the winery contracts with grape growers in Columbia River Basin and Walla Walla Valley in Southeast Washington and Northwest east Oregon.

This particular Cabernet Sauvignon is made using grapes grown in Walla Walla Valley. This area of Washington is inclined to warmer and dryer weather, making it a prime location to grow grapes for cabernet Sauvignon.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of red wines, but this one is excellent. It doesn't come at a cheap though. I purchased a bottle for $35 while visit King Estate, but it's worth the price.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is subtlety "sweet" and smooth in my opinion. It is not as dry as other Cabernets that I have tasted. This wine leaves a light, short taste of summer blackberries. Just wonderful.

Can't afford $35 ? I highly suggest taking the short drive out to King Estate off Lorane Highway to take a few samples. They are very generous and offer tastes of about 6-7 wines.

Wine Maker's Notes

Aroma: Blackberry, blue fruits, cocoa, caramel/vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and oak spice.

Flavor: Blackberry, currant, cassis, and lingering black pepper spices.

Alcohol Content: 13.5%

Review: King Estate Pinot Gris

King Estate Winery was the second stop on my weekend winery excursion. Driving up the winding road through the vineyard, the building slowly comes into view. It seemed almost magical to catch a glimpse of the "castle" on the hill. What a beautiful winery. This place is a must see!

The first wine in the complementary flight was this 2006 Signature Collection Pinot Gris. It had a well-developed, citrus taste with hints of grapefruit and honey. I would say the wine had a medium weight wine- it wasn't a crisp pinot gris. The wine is not very sweet, but at the same time it's not tart. This pinot gris has a nice finish, as the taste of citrus lingers for a while.

Overall, well done. My boyfriend and I enjoyed a bottle while watching TV after dinner this week.

Wine Maker Notes

Color: Pale straw with brilliant luminosity.
Aroma: Citrus, honey, pineapple, grapefruit, and orange blossom.
Mouthfeel: Lively tropical/citrus
Suggested Retail: $16/ 750 ml
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Vineyard source: 34% estate grown, 63% from contracted growers in Willamette Valley

Want another review?
Read a review of this wine from Northwest Palate Magazine here.

Dessert Wine Video

Want to learn more about dessert wines? Check out the video below.

Let's start out sweet: 2006 Silvan Ridge Semi-Sparking Early Muscat

The first stop on my weekend excursion to local wineries began at Silvan Ridge Winery, which is located about 15 minutes outside of Eugene on Briggs Hill Road.

What a beautiful location! The winery and tasting room was an elegant European style, but it felt comfortable. The tasting room staff were friendly and very knowledgeable.

I sampled about 5 wines at Silvan Ridge. All were good, but I fell in LOVE with their Semi-Sparkling Early Muscat. Anyone can enjoy this wine, even beginners like me.

This dessert wine their number one seller, and now I know why! The muscat is super sweet. It tastes like a fruity peach-pear fruit juice, but crisp and refreshing. It doesn't taste syrupy like most juices or heavy dessert wines. The texture is as light as can be, but the wine captures a bold, fruity taste.

If you think you don't like wine, I encourage you to try this amazing muscat. It's a great starting point for those not accustom to the taste of wine.

I hear the muscat is a great complement to a Sunday brunch or an after dinner dessert. I guess I will find out because I bought a bottle for myself!

Winemaker's Notes
Aromas of peaches, pear, apricots and orange bloom introduce you to this sweet, lively wine that is sure to awaken your sense. A hint of bubble helps keep the texture light and a good balance of acidity makes for a cleaning, refreshing finish.

Alcohol content: 6.5%
Residual Sugar: 11.5%

Awards
Silver Medal Winner at the 2007 Taster's Guild International Wine Judging
Gold & Best of Show White Wine at the 2007 Lane County Fair Wine Competition

Want a professional review?
Click here to read more reviews about Silvan Ridge Semi-Sparking Early Muscat.

About Me

Hello! Welcome to the Eugene Wine Guide.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Shelly Ivey, and I'm a complete novice in the world of wine. (That's me on the right.)

So why am I starting this blog?

Well there are three reasons really:

1. I want to graduate. I'm enrolled in "J412: The Digital World" at the University of Oregon, and I'm required to create a digital object as part of my final project (hence, this blog).

2. I love wine, and I want to know more about this fascinating and fun beverage.

3. I need something fun and relaxing to do. I'm enrolled in 16 credits at the U of O, work part time for Springfield Public Schools and volunteer at Eugene Faith Center almost every day of the week, so I need to survive this crazy term somehow!

I plan to visit a few of the local wineries and tasting rooms and tell you all about it here.

This is a new adventure for me, and I'm looking forward to every minute of it.

A Warm Welcome

Welcome to the Eugene Wine Guide!

This blog will highlight some of the Eugene area's best wines and vineyards. Check back soon for reviews of local wines, vineyards and events!

Let the fun begin...