Willamette Valley is a beautiful place to grow grapes. Image vineyards overlooking hazelnut orchards, dairy farms, and wheat fields surrounded by trees. Here the spring is cool, seeing a slow unfurling of buds that leisurely blossom into grapes. This leisurely pace quickens as the seasons unfold and soon the vines vigorously expand through the trellis as the bunches multiply. The vines flourish under the watchful protection of the rain shadow of Oregon’s Coast Range Mountains allowing for mild summer conditions, ideal for perfect ripening of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris and an intense crush of fall harvest. It sounds too good to be true; however, this is the life of a grape at Pike Road Wines.

Pike Road Wines mission is to bring the world the best of Oregon’s Willamette Valley quality at a price under $20! The Campbell family had been farming in Oregon for five generations and growing grapes in Willamette Valley for four decades. After years of producing some of Oregon’s most acclaimed wines at Elk Cove Vineyards they decided to create a sister brand to Elk Cove. Having two brands supports the Campbell family’s move to making Elk Cove 100% estate grown and gives the winemaking team more blending options for both labels. Pike Road Wines are sourced from a mix of younger and older estate vineyards with a pinch of grapes from small lots with long term relationships with the Campbells, such as Shea, Fairsing, and Olenik.

For the record, Pike Road is an actual road that runs adjacent to the vineyards and winds through the lowland farms of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and out to the forest of the Oregon Coast Range. It offers a beautiful picturesque drive through Willamette Valley.

This is the best place in the New World to grow Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and we are so pleased to be here at Pike Road. ~ The Campbell Family

Pike Road Pinot Gris 2015: 100% Willamette Valley Pinot Gris; very soft gold in the glass; aromas of stone fruit featuring white peaches, creamy lemon curd, white spring flowers, and soft spice notes; on the palate it offers a creamy texture with balanced acidity that coats the mouth in a long finish; stainless steel fermentation, 13.5% alcohol, 8,000 cases produced, SRP $15. Enjoy as an aperitif with cheeses and dried fruits, or pair with summer salads, poultry, seafood and shell fish.

Pike Road Pinot Noir 2014: 100% Willamette Valley Pinot Noir sourced from six estate vineyards, light ruby in the glass; it offers aromas of a basket of fresh picked spring berries, a touch of spice, a touch of cherry cola, and slight notes of cedar and vanilla; the pleasing aromas follow through on the palate in a velvety smooth mouth feel with well-balanced acidity that coat the mouth for a lingering finish; aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, 13.5% alcohol, 9,000 cases produced, SRP $19. Pair with summer salads, poultry, grilled seafood or porch sipping.

See the Pike Road Wines web site for distribution information.

My Song Selection: These two wines are easy drinking, not complicated, but enjoyable. Perfect for a crowd or a weeknight.

Get your own bottles of Pike Road Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris and let me know what song you pair with them. Cheers!