Winter Wines From Oregon To Warm Your Soul

The long days of winter call for wines that warm you from the inside out. 

We crave wines that pair with the rich and hearty foods that have been simmering all day on the stove, wines that pair with toasty fires, or wines that just lift your spirits on seemingly endless days full of rain and darkness — not to mention sometimes snow.

Whether it’s a celebration with family and friends or a solo night in, from bubbles to dark reds, below are a few recommendations of wines that will carry you through the winter season.

Vidon Vineyard Nonvintage Estate “Mull”Igan Red Wine With Spice, Chehalem Mountains, $25

One doesn’t expect to find mulled estate Pinot Noir, yet Vidon Vineyard has provided a holiday-friendly winter warmer to share with friends and family we missed in 2020. From fires to pandemic, the winery’s philosophy is that we can all use a “Mull”igan to replace 2020. The base wine, from 20-year-old vines in Vidon’s legacy Pinot Block, was blended and then 48 pounds of dried orange peel, cloves, cinnamon and allspice were added and steeped for three days. In the fall of 2020, Vicki and Don Hagge sold Vidon to Dru and Erin Allen, who say they’ve been fans of glühwein since Dru’s brother brought some with him while on leave from his station in Germany almost 15 years ago. According to Dru, “We have always had it on hand for get-togethers with friends and family, and everyone has always really enjoyed it. We felt that 2021 would be an opportunity to celebrate together again after a year in which gatherings were difficult, if not impossible. What better way than with a warm mug of mulled wine?”

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Troon Vineyard 2019 Estate Syrah, Applegate Valley, $35

Troon loves Syrah, Syrah loves Troon, and we love Troon’s Syrah. This variety seems a perfect fit for the growing season and the weather in Southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley. As a result, Troon has planted Syrah in a diverse range of soil types using multiple clones. Much as a Willamette Valley producer might offer single block or clone offerings of Pinot Noir, Troon will be producing equally nuanced selections of Syrah. Each year, Craig Camp and winemaker Nate Wall release a range of distinctive bottlings that each are unique expressions of what this variety can achieve on the White family’s site. 

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