The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s biggest wine region, is celebrated for its astounding Pinot Noir. Discovered by pioneering winemakers more than 50 years ago, its mild climate provides perfect conditions for growing cool-climate grapes. While Pinot Noir has long been the star of the region, more winemakers are making some excellent sparkling wine in Willamette Valley, thanks to the Radiant Sparkling Wine Company. Radiant provides services and mobile equipment for wineries that wish to produce sparkling wine without the expense of specialized equipment needed to make it.
Sparkling Wine in Willamette Valley
On a recent trip to Willamette Valley, I visited several wineries that are having remarkable success with sparkling wine. From Argyle Winery, Willamette’s oldest sparkling house, to Corollary Wines, one of the region’s newest sparkling producers, here are eight wineries to enjoy a delightful glass of bubbly.
Bells Up Winery
Bells Up Winery, a boutique winery perched on the side of Chehalem Mountain, overlooks the town of Newberg. Owned by Dave and Sara Specter, the winery offers an approachable wine tasting experience. Dave, the winemaker, leads each tasting, typically limited to no more than six guests.
The winery just introduced a brand-new sparkling wine, the Joy Seyval Blanc Brut. This elegant wine is crafted from the Willamette Valley’s only planting of the Seyval Blanc grape. With delicate bubbles and crisp notes of honeyed apple, orange blossom, and apricots, this sparkling wine is a lovely addition to the Bells Up brand.
Argyle Winery
Argyle Winery, in the town of Dundee, is the largest producer of sparkling wine in the Willamette Valley. In business for 35 years, Argyle is also one of the most popular wineries for visitors and locals. Its stunning tasting room with spacious indoor and outdoor seating provides such a comfortable setting it would be easy to fritter away a whole afternoon here.
Argyle produces a whopping 13 sparkling wines. In the Pop Flight, guests can taste four sparkling wines that are only available in the tasting room. The Vintage Brut is the winery’s foundational wine. It offers notes of orchard fruits, citrus, toasted brioche and a creamy center. But the Brut Rosé, a classically structured sparkling wine, is also popular.
Corollary Wines
Just 15 minutes southwest of Dundee, Corollary Wines is one of the newest makers of sparkling wine in Willamette Valley. Owners Dan and Jeanne Diephouse started by educating themselves about sparkling wine. Then they experimented by making the traditional method sparkling cider in their garage, with great success. Finally, Dan and Jeanne followed their passion and produced their first Oregon vintage of sparkling wine in 2017. This young couple is so passionate about sparkling wine; that’s all they produce. From a sparkling Pinot Blanc to a Brut to a Cuvée Rosé, Corollary makes a total of six sparkling wines.
Corollary’s tasting room is just 15 minutes southwest of Dundee. Tastings are by appointment and led by the winemaker Dan in a delightful covered outdoor space open April through October. But if you can’t wait that long, visit their website. I highly recommend the 2018 Cuvée One Rosé. Dan and Jeanne strive to express the terroir of Oregon through their sparkling wines. And the Rosé achieves that with its bright acidity, lively fruit, and stony finish.
Sokol Blosser
Fifty-one years ago, pioneering winemakers Susan Sokol and Bill Blosser established their winery in the Dundee Hills AVA.
From the early days, the family strove to give back to the land through organic, sustainable farming practices. And although the family’s second generation runs much of the business today, Susan Sokol remains very involved in ensuring the vineyards’ regeneration. Through her dedication to the Prescott Western Bluebird Recovery Project, the property is now home to 11 bluebird boxes, resulting in new generations of bluebirds every year. The birds eat their weight in bugs which helps support integrated pest management in the vineyard.
The 2020 Bluebird Cuvée Brut Sparkling is a tribute to Susan’s efforts. The sparkling wine is a blend of five wines with floral notes, hints of honeysuckle, peach blossom, and lime zest. Sokol Blosser also produces four other sparkling wines, making this winery a good stop to enjoy some bubbly.
Brooks Wine
Brooks Wine, in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, offers stunning views, an onsite restaurant, and an expansive wine tasting menu. The winery is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023.
Brooks is best known for producing 15 different Rieslings. The late founder, Jimi Brooks, was especially fond of this success. The 2017 Extended Tirage Sparkling Riesling is a beautiful expression of Riesling. A stunning Champagne method sparkling Riesling shows bright acid and ripe notes of golden apple, preserved lemon, and brioche. Best of all, on the day I visited, I was lucky enough to sit down with Brooks’ longtime winemaker, Chris Williams, to enjoy a bottle of this delightful bubbly – a creation he was proud to share.
Et Fille
The name Et Fille means “and daughter” in French. It reflects the legacy of Howard and Jessica Mozeico, a father-daughter team of winemakers. The duo teamed up in 2003 with a small test vineyard in the Chehalem Mountain AVA. Today Jessica continues her father’s legacy at her urban wine-tasting room in downtown Newberg. Photos of the family, winery, and vineyard decorate the walls of this chic, contemporary venue.
Guests are invited to taste five to six wines ranging from a delightful Viognier to Pinot Noir. But the Pere Honneur Méthode Champenoise sparkling wine caught my attention. With bright acidity, crisp minerality, effervescent bubbles, and rich depth, this wine is reminiscent of a classic Champagne. This sparkling wine is extremely popular with customers and has already sold out, but there will be more releases in the future.
Left Coast Estate
Left Coast Estate, in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, is about 30 minutes northwest of Salem. This family-owned winery works hard to support sustainability in its winery and working farm. One of the most unique features of this property is its beautiful oak savannah directly across from the tasting room. To preserve it, Left Coast uses goats and sheep to mitigate invasive pests.
Beekeeping and honey production are also part of the farm’s operation. So, it’s fitting that upon your arrival, you’ll be offered a glass of Queen Bee Bubbly, a méthode champenoise produced sparkling wine aptly named to honor the beekeeping practice. Left Coast also produces a Brut Rosé of Pinot Meunier, a favorite of mine. Its butter cookie aromas combined with floral aromas of red apple skins, apricots, and honeysuckle make this an easy sipping wine.
Iris Vineyards
The Iris Vineyards Wine Bar in Springfield was the last stop on my tour through Willamette Valley and well worth the visit.
This boutique wine bar offers a unique, casual, comfortable place for guests to taste Iris Vineyards’ sparkling and still wines. But more importantly, the tasting room provides a sense of community. Locals and wine club members drop by for wine tasting, a glass of wine, or one of the wine cocktails personally designed by winemaker Aaron Lieberman.
Aaron, Iris Vineyards’ winemaker since 2008, introduced what he calls the “sparkling project” to the lineup of Iris Vineyards wine. Iris Vineyards is one of the most southern vineyards in Willamette Valley and is quite a bit cooler than other parts of the valley. Aaron says that was part of the impetus behind the sparkling wines. But he also says that as a child, his father would give the children a small glass of sparkling wine on Christmas and New Year’s. Because of this fond memory, Aaron always wanted to make sparkling wine. He started with Brut Rosé in 2015 and now produces six small-production sparkling wines.
At the Springfield wine bar, guests can enjoy the results of Aaron’s sparkling project with a taste of six different sparkling wines. But my favorite is the 2019 Brut Rosé with notes of strawberries and pomegranate.
If You Go
The Dundee Hotel in the town of Dundee offers 22 modern upscale rooms featuring bold colors inspired by the Willamette Valley. Its spacious rooms, friendly staff, and onsite restaurant provide some of the best accommodations in a central location.
Visit Willamette Valley Visitors’ Association for more information on wineries, things to do, and accommodations.
