Day three was our furthest vineyard from the house, back south toward Salem and Bethel Heights

This winery was just out-of-this-world beautiful.

Here, we were fortunate enough to do a tasting known as “Beyond the Block” where we got to do side by side tastings of two different generations of wine makers and what they chose to do with the same grapes.  We got to taste indoors in the library under a gorgeous wisteria tree.  We were the only two in the room.

Then, we were escorted in the vineyard to taste the chardonnay right beside the vines.   It was amazing the difference in flavor based on whether or not the grapes were “high wire” (just four feet above the ground) or on the ground itself.

I can’t say enough good things about this particular tasting.   It was magical, and I think we’ll have to join the club.

When we do a wine trip, we love to ask about places that are doing new or unusual things in wine making.  We had a second tasting scheduled for the day, but we had a little time to go someplace else between tastings.   Our wine hostess, Betsy,  suggested DuPonte Cellars.  She told us that they are doing a 2017 Sparkling Melon de Bourgogne.

They were kind enough to squeeze us in for a tasting.  The sparkling wasn’t on the tasting, but we bought a bottle for later that evening.  I’m so glad we went!   The venue was a little more casual than some of the others, and it was a very nice break in the day.

From there, we went to Domain Drouhin. This is a very interesting place.  It partners with the same winemaker from Drouhin in France and has for four generations.   It’s possible that COVID will make this the FIRST year the winemaker is not able to travel to the US in order to be part of the winemaking process.   Here, we tasted the same grapes and the same vintages both from France and Oregon.  It was so much fun to taste the nuances between the two!

Then, we were finished for the day.  Even on vacation, Richard often likes to cook!   Since we were in Oregon and near the coast, the bear wanted seafood.  I WANT to like seafood, so I was happy to have him pick up some cod and some oysters from Northwest Seafood market. This is also why we like to stay at VRBO’s than we do at a hotel.  Usually they have some really nice setups for grilling and outdoor eating.

The sparkling was just as wonderful as Betsy suggested it would be!   Two days down…  just one more to go!!!   Three days of wine in a row is about all I can take!