The Muddy Valley of the McMinnville AVA
If you ever visit the Willamette Valley, take some time to find the Muddy Valley. Two of the finest Pinot Noir values come from this AVA. I'll start with the Maysara Ramsheed Pinot Noir. Maysara is an absolutely beautiful winery located on a secluded valley. The estate is covered in oak groves and rolling hills. Run by the Momtazi family it has been chemical free since day one of operations. In fact Mo Momtazi purchased the estate because it had been abandoned for seven years, and he knew no chemical applications had been used in that time. He also decided on this location because it reminded him of his grandparent's farm in Iran. In Iran? There are places in Iran of rich, lush-green, tree-lined beauty? Apparently there are. Mo's daughter, Tahmiene is now the wine maker. She's a young, energetic and gifted wine maker. The Ramsheed Pinot Noir is a steal at $24 a bottle and one of the finest Pinot Noirs you will discover in Oregon for under $30.
Just over the hill is another great Pinot Noir bargain. Yamhill Valley Vineyards is just off highway 18 which runs through the Van Duzer Corridor and out to the ocean. That's appropriate since it is the breezes coming into the valley through the corridor that make such great Pinot Noirs in this area. Pinots love hot days and cooler nights, so these breezes whipping up through the corridor and through this part of the valley make for perfect growing conditions.
The Yamhill Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir is an amazingly good wine for under $30. Where the Jamsheed Pinot has dark, earthy notes this pinot has a lighter, more fruit forward presentation. I can't choose between the two, I love them both.
The wineries may be just over the hill from each other, but you can't get from one to the other directly, but that's OK. Drive west on highway 18 and stop into the Bellevue Market. They have a great wine selection and very good espresso. Next door is an art gallery, and over the top of the gallery is one of my favorite spots for lunch, the Fresh Pallet Cafe. As you pass the gallery and the market you'll follow the directions of the weeping willows at the end of the road. They gently wave you to the right around the curve and into the beautiful Muddy Valley. Maysara is an easy one mile drive away. Drive up to the huge warehouse looking building, walk in and announce your arrival. This is a working vineyard, and the tasting room is currently located in the midst of the wine production. The entire vineyard is certified bio-dynamic. All of the Pinot Noirs, and almost every wine featured there is estate grown. Healthy, happy plants make the potential for great wines, and these vines are happy. It would be hard to imagine not being happy in such a location. I've walked from the Bellevue Market to the winery, which is fun, but it makes purchasing wine and carrying it home much more difficult (and believe me, you'll want to take some of this wine home.)
If you ever visit the Willamette Valley, take some time to find the Muddy Valley. Two of the finest Pinot Noir values come from this AVA. I'll start with the Maysara Ramsheed Pinot Noir. Maysara is an absolutely beautiful winery located on a secluded valley. The estate is covered in oak groves and rolling hills. Run by the Momtazi family it has been chemical free since day one of operations. In fact Mo Momtazi purchased the estate because it had been abandoned for seven years, and he knew no chemical applications had been used in that time. He also decided on this location because it reminded him of his grandparent's farm in Iran. In Iran? There are places in Iran of rich, lush-green, tree-lined beauty? Apparently there are. Mo's daughter, Tahmiene is now the wine maker. She's a young, energetic and gifted wine maker. The Ramsheed Pinot Noir is a steal at $24 a bottle and one of the finest Pinot Noirs you will discover in Oregon for under $30.
Just over the hill is another great Pinot Noir bargain. Yamhill Valley Vineyards is just off highway 18 which runs through the Van Duzer Corridor and out to the ocean. That's appropriate since it is the breezes coming into the valley through the corridor that make such great Pinot Noirs in this area. Pinots love hot days and cooler nights, so these breezes whipping up through the corridor and through this part of the valley make for perfect growing conditions.
The Yamhill Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir is an amazingly good wine for under $30. Where the Jamsheed Pinot has dark, earthy notes this pinot has a lighter, more fruit forward presentation. I can't choose between the two, I love them both.
The wineries may be just over the hill from each other, but you can't get from one to the other directly, but that's OK. Drive west on highway 18 and stop into the Bellevue Market. They have a great wine selection and very good espresso. Next door is an art gallery, and over the top of the gallery is one of my favorite spots for lunch, the Fresh Pallet Cafe. As you pass the gallery and the market you'll follow the directions of the weeping willows at the end of the road. They gently wave you to the right around the curve and into the beautiful Muddy Valley. Maysara is an easy one mile drive away. Drive up to the huge warehouse looking building, walk in and announce your arrival. This is a working vineyard, and the tasting room is currently located in the midst of the wine production. The entire vineyard is certified bio-dynamic. All of the Pinot Noirs, and almost every wine featured there is estate grown. Healthy, happy plants make the potential for great wines, and these vines are happy. It would be hard to imagine not being happy in such a location. I've walked from the Bellevue Market to the winery, which is fun, but it makes purchasing wine and carrying it home much more difficult (and believe me, you'll want to take some of this wine home.)