Biodynamic Wines of the Willamette Valley with King Estate

The Wine Pairing Weekend group I’m a part of that features monthly themes focused on Williamette Valley wines from Oregon this month and reminded me why I fell in love with Oregon pinot noir a long time back.  When I first learning about wines Oregon pinot noir was always my favorite.  

There was just something about the light to medium body of the wine, but the depth of flavors that it appealed to me so much.  I’ve never been a huge fan of big, bold, jammy wines so it’s no surprise that these wines appealed to me.  Prior to wine my only other knowledge of Oregon was the Oregon Trail computer game I played back in grade school if that didn't just date my back some. 

The Land 

The Willamette Valley of Oregon is located in the Pacific Northwest and the valley runs from Portland in the north to Eugene in the southern part of the valley.  It’s surrounded by 3 mountain chains including the Cascade Range, the Oregon Coast Range and Calapooya Mountains.  The climate there is continental.  

Willamette Valley AVA's copyright of Willamette Valley Wineries Association

The Williamette Valley of Oregon is home to pinot noir and it’s obvious when you go to Williamette Valley Wineries Association website and it’s boldly says “We are pinot noir”.  Over 15,000 acres are planted to pinot noir with the 2nd largest planted grape is pinot gris at almost 4,000 acres.   Being known for world class pinot noir they must be doing something right since the first planted vines of pinot noir were back in only 1965 by David Lett of Eyrie Vineyards.  The Williamette Valley dominates wine production for oregon state producing an overall 71% percent of its total production with the Willamette Valley making 82% of the states pinot noir.

Copyright of Willamette Valley Wineries Association

The Winery 

I sampled some wines from King estate located at the bottom tip of the valley in Eugene.  The winery has been family owned since 1991.  With a total production of 350,000 bottles all their grapes are hand picked with over 1,000 acres Demeter certified biodynamic.  I can truly appreciate a winery that goes to lengths to take measures in properly taking care of its land and environment.  The winery takes part in many practices including:            

• No use of chemicals 
• Use of raptors such as owls and serves as a rehabilitation centre for them  
• Specific plant species utilized to attract insects 
• Solar panels to reduce their carbon dioxide footprint  
• Over 1,000 tons of compost annually used for fertilization

  

  Copyright of King Estate Winery

  

  Vines and lavender fields @ King Estate ~ Copyright of King Estate Winery
  

The Wines 

2017 King Estate Pinot Gris Steiner Block 

Named after Rudolf Steiner who founded the biodynamic approach to agriculture.  They claim to be the largest producer of pinot gris domestically.  This wine was aged in a concrete egg.   A pale straw color with a tinge of green, almost clear in the glass.  A beautiful, aromatic nose of green apple and citrus.  A lighter body that was crisp, clean with citrus shining on the palate combined with some minerality.  ABV 13% SRP $28 

Pairing:  I paired this wine with a garlic butter marinade with a pork tenderloin served with a simple side salad.  I had bigger aspirations on this pairing to add a side of crab cakes, but I was balancing a work call while my almost 3 year old was emptying the fish food into the tank.  Mamma mia!  The wine was a wonderful match with the pork and the simplicity of the marinade allowed the citrus and minerality of the wine to shine. 

2016 King Estate Pinot Noir Highwire 

Deep ruby in color with almost a purplish tinge.  Medium-bodied with ripe, juicy strawberries and raspberries on the nose.  A wine well balanced with finesse and a rich, ripe fruit finish.  ABV 14.1% SRP $68 

Pairing: I paired this wine with a teriyaki marinated petit beef filet served with some sauteed mushrooms.  Pinot noir is such a classic pairing with mushrooms and even with the hefty beef filet the pinot noir held its own.  

Here are plenty more wine and food pairings with Willamette Valley wines with our talented group of wine and food bloggers.  Join us live on Twitter this Saturday May 11th at 11am EST with the #winepw as we discuss the behind the scenes of our recipe pairings and share thoughts on these amazing wines.

• David of Cooking Chat has prepared "Salmon, Farro and Mushrooms with Winderlea Pinot Noir"
• Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camila is celebrating with "Simple Pleasures
• Jill of L’Occasion writes about “Peace, Bread, Land and Wine’: A Meal With Brooks Winery“
• Lori of Dracaena Wines will present "Continuing the Biodynamic Legacy #WinePW"
• Jane from Always Ravenous pairs "Wild Alaskan Salmon with Herbed Ricotta and Oregon Pinot Noir"
• Pinny of Chinese Food and Wine Pairings combines "Biodynamic Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Noir from Johan Vineyards Plus Surf ‘n’ Turf Dinner"
• Linda of My Full Wine Glass shares "Ode to Oregon: Johan’s Biodynamic Expression of Place (#WinePW)"
• Gwendolyn Alley from Wine Predator will present "Our land is our life and our life is our wine” — Cooper Mountain Pinot Paired with Duck #WinePW
• Deana from Asian Test Kitchen has whipped up "Oregon Orange Wine Sparkles with Indian Curry"
• Wendy Klik A Day in the Life on the Farm discovers "Dammit!! These are some great wines from Willamette.
• Lauren Walsh of The Swirling Dervish will tempt us with "Pork Loin, Mushrooms, and Fiddlehead Ferns Meet Biodynamic Pinot Noir from Bergström Wines (#WinePW)"
• Martin of Enofylz Wine Blog brings us "A Taste of Cooper Mountain Vineyards at the Table #WinePW"
• Jeff of Food Wine Click is pairing "Biodynamic Willamette Valley with Brick House and Harissa Chicken"
• Payal of Keep the Peas is presenting "Living off the Land: King Estate Pinot Noir + Mushroom Pâté"
• Rupal of Syrah Queen is sharing "Maysara Winery - Iranian Immigrants Achieving The American Dream”
• Jade of Tasting Pour will share "Thai Green Curry Rockfish and Montinore Estate Gewurztraminer #WinePW"
• Nicole of Somm's Table shares "A Hunt for a Biodynamic Williamette Valley Wine: Johan Vineyards Farmland Pinot Noir and Salmon"

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*Wines were provided as samples, but opinions are my own.  Information sourced from King Estate Winery and the Willamette Valley Wine Association.