A Virtual Visit to Sokol Blosser Winery

By Thom Elkjer

Sokol Blosser is one of Oregon’s older wineries, yet it remains one of the state’s more forward-looking, with certified organic vineyards and the wine industry’s first officially “green building” – a self-insulating, grass-topped barrel room. The winery has also created two of Willamette Valley’s more unusual blends (both reviewed below), bringing some fun and affordability to a region where so many wineries offer the same limited line-up of full-priced Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. To top if off, Sokol Blosser is a family-run operation with a beautifully offbeat tasting room in the Dundee Hills appellation.

The room and tasting bar are both curved, and a picture window frames a stunning view of Mt. Hood – that is, when it’s clear enough to see 50 miles in a state not known for clear skies. There’s often a Sokol Blosser (Susan, Alex, or Alison) in the offices behind the tasting room, to answer questions that might stump the knowledgeable staff out front. The vineyards spread out in all directions from the tasting room, so you can see the sources of what you’re tasting, even if it’s pouring rain.

Down below, in town, there are good restaurants and shopping to round out a visit. And if you need a little something to read, this summer will see the publication of Susan Sokol Blosser’s memoir about founding the winery, raising a family, and helping boost the fortunes of Oregon’s fledgling wine industry. While visiting the winery, here are some wines to look for:

	Sokol Blosser White Table Wine “Evolution – 9th Edition” ($15): and now for something completely different – a blend of many grapes and multiple vintages that, in its 9th version, is every bit as winning as the first. The alcohol is low and the sweetness is high, yet the wine behaves clean, crisp and dry. A unique treat for newbies and wine geeks alike. .
	Sokol Blosser Pinot Gris Dundee Hills 2003 ($18): they take their Gris seriously in Oregon – it’s the flagship white grape for the state – and this is a serious example: almond, guava, grapefruit and Granny Smith apple flavors circulate through your mouth until they blend into a cool, quiet harmony at the finish.
	Sokol Blosser Red Table Wine “Meditrina” ($15): once it was unthinkable to blend frail, delicate Pinot Noir with anything. Here it’s joined by Syrah and Zin – and smoothly holds its own with those two bruisers. I’d decant this an hour before serving, and match it with garlicky pasta, grilled sausages, or fajitas. Serious fun.
	Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2003 ($28): some of the finest, densest tannins I’ve tasted in a fresh, uplifting young Pinot. Dark fruit flavors include plums and cherries, and the baking spices are unmistakable yet beautifully blended in. You could cellar this until 2008 or so for more refined pleasure, or decant for a couple of hours before serving now. Good value.