Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
West Coast U.S.
303
King Estates
Making Hay in Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
When farmer Ed King III went looking to
buy some hay in 1991, he got a little bit
more than he bargained for—a 600-acre
(242-hectare) ranch and eventually a multi-
million-dollar winery. Tucked between the
Umpqua and Willamette valleys, the origi-
nal rambling fruit farm struck him as the
ideal place to grow grapes. Ed teamed up
with his father, retired electronics entre-
preneur and wine fanatic Ed King, Jr., and
they planted 100 acres (40 hectares) with
Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Within 10 years
the two wines would become flagship
Pinots for the state of Oregon and firmly
place the region on every Pinotphile's
must-visit list. King Estates has also led the
way in sustainable vineyard management,
and to reinforce its assertion that every
bottle is a team effort, the entire winery
staff signs each case of its top wine.
The brand-new winery the Kings built is
stunning. It is part monastic château, part
mission house fortress. Set on a hill, the
huge imposing structure of cream-colored
stone and red tiles houses a winery, res-
taurant, wine bar, art gallery, and confer-
ence center. The interiors are slick, with
heavy timber frames, handcrafted cabi-
nets, and copper-fitted bathrooms divided
by arched hallways and backlit ceilings.
The barrel rooms are impressive pillared
halls, the reception area adorned with
soapstone fireplaces. On an ample terrace
overlooking a green, majestic landscape,
you can enjoy the crisp and citric Pinot
Gris while nibbling on toasted hazelnuts
and bread dipped in balsamic vinegar. The
wine store even sells a neat line of cook-
books based around both Pinot grapes.
It's a scenic half-hour drive from the
university town of Eugene, Oregon's sec-
ond biggest city, so fiercely independent it
has earned the sobriquet “the People's
Republic of Eugene.” You'll wind through
gentle hills that are especially beautiful in
the fall. The climate is crisp and fresh—
you can expect all seasons to occur in 1
day. King Estates is increasingly popular
with visitors but never feels crowded,
because it is such a big facility. It's a win-
ery-rich area, with more than 300 winer-
ies, concentrated in the Willamette Valley
to the north; with King Estate leading the
way, the region is becoming so well
regarded for wine, it may soon become
known as “the People's Republic of
Pinot.”
King Estates,
80854 Territorial Rd.
(
&
800/884-4441;
www.kingestate.com).
(
Eugene (21 miles/33km).
L
$$
Hampton Inn Eugene,
3780 W.
11th Ave. (
&
541/431-1225;
www.hampton
inn.com). $$
The Valley River Inn,
1000
Valley River Way (
&
800/543-8266
or
541/743-1000; www.valleyriverinn.com).
