If you haven’t noticed, we’re big believer’s in the Pacific Northwest! Up to this year, Portlandia had solely focused on producing award winning Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Rosé from Oregon (predominantly the Willamette Valley). And now, with the successful launch of Big Believer Cabernet from Washington’s Columbia Valley, a Columbia Valley Red Blend (Cab Sauvignon/Syrah), and a succulent Columbia Valley Rosé of Syrah, Portlandia has firmly established its foothold as a truly Pacific Northwest brand.
2022 was a year of experimentation for the brand with the release of its first blend of Washington and Oregon fruit in the form of Pinot Gris. Awarding it a 92 point score, this is what the publisher / editor-in-chief of Tasting Panel Magazine had to say about the 2021 vintage…
“Alluring scents of honeysuckle and candied pineapple. The well-balanced profile is focused, fruity, and floral. Nectarine and lemon blossom hit their mark with fin acidity and a lean undertone of salinity.”
Meridith May
2022 was also a year of investment in Washington and the Pacific Northwest. We produced our first sparkling wines under the Portlandia label and launched these in the Oregon, Washington and Idaho markets. These limited production wines were made using the Méthode Champenoise process from entirely Washington fruit—crafted in the Sparkling Brut and Sparkling Rosé styles. We’ll be officially announcing expanded production for these wines with new markets coming online in 2023.
Tasting Panel Magazine’s Holiday Report 2022 captures this excitement with a story about the future of Portlandia and its founder Damian Davis’ forward-thinking outlook best summarized by Portlandia’s philosophy of “Play Hard. Work Later.”
