Join The Allison Wine Enthusiasts

For those of you who may be visiting Oregon wine country for the first time, we thought it may be helpful to provide a little background for your benefit.  Thanks to the highly acclaimed wines being produced in Oregon, the wine region is now considered one of the top in the world, even though its start was just in the 1970’s and its official appellation in 1984. Oregon wines are also highly acclaimed by Wine Spectator, averaging 90+ ratings consistently year after year.

With approximately 500 wineries (200 are in the Willamette Valley), this industry is the third largest in the state, has created 13,000 jobs and production in 2011 reached 41,500 tons.  In particular, the valley’s fertile hills and two mountain ranges along with its cool climate make it ideal to produce some of the best Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Reisling and even Chardonnay. The Willamette Valley is considered “the heart of the wine country” and in addition to its 12,000 grape growing acres, is also memorable for its hiking trails, biking paths, farmers markets and covered bridges...not to mention its close proximity to Portland and the Pacific Ocean. The area is 150 miles long, 60 miles wide and is often compared to France’s Burgundy region for its beautiful topography and climate.

The volcanic clay soil indigenous to this region is known as jory, thus the name of our signature restaurant at The Allison. The wine industry here is quite different from that of California or even Washington, our neighboring states.  This being Oregon, wine making is still considered agriculture…not a lifestyle.  Only approximately half the wineries actually have tasting rooms and even those that do, you will note they are informal, friendly, reasonably priced and with a typical production between 2,000 to 5,000 cases. 

However, don’t let that casualness fool you.  These stewards of this land take their jobs seriously, while the independent spirits and individual passions of the vintner owners and winemakers shine through in each and every bottle.  What you will readily appreciate is this industry is still very much a family enterprise and in some instances, the legacy is being handed down to the next generation. 

As Oregon is known for being a “green state," we boast many eco-friendly vineyards and JORY’s wine list is coded accordingly; bio-dynamic, organic and sustainable wines.

At The Allison, we take great pride in our Wine Spectator award-winning 800 label wine list.  We received acknowledgement for our list just six months after our official opening in fall, 2009 from Food & Wine Magazine.  Our mission…to introduce and educate guests & locals to a vast collection of wine growing regions, while showcasing Oregon’s best.

During certain times of the year, we host a complimentary Thursday evening Celebrity Wine-Tender Wine Tasting from 6:30–7:30 pm in our Living Room.  (Please visit our website calendar to learn which winery is being showcased).

Because many of you may already have your favorite Oregon wines, we offer the opportunity to customize your visit by personally combining those on your “wish list” with others which may be unfamiliar, but definitely worth the visit.  While many wineries do not have official tasting rooms, our concierge staff will make every effort to schedule a personal tasting.  We realize the majority of guests purchase wines during their stay, but due to airline regulations, cannot bring their bottles aboard. Dependent on your resident state, we can arrange shipment with a local business, if the laws permit.   

Traditionally our wine region promotes the start of the wine tasting season each Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, Sunday & Monday). Thanksgiving weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) is another  designated period when visitors enjoy Open Houses at wineries not otherwise open to the public. For further information, please visit  www.willamettewines.com. We highly recommend you view the Willamette Valley Wineries Association website to better familiarize yourself with the location of the neighboring towns and wineries.  Our concierge staff will be happy to suggest restaurants or you may wish to order JORY’s picnic lunch and dine alfresco along your journey- ideal for enjoying the bucolic, unspoiled scenery.

A few highlights from our 37 page wine list which also appears on our website:

• An extensive wines-by-the-glass selection, taste either by 1/2 glass or 5 ounces
• A good selection of half bottles
• A large selection of Champagne and Sparkling wines
• Creative flights (3 or 4 tastings) in the following categories;  Pinot Gris, Oregon Pinot Noir, Northwest Pinot Noir, A Trip Around the World, Chardonnay
• An impressive selection of wines from California, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, etc.
• A selection of large formatted wines for special occasions or large gatherings

Note:  a corkage fee is $20 per bottle, with a maximum of 2 bottles per party, and will be applied to wines not purchased directly from JORY.

Experience Pinot Noir Allison Style

When in pinot noir country, it seems that it’s all people want to drink and talk about. Like most, we have fallen in love with this amazing wine….so much so that we incorporated the varietal into almost every aspect of our resort.

• JORY, our signature restaurant is named after the native soil that grows this luscious grape.
• We have hundreds of pinot noirs on our wine list, most from Oregon, but many from other wine regions since guests enjoy the pinot noir wine flight tasting comparisons.
• JORY Bar serves a Pinotini…..a martini with a splash of pinot noir.  It’s the talk of the town.
• Our Pinot Burger is one of the signature menu items at JORY.
• Chocolate Pinot Noir Cake deepens the flavor of the rich chocolate cake.  Decadent!
• Pinot Sodas are a refreshing alternative to non-alcoholic beverages.
• The Allison Spa offers a pinotherapy spa treatment.
• Allison Vineyards growing adjacent to the resort will soon be harvested for our very own signature pinot noir label (5 acres), while the other 2 acres are planted in pinot gris grapes.