Dominio Wines IV Spellbound Three Sleeps Vineyard 2008
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The estate's vineyard in Mosier, Oregon was once visited by generations of Chinook Indians and famous American explorers traveling by canoes. Dominio biodynamically farms this land, and has planted Tempranillo, Syrah, and Viognier. In May 2012, the winery added small parcels of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and, perhaps eccentrically, Petit Verdot.
Oregon is a remarkable fit for Pinot noir, so the owners have placed the winery in the cooler Willamette Valley and plucked grapes from eight deft farmers that see eye to eye with them on natural farming practices. In the fall of 2017, Dominio has started planting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes on its new Estate property in Carlton.
Dominio hopes you will visit in person -- walk the labyrinth and taste the wines. Who knows, you may even hear one of the vineyard’s conversations.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Straddling the Columbia River Gorge with vineyards in both Washington and Oregon, this 40 mile stretch of vineyards, starting about an hour drive east of the city of Portland, grows a wide variety of grapes, including everything from Syrah to Gewürztraminer.