Friday Find, March 15th

Each Friday we highlight a wine from the Northwest that we think is a real "find". By find we might mean that it's a steal, as all of these wines we'll feature weekly are at or under $20. We might also mean, "Hey, you really need to go find this", and it might be a wine that we feel not enough people know about. In any case, with the weekend pending, we're hoping to help you "find" a wine to kickoff the weekend right. We'll tell you a little bit about the wine and try to help you track it down here in the Northwest.

The mild winter months have packed their bags and finally left town. Our collective wine thoughts can now turn to what pairs well with Northwest sunshine and t-shirt weather. The 2010 and 2011 Oregon vintages produced some stellar white wines. These bright, vibrant wines can easily induce the whitest of legs to parade around the backyard in shorts, while unearthing patio furniture in the 52 degree sun. These wines are capable of convincing the mind that a sunny spring day in Oregon is almost, almost like a day at the beach in San Diego; they're that persuasive. Is one of these lively, delicious wines, occupying that half empty bottle next to your chaise, the reason why you and your sunglasses ignore the pale goosebumps covering your pale legs? Does it really matter? The time has come for the parade of whites and rosés to march past our daffodils and into our wine glasses.

Today's Friday Find is a Pinot Gris that fits the bill for our warm weather plans. The 2011 Pinot Gris from Omero Cellars was fermented in stainless steel, a leaner style with enough roundness of mouthfeel to fill out the wine nicely. Lemon, mild melon and lychee flavor this Alsatian style wine, with all the acidity that also makes this great with food. Fruit and floral aromas and flavors are capped off with nice bit of spice.

Prior to joining Omero, winemaker Sarah Cabot spent time working in New Zealand, and at Belle Pente and Willakenzie, two highly respected Oregon wineries. Sarah's collaboration with Vineyard Manager David Moore, is proving that Omero Cellars is coming into its own. They began producing wines with the 2008 vintage. This 2011 Pinot Gris is their first with 100% estate fruit from the Omero Vineyard. The 26 acre vineyard was planted in 2009. Four acres are planted to Pinot Gris, clones 146 and 152, the remaining acres comprised of five Pinot Noir clones. The vineyard is located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, the smallest of Oregon's wine growing regions.

You can find the wine at their tasting room in Carlton if you're out and about in Oregon wine country. Their website states tasting room hours are daily from noon until 5pm. The wine is also available for $19.99 at Whole Foods Bridgeport Village and at many Portland area wine retailers. You can contact them through their website to find out how you can have your own delicious slice of sunshine.