"Wine Trails of Oregon," by Steve Roberts.
South Slope Productions, $24.95 trade paperback
540 pages, lavishly illustrated on every page SUBMITTED photo
Book Review: 'Wine Trails of Oregon: A Guide for Uncorking Your Memorable Wine Tour'
By Valerie Ryan
Oregon wine is NOT just about pinot noir. If you ever had any doubt about that, it will be dispelled by this comprehensive guidebook to the wineries of Oregon.
Featuring 24 memorable, unique wine trails, the guide includes a winery description, the winemaker's philosophy, definitions of words you've always wondered about but were too proud to ask, many photos, contact information, hours, maps and driving directions. Bonus material includes tasting room etiquette, wine tasting 101, tips on traveling to wineries when the kids are along and suggested bike tours. This is a great book to read aloud in the car as you are driving to the next winery.
The author's intention was to visit every Oregon winery that has regular tasting room hours. That was the qualifying criterion for inclusion in the book, which is organized into 10 "Wine Country Regions" from the Oregon Coast to Central and Eastern Oregon. Within those regions, the wineries are grouped into geographic clusters called WineTrails. There are 24 distinct WineTrails to explore throughout Oregon representing 200 wineries! Roberts makes no claim about prioritizing quality; that is up to the reader. That's the nuts and bolts of this worthy tome.
After that recitation of facts, it must be said that the book is fun to read. Even if you are sitting at home drinking a Pepsi, you will enjoy reading about the history of the wineries, seeing what they look like, whether there is a family involvement, if there is a gift shop and about a bazillion little details that makes Roberts' take on wine and wineries unique. Wine snobs need not apply. At one point, Roberts says, "Cork dorks need to check their attitude at the door. This winery may focus on fruit wines and other specialty wines, but it just so happens that Honeywood Winery is the grandfather of the Oregon wine industry. The winery's roots reach back to 1933." Roberts is an equal opportunity wine drinker - and writer! This belongs in every oenophile's library, makes a perfect gift for any Oregonian who isn't a teetotaler and is also a darn good travel guide for making your way around scenic parts of Oregon.
