Oregon has a robust wine industry. Much of the product is very good; concordantly much of the product is overpriced, but visiting vineyards remains a great way to spend an afternoon and today proved no exception. With our friend Hollis, we picked three local vineyards all within a couple miles of Ashland and off we went before the latest round of rain came down.

Running a vineyard is farming on steroids. Like raising any other lucrative cash crop the rewards are many and the risks are many, many more. Forget any notion of romanticism, running a vineyard at a profit is almost as bad as trying to run a theatre at a profit; it’s a nasty business where talent alone won’t suffice. There are many many vineyard owners who, despite having the credentials, lost everything to the vagaries of the market and/or the weather.

Today’s winner was Trium vineyards. We ended up buying a case of the 2005 cuvée blend. It’s a treat to compare blends and vintages side by side, to taste exactly how similar blends can vary so much year to year. We also joined their wine club, so expect reviews as the season moves along.

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