Wine Wednesday: Fairsing Vineyard

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A couple of weeks ago my friend Antoinette and I took a trip out to wine country. She needed to deliver some flowers and a thank you card to the owner’s, Mary Ann and Mike at Fairsing Vineyard. The week prior, Mike, had rescued her after getting her car stuck in the mud just down the road from the winery.

When she asked if I would like to go with her, well…… of course I said yes! Road trip, girl time and I get to taste wine. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Fairsing Vineyard is about a 40 minute drive from Beaverton (Portland suburb), where I live. And what a beautiful drive it is, even on a cloudy spring day.

As we made our way up the hill we came to the base of the winery.

The tasting room sits at the top of a charming hillside and has a beautiful panoramic view of the vineyards and countryside below.

Once inside, we were greeted with kind smiles, a highly knowledgeable staff and a warm welcome by Mary Ann, one of the owners. The tasting included five wines, 1 Chardonnay and 4 different Pinot Noir.

The vineyard’s Executive Chef (Rebecca Clarke) was behind the counter as well, greeting and welcoming guests. She had made a delicious Smoked Salmon Chowder to pair with the wines being tasted as well as some shortbread cookies. What a lovely bonus! As most tasting rooms only serve little crackers to cleanse the palette. The chowder was superb and paired with all of the wines in the tasting.

My wine guide and Tasting Room Manager (Brandy Grey) was wonderful as well. She was not only welcoming and friendly but also extremely knowledgeable about the wines that she served and also gave a brief history of the vineyard and how each wine was produced.

The owner, Mary Ann McNally, also greeted us and welcomed us to her winery. While she and Antoinette chatted, I tasted the wine!

Here’s what I tasted:

The Chardonnay: A 2016 was bright, refreshing and elegant with flavors of citrus, pear and a touch of honey with a light buttery finish. Great for sipping on a warm summer day or pair with Salmon or other meaty fish, shellfish, pork, chicken, mushrooms, hazelnuts, squash and of course smoked salmon chowder.

Pinot Noir: Each of the Pinot Noir’s that I tasted were 2015 but each were from different portions of the vineyard and each had it’s own unique taste depending on the area the grapes were grown.

The first wine was the Barrel Select: A tawny red in the glass, elegant, smooth tannins, dark cherries, tobacco, a light hint of smoke, a very delicate pinot.

Two was the 2015 Sullivan (East portion of the vineyard): Pale garnet red in the glass, bright red fruits raspberry, pomegranate, hibiscus, blood orange. bright and lively.

Three was the 2015 Dardis (Southeast portion): Much bigger and bolder than the first two that I had tasted. Darker garnet color in the glass with flavors of dark cherry, plum, wild blueberry, vanilla and milk chocolate with nice minerality and smooth long finish. This one was right up my alley!

The Final was the 2015 Pinot Noir Fairsing(Grapes from the entire vineyard): Deep garnet in the glass, Luscious, fruit forward, fresh strawberries, raspberries, red licorice, rose petals, beautiful smooth finish. Yes, this one came home with me! It was everything and more.

Pair these wines with meaty fish, pork, lamb, poultry, mushrooms, bean dishes like cassoulet, light and nutty cheeses (Brie, havarti, mozzarella) or some good crusty bread with roasted garlic. Yum!

Fairsing Vineyard is a beautiful family run, boutique winery. Each of the wines, their own unique piece of art, crafted with the utmost care. The owner and the staff take the same care at making their guests feel welcome and at home. And the views are absolutely stunning! Even on a rainy, cloudy day. I look forward to visiting again in the summer and get more pictures with clear skies and taste more wine! They will be releasing a Rose’ to their collection around Mother’s Day. What a perfect gift for Mom!

If you would like to taste these wines, (they are not currently available in stores) you can head over to their tasting room or you can order online at their website. Just click on the link below:

Fairsing Vineyard