Vista Hills was the setting for the “Uncommon Wine Festival” that we’ve been talking about so much. This years was the 9th annual and before heading down there we had a chance to speak with Dave Petterson, Vista Hills Winemaker about the festival and how it got started.
The Uncommon Wine Festival at Vista Hills Vineyard – The Mega Mix
The day itself was spectacular, not too hot, not too cold. The vineyards were beautiful, the wines were flowing, there was even a group on horseback that stopped by the festival, before continuing their ride through the vineyards. And of course there were makers of “uncommon” wine there to talk and taste with. Enjoy our Mega Mix of the day!
While we couldn’t catch Dave during the festival, we did have a chance to taste a few of his “Uncommon Wines”
2017 Fool’s Gold Blanc de Noir
100% Pinot Noir, this blanc de Noir gets pressed and gets no time on the skin, which allows for this lovely light coppery color. They fement it with a champagne yeast. They only made 121 cases of this wine.
The grapes come from their newest vineyard block that was planted just 10 years ago in 2008. Block L sits are around 720 feet. This is all Dijon clone 115.
2016 Rumble Seat Pinot Gris Rose
Rumble Seat 2016 Pinot Gris Rosé from Vista Hills
They call it a Pinot Gris Rosé, but it is really made in the style of an Orange Wine. You can’t find this on their site anymore. It is incredibly popular with their wine club and disappears quickly. Luckily, we snagged a bottle at the festival. As with all their bottles, it comes with a story.
Rumble Seat 2016 Pinot Gris Rosé from Vista Hills label detail and story
2017 Duchess Pinot Noir Rose
Duchess 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé from Vista Hills
This wine is truly “Uncommon” the nose is cotton candy. Not what I normally look for in a wine, but…it was weird and fascinating. So, yeah, we left with a bottle of that too. Here’s it’s story.
Duchess 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé from Vista Hills label and story
The day was truly spectacular and the opportunity to meet and speak with all of these winemakers was once in a lifetime, well, until next year and the 10th annual “Uncommon Wine Festival”.
Take a visit to our page filled with all the fabulous winemakers that we met at the Uncommon Wine Festival filled with photos and interviews.
-
- Vista Hills Sign
-
- A group on horseback stopping through at the Uncommon Wine Festival at Vista Hills
-
- The “Treehouse” at Vista Hills
-
- Winemakers setting up for the Uncommon wine Festival at Vista Hills
-
- Looking up at the “Treehouse” at Vista Hills
-
- Made to order fusion food truck
-
- A spectacular selection for lunch from the Fusion Food Truck
-
- Tasty bites to pair with the wines at the Uncommon Wine Festival
-
- Menu at Phat Cart Food Truck
And for more information on Vista Hills Vineyard visit their website at http://vistahillsvineyard.com/
Update: As we were finishing up this post yesterday in preparation to release this morning, the news broke that the Coppola Family was buying Vista Hills. You can read about the acquisition here https://www.kgw.com/article/money/francis-ford-coppola-buys-vista-hills-vineyard-in-dayton/283-607159415
We wish everyone at Vista Hills all the best and thank them for creating an Amazing Event with the Uncommon Wine Festival, as well as for creating beautiful wines and a magical place in the “Treehouse” to taste them.
Don’t forget to check back with us here at Crushed Grape Chronicles as we continue to explore Oregon Wine Country. And don’t forget, you can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
4 Comments
Leave your reply.