Coast Explorer Magazine - The Explorer's Guide to the Oregon Coast and Washington Coast

Related Features

Pelican Post Coast Explorer Cover

Subscribe

Are you a Coast Explorer? Subscribe to Coast Explorer now and don't miss another issue featuring our beautiful photography and design, interesting feature stories and guides to coastal attractions, events, dining, shopping, arts and lodging.

Annual subscriptions (3 issues) now only $15.

The Wine List

We invited wine expert Dean Reiman, proprietor of The Wine Shack in Cannon Beach, to share his top six picks with Coast Explorer readers. Reiman features wines from all areas of the world, including a large selection from Oregon. The Wine Shack, 124 Hemlock in Cannon Beach, (503) 436-1100.

Article Image Sangiovese at its best
Fattoria Zerbina 2009 Ceregio Sangiovese - $15.75
A classic Italian wine produced without the influence of oak, it is the pure essence of Sangiovese. Produced by one of Italy's finest winemakers, it is light enough in body to make it a great summer red.

First release Syrah
Pudding River 2009 Walla Walla Syrah - $31
Oregon winemaker Sean Driggers has produced an outstanding Syrah sourced from a Walla Walla vineyard. Beginning with notes of fresh ground coffee and finishing with seductive flavors of chocolate covered espresso bean and vanilla, this wine avoids the heavy over oaked qualities found in so many domestic Syrah.

Intense Zinfandel
Sbragia 2008 La Promessa Zinfandel - $33
Long time winemaker Ed Sbragia makes this wine from grapes sourced at one of his family's vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley outside of Healdsburg, California. It is elegant and shows notes of raspberries and flavors of peppercorns and berries, and cries out to be matched with beef or pork off of the barbeque.

Double Gold Medal Winner!
Sweet Cheeks 2009 Pinot Gris - $16.50
Winning a double gold medal at the 2011 Oregon Wine Awards was quite an achievement for this relative newcomer to the Oregon wine scene. Classic aromas of apple and citrus dominate with flavors of melon on the palate, this makes for a wonderful summer sipper on its own or with lighter fare.

Crisp, bright and white!
Thistle Wines 2010 Pinot Blanc - $16.50
The 2009 vintage was selected by Sunset Magazine as the best white wine of the year under $15 and I think this new vintage is even better. Ripe fruit flavors balanced by crisp acidity make this a perfect wine for many occasions. Serve it with poultry, Asian dishes or Dungeness crab for a perfect meal.

Another Fresh Summer White
Marotti Campi 2010 Luzano - $14.50
Produced in the Italian region of the Marche, this crisp, dry white is made from the Verdicchio grape. The wine has scents of almond, straw and flowers. On the palate there are flavors of apples and almonds and the wine finishes with a pleasant minerality. I would serve this with fish, poultry, pork and roasted vegetables.

Share/Bookmark