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Serra Vineyards Review

Serra Vineyards Review

Address: 222 Missouri Flat Road Grants Pass,Oregon 97527.
Phone Number: 541-846-9223
Tasting Hours: 11:00-5:00

Region: Southern Oregon AVA, Rogue Valley AVA, Applegate Valley AVA, Oregon
Reviewer: Liesa Morrow-Bratcher
Review Date: 2/7/2014
Reviewer: Liesa Morrow-Bratcher
Rating: 4

The Review

Last week I had the pleasure of heading out to the Applegate Valley. This is an area in Southern Oregon just outside of the town of Jacksonville. The drive is very picturesque with many vineyards and wineries along the way.

We ended up at Serra Vineyards. It is a beautiful 80-acre property on a hillside with the tasting room sitting at the top. When you pull up to the tasting room, you are treated to a beautiful view overlooking the vines with mountains in the background. Even though we were there on a rainy and overcast Oregon day, it was still a scenic picture.

The tasting room is bright and cheerful and has recently been renovated. There is ample seating inside and a lovely patio outside. We were greeted warmly by Liz and later introduced to Jackie. Liz has been with the winery for a few years and Jackie has recently joined the team. Both ladies were informative and friendly. Liz gave us some background information and told us about the wines we would taste. She is incredibly hospitable and has a great depth of knowledge about the vineyard and wine in general. I could tell by speaking with her that she has a passion for wine and loves her work. Liz is also a certified sommelier and self-proclaimed “cork dork.”

The vineyard was purchased by Scott and Krissa Fernandez in 2008. There are 30 acres planted, with plans to expand. Scott and Krissa also grow Pinot Noir grapes at the Bendock Estate in the Illinois Valley of Oregon. Liz explained that part of the vines are dry-farmed, i.e. no water is supplied to the grapes other than that supplied by Mother Nature.

During the tasting, both ladies let us try the wines and then offered information about each varietal. Liz was also good at recommending foods to serve with each wine.

The winery provides light snacks to accompany tastings, and they go well with the wines. After tasting the main wines that they had available, Liz offered a rare barrel tasting. We were blessed with the opportunity to try the 2013 Cabernet Franc and the 2013 Syrah. They were both very well on their way to becoming very fine wines.

The quality of the wines we tasted was very good, and the staff made the experience memorable. I definitely plan on returning in the summer with a picnic basket to take advantage of the wonderful wines and setting.

The Wines
2010 Chardonnay – Crisp with flavors of pear and green apple. It has a slightly sweet taste and a creamy finish.

2011 Rosa Marie – The Pinot Noir-based Rose has a sweet, berry nose and a nice fruity taste. The finish is crisp, and the wine would be wonderful with summer foods.

2007 Padre Red Blend – A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the Padre has flavors of cherries, black currants and light oak. It has a subtle finish and is a crowd-pleaser.

2007 Syrah – A lovely nose of spicy berries, the 2007 Syrah bursts from the glass with hints of toasted oak and tobacco. The finish is long and pleasing.

2010 Pinot Noir (Bendock Estate, Illinois Valley) – The 2010 Pinot Noir is rich, with complex and silky flavors and a long finish. The wine won a Gold Medal at the 2012 World of Wine Festival in Southern Oregon.