2Hawk Vineyard & Winery Review
Address: 2335 North Phoenix Rd. Medford,Oregon 97504.
Phone Number:
Tasting Hours: See website for wine tasting details.
Region: Southern Oregon AVA, Rogue Valley AVA, Oregon
Reviewer: Liesa Morrow-Bratcher
Review Date: 1/18/2014
Reviewer: Liesa Morrow-Bratcher
Rating: 3
The Review
Wine tasting rooms in Southern Oregon are as uniquely different as the wines themselves. 2Hawk Winery is no exception. 2Hawk’s vineyards and tasting room are located in Medford, Oregon in the Rogue Valley.
2Hawk’s tasting room opened in 2012 after owner Nisha Jackson (and others) built it from the ground up with reclaimed lumber from various corners of the country. The building has a nice, clean feeling, yet is still rustic in appearance. A highlight is the wonderful chandelier that Nisha created from reclaimed wine bottles. There is a kitchen and a downstairs dining room that can be used for private functions. Around the outside of the building is a patio area with nice fire pits and heat lamps; soft walls ensure the patio can be used all year. Inside, there is a stainless steel bar area where people can sit, as well as tables made out of wine barrels. Although the bar stools are a little high, they have done a nice job creating a space that is visually appealing as well as functional.
For $6, you can try four wines, two white and two red. You can also purchase by the glass. There’s no need to leave your beer drinking friends at home either; 2Hawk also has beer on tap! On Friday and Saturday night they offer live music. We sat at the bar and the staff was accommodating, yet not as knowledgeable as I would have liked. With the first tasting they also provided a little bucket of paprika-seasoned popcorn. The popcorn is good, yet can overwhelm the palate when wine tasting. It probably would have gone better with a cold beer. We also ordered a cheese snack for $6 that came with 3 small pieces of cheese and some crackers. I am not sure that 2Hawk has decided what its identity is yet. To me, 2Hawks tasting room feels a little more like a bar and less like a wine tasting room.
2Hawk has been producing wine since 2008, although they just opened the tasting room in 2012. I was informed that one of the white wines I tried (2010 Hawk White) was made by a local winemaker, Linda Donovan, though I do not know if the other wines were made in house or not.
Overall, I would say that it is a nice venue to go and have a glass of wine or a beer and chat with friends or family. If you are looking more for a traditional wine tasting room experience, this is probably not the place.
The Whites
2012 Viognier The wine was crisp with pear and apricots flavors. It has a nice clean finish and would be a nice choice with light summer dishes.
2010 Hawk White This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Marsanne and Chardonnay. Pleasant apple and honeysuckle flavors were evident on the nose and palate.
The Reds
2009 Syrah The 2009 Syrah has notes of blackberry and black pepper that stood out in glass. The finish is fruitier with flavors of plums and berries.
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of cherry, current and plum. It was served with a small piece of dark chocolate that it paired well with. I love a big, bold Cabernet and this wine fit the bill.
This winery is still very young. It has potential, but I dont think they are quite there just yet. I will look to return in the future to see where they are going.