Thirty years ago, most people weren’t thinking about growing grapes and making wine in Oregon, but Tom Huggins was when he started Eola Hills.  His work in agricultural insurance provided him the insight to realized the potential of the Willamette Valley. Today, Eola is one of the largest wineries in the state, producing wines that showcase the beauty of the region.

Eola Hills 2013 “Total Eclipse” Pinot Noir

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Oregon, USA

Price: 15-20

Tasting Notes:

One is meet with ripe strawberries and bing cherries, along with some floral and spicy notes on the nose. A nice, complex palate leads off with strawberry, cranberry, and cherry and finishes with white pepper and minerals. A wine with plush tannins and a balanced acidity, it will do well with a dish like grilled salmon. “Limited production.”

Rating: 90

Eola Hills 2015 Pinot Noir

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Oregon, USA

Price: 30-35

Tasting Notes:

Cranberries and cherries play with expressions of spice and spring flowers on the nose. Flavors of ripe cherry, cranberry, and raspberry take shape on the palate, moving into highlights of minerals, white pepper, and cedar. This is a wine that’s lighter is style, but that elegance finds harmony with a nice acidity. Open a bottle with mushroom risotto. 32,000 cases were made.

Rating: 89

Eola Hills 2013 “Barrel Select” Pinot Noir

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Oregon, USA

Price: 40-45

Tasting Notes:

The noses offers cherry pie and blackberries aromas that meld with floral and spice notes. Blackberry, cherry and boysenberry form a fruit core that’s backed up by allusions of rose petal and toasty oak. Nicely structured with a pleasant acidity, match it up with roast duck.

Rating: 90

Eola Hills 2015 Pinot Gris

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Oregon, USA

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

Alluring aromas of golden apples, ripe pears, peaches, and toasted almonds draws one into a glass. On the palate, lovely flavors of pear and green apple are carried by a fresh acidity, moving into accents of marzipan and honeysuckle. Crisp and clean with nice fruit, anything from a veggie stir fry to grilled halibut would be excellent pairings. 24,000 cases were made.

Rating: 89

Eola Hills 2015 Tempranillo

Grape(s): 100% Tempranillo

Region: Oregon, USA

Price: 30-35

Tasting Notes:

A hearty nose on this wine, with leather, spice and red fruit forming the core aromas. Plush tannins, carry strawberry and raspberry flavors that combine with leather, white pepper, and minerals on the palate. Lively flavors and a light body endear this wine to a Mexican chicken or pork dish.

Rating: 89

Eola Hills 2015 Sparkling Rose

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Oregon, USA

Price: 40-45

Tasting Notes:

Waves of strawberries, apples, and cherries come forth on the nose with accents of brioche. Crisp apple, bright strawberry, and bing cherry dominate the palate but hints of fresh bread show up, too. A nice fruit core yet still finishes fairly dry, it’s quite approachable and good for a picnic. 400 cases produced.

Rating: 88