REX HILL named one of

"REX HILL's esteemed roster of estate-grown wines are farmed biodynamically, and the line-up also includes offerings from top Oregon growers. Visitors have the opportunity to sample these wines in a variety of ways, up to a $65 "V.I.P." tour of the vineyard and winery and a tasting of matured wines paired with cheese. Call ahead for information about wine classes and tasting dinners."

Thank you for the kind words Food & Wine Magazine!

Learn more about our tours and tastings

See the list by Food & Wine Magazine

Feb 24, 2016 at 12:25 PM Permalink

Pair Pinot Noir with your next cheese plate

Honestly, my favorite pairing with Pinot Noir is a nice array of charcuterie and artisan cheeses. It's my tiny piece of heaven that takes only a few minutes for this busy mom of two to throw together after a long day at the office. These busy parenting years will slow down eventually and maybe then I'll spend a little more time around the stove but for now, I love my meat and cheese platter!

Our friends at Cabot Creamery have put together an easy-to-follow infographic on How to Make a Cheese Plate here.

Photo by Cabot Creamery.

Feb 8, 2016 at 4:48 PM Permalink

Learning to Prune

I don’t have a green thumb. Far from it. I’ve been known to kill cactus. So you might imagine my apprehension when Karen, our Viticulturist, handed me her pruning shears as we stood in the REX HILL Vineyard this misty February morning. I didn’t anticipate our morning field trip and lesson in vineyard maintenance would involve hands-on practice.

Of course, I needn’t have worried. Karen showed us how she and our vineyard team prune back last year’s growth leaving behind a few select canes that will become the backbone for this year’s crop. The process is critical for regulating the number of shoots that will grow this coming season and for keeping excellent fruit quality. Winter pruning kicks off the year for the vineyard team and they work through the cold and the wet to ready the vines for another growing season.

Several factors are taken into consideration including cane thickness, location relative to the guidewires, and number of buds in order to decide what to cut, where to cut, and what to leave alone. Experienced workers can assess and prune a vine in a minute or two. I, on the other hand, took ten minutes just to confirm with Karen (twice) that I was cutting correctly. I didn’t want to add Pinot Noir to the list of plants that perished at my hand.

Thankfully, my vine is in good health (even after I was through with it) and has three healthy canes through which it will produce fruit this year. Is it Spring yet?

Feb 4, 2016 at 1:35 PM Permalink

The Meaning Behind February 2nd (Groundhog Day)

February 2 is the cross quarter day (or midpoint) between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.  In Portugal, it is not the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, but the Lady of Candles who is looked to for seasonal predictions.  

Quando a Senhora das Candeias está a rir está o inverno para vir, quando está a chorar está o inverno a acabar.

 [Translation: If she smiles (Sun) the winter is yet to come, if she cries (Rain) the winter is over]

Feb 2, 2016 at 3:46 PM Permalink