Pages

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Willamette Wine Country at its best: Lunch at Cottage Grove’s Covered Bridge

Lunch paired with wines, from Bluebird Hill CellarsBrigadoon and Iris Vineyards at Cottage Grove’s Covered Bridge was pure joy. After leaving Eugene the bus continue onto the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge located in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Here we enjoyed a most fabulous lunch in downtown Cottage Grove at an historic covered bridge, the only remaining covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi. Cottage Grove is a small town in Lane County, located on the Row River and near the Umpqua National Forest. Spaswinefood welcomed the opportunity on our Wine Media Conference #WMC21 South Willamette Valley post-conference excursion to visit Cottage Grove’s Covered Bridge. We discovered Willamette Wine Country at its best!

Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge, Cottage Grove, Oregon © Spaswinefood

Let's Tour South Willamette Valley Wine Country

After touring Eugene the bus continue on to the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge located in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The South Willamette is home to wineries and vineyards that surround Eugene. We were introduced to three of those wineries over lunch.


Lunch at the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge  

Welcome to Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge, Cottage Grove © Spaswinefood

We were welcomed with a refreshing glass of Iris Vineyards Brut Blanc de Noirs 2018.

Iris Vineyards, Areté Brut Blanc de Noirs 2018 © Spaswinefood

Indeed, we ate a most delightful lunch, paired with wines from Bluebird Hill CellarsBrigadoon, and Iris Vineyards, on the only remaining covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi. The Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge constructed in 1925, moved and restored in 2011. Looking at the amazing intricate metal work inside the bridge even tells more of the story. What a stunning setting for lunch!

Ready for Lunch, Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge © Spaswinefood


Not only was it the most fabulous lunch with great wines, but also the hospitality was amazing!

Lunch, Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge © Spaswinefood


Lunching in style, with great food and wines was a first class wine country experience.

Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge © Spaswinefood

The Wines
There was Brigadoon Pinot Blanc 2020 paired with the salad.

Brigadoon Pinot Blanc 2020
Brigadoon Pinot Blanc 2020 © Spaswinefood

Main course was Savory or Vegetable Quiche. The edible flowers accompanying the meal were supplied by Long Table Farm, Eugene.

Edible Flowers by Long Table Farm © Spaswinefood

Edible Flowers by Long Table Farm © Spaswinefood


Let's take a look at the Pinot Noir wines we were served while gathered around the table.

Welcome Wine, Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge © Spaswinefood

The following three Pinot Noir wines were served:

1. Bluebird Hill Cellars, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018
 Bluebird Hill Cellars, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 © Spaswinefood


Iris Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 © Spaswinefood


Waiting to Pour Iris Vineyards, Pinot Noir © Spaswinefood


3. Brigadoon Pinot Noir 
Brigadoon Pinot Noir © Spaswinefood
Brigadoon Pinot Noir © Spaswinefood
Over lunch we tasted three Pinot Noir wines.
Pinot Noir in the Pinot Glass © Spaswinefood

We concluded lunch with Fresh Berry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream. The pie was by Coast Fork Brewing, Cottage Grove and Ice Cream by Lockmead Dairy, Junction City. Desert was paired with
Brigadoon Riesling 'Off-dry" 2019.

Brigadoon Riesling 'Off-dry" 2019
Brigadoon Riesling 'Off-dry" 2019 © Spaswinefood

Other wines from Bluebird Hill Cellars and Iris Vineyards that we tasted were the following:

1.  Bluebird Hill Cellars

Bluebird Hill Chardonnay 2019
Bluebird Hill Chardonnay 2019 © Spaswinefood

2. Iris Vineyards

 Iris Vineyards, Pinot Gris
Iris Vineyards, Pinot Gris © Spaswinefood
Iris Vineyards, Pinot Gris © Spaswinefood

What a wonderful introduction to these Willamette Valley wines it was!

Wine Tasting, Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge © Spaswinefood


The Wineries

Before leaving we thanked the host wineries.

Bluebird Hill CellarsBrigadoon and Iris Vineyards Winemakers © Spaswinefood

After being spoiled at lunch our South Willamette Valley vine-filled explorations continued. Again, I would like to thank our winery hosts for the most fabulous lunch.


Bluebird Hill Cellars

Sue Shay | info@bluebirdhillcellars.wine

Facebook

Instagram | @bbhalpine 

Twitter | @BBHAlpine 

Pinterest 


Brigadoon Wine Company

Matt Shown | matt@brigadoonwineco.com 

Facebook

Instagram | @brigadoonwineco


Iris Vineyards

David Cordtz | dcordtz@irisvineyards.com 

Facebook

Instagram | @irisvineyards

Twitter | @irisvineyards

YouTube


Discover Willamette Wine Country at its best by visiting the above wineries, and of course checking out the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge. For a complete list of South Willamette Valley wineries see Southern Willamette Valley Wineries Association. We invite you to join us in our Oregon wine country travels and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood.

Sharon & John 
August 2021
Cottage Grove, Oregon
© Spaswinefood
A Summer's Lunch, Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge © Spaswinefood

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook 

No comments:

Post a Comment