A couple weeks ago, while wine tasting in Willamette Valley, I stumbled across a couple unusual wine varieties. The first, Auxerrois, is the one I’ll discuss this week. Auxerrois (aus-ser-whah) is a white grape native to the Alsace-Lorraine region of northeastern France. It’s debatable when it was first mentioned in text, but dates back to at least the early 19th century. It is a close relative of Chardonnay, both of which are offspring of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc (to be discussed in the next blog). As to be expected, it shares some similar traits with Chardonnay, such as an ability to prosper in limestone soil and cool climates. It is still widely grown in Alsace, where it is the second leading white grape planted behind Riesling. Auxerrois can be used to produce sweet or dry wines. Interestingly, wines labeled as Pinot Blanc in Alsace could potentially be up to 100% Auxerrois. This is quite unusual because French wine labeling is so strictly regulated. Auxerrois is also planted in Germany, Canada, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
The bottle I tried was a 2022 Bjӧrnson Viola from the Eola-Amity Hills in Willamette Valley, Oregon. This bottle is 100% Auxerrois. It was named Viola after the grandmother of Pattie The bottle I tried was a 2022 Bjӧrnson Viola from the Eola-Amity Hills in Willamette Valley, Oregon. This bottle is 100% Auxerrois. It was named Viola after the grandmother of Pattie Bjӧrnson, the wife of the husband-wife duo that founded Bjӧrnson Vineyard in 2006. This wine was a pale lemon color with steely highlights. It had aromas of white grapefruit juice, lemon peel, green apples, yellow pears, gardenia, and wet stone. This dry wine had a moderate level of alcohol and medium body. The acid was sharp enough to cleanse the palate for a couple minutes after each sip but didn’t cause my jaw to clench. In addition to the aforementioned aromas, there was also a marked salinity and chalky minerality on the palate with a bit of honeysuckle. The flavors slowly faded but when they finally did, I was ready for another taste. This wine was bright and fun. It was perfect for a hot summer day while enjoying vineyard views, sitting on a patio, or trying to stay cool indoors. I paired it with sushi and it was fantastic! It would also be a great compliment to grilled fish tacos, crab cakes, or even escargot! , the wife of the husband-wife duo that founded Bjӧrnson Vineyards in 2006. This wine was a pale lemon color with steely highlights. It had aromas of white grapefruit juice, lemon peel, green apples, yellow pears, gardenia, and wet stone. This dry wine had a moderate level of alcohol and medium body. The acid was sharp enough to cleanse the palate for a couple minutes after each sip but didn’t cause my jaw to clench. In addition to the aforementioned aromas, there was also a marked salinity and chalky minerality on the palate with a bit of honeysuckle. The flavors slowly faded but when they finally did, I was ready for another taste. This wine was bright and fun. It was perfect for a hot summer day while enjoying vineyard views, sitting on a patio, or trying to stay cool indoors. I paired it with sushi and it was fantastic! It would also be a great compliment to grilled fish tacos, crab cakes, or even escargot!
-TheLooseTannin
A Trip Around the World of Wine in 52 Weeks 