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Kramer Vineyards 2017 Celebrate Grüner Veltliner
Second Generation Sparkles
About an hour’s drive west of Portland, Keith and Trudy Kramer have been growing grapes on their land in Gaston, Oregon for over thirty years. Kramer Vineyards has become renowned for their estate Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.
Today, the second generation is stepping up. The youngest daughter, Becky Kramer, joined the family business in 2017 as the general manager after running her own wine bar in Forest Grove.
Since joining the family business in 2008, eldest daughter Kim Kramer has become the Queen of Sparkling Wine. She’d probably balk at that title given her laid back and down to earth demeanor, but her passion for producing sparkling wines makes her one of its biggest champions in the Willamette Valley.
These days, Kim is making 8 to 10 different sparkling wines from each vintage, and sparkling makes up 40% of all the production for Kramer Vineyards.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Kramer Vineyards, Gaston, Oregon
2017 Celebrate Grüner Veltliner
Grüner Veltliner is the national grape of Austria, the sort of wine you’ll find in the carafe at the schnitzel shop on the corner. But it has a complexity that Oregon winemakers have fallen in love with, ranging from easy-drinking porch-pounders to deep, herbaceous food-friendly wines.
As for this edition? Well, it’s one of the only sparkling Grüner Veltliners produced outside of Europe, and it’s so good. Like springtime in a glass!
Kim Kramer’s Celebrate line of sparkling wines are made with fruit that’s just a tad riper than more traditional sparkling wines — and that helps bring out more of the essential character of the grape.
You’ll notice fresh aromas of lemon, lime, cucumber, and peach that are balanced nicely with flavors of green apple, pear, and light herbs. This is a super crisp and dry sparkler that pairs nicely with asparagus, artichokes, smoked fish, or even sushi.
A Cellar 503 selection in March 2019, North Willamette Valley Wineries Yamhill-Carlton | Grüner Veltliner
