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Christopher Bridge Wines 2016 Kerner
A taste of Europe in Oregon
Oregon wine lovers are all familiar with the West side of the Willamette Valley. The stretch along Highway 99 from Sherwood to McMinnville is dotted with dozens of small wineries whose reputations for stellar Pinot Noir have lured thousands. But have you ever explored the East side of the Willamette Valley? Hop on over I-5 and you’ll find an equally picturesque part of the valley with equally stunning wines but far less traffic or hoopla.
Outside Oregon City, you’ll find Christopher Bridge Cellars. A family arm in its third generation, Satori Springs Estate Vineyard was once a family-run cattle farm.
Chris and Susanne Carlberg met in Bavaria where Susanne grew up when Carl was teaching English in the area. Visiting vineyards in Switzerland, France, and Germany, Susanne and Chris fell in love with each other and with wine. Before long, they returned to the Carlberg family farm in Oregon, planting vines more than 20 years ago.
They’ve been making award-winning Pinot Noir ever since. But in a nod to Susanne’s heritage, they also make European varietals that aren’t as common: Kerner, Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, and Zweigelt. A little bit of Europe in the hills of the eastern Willamette Valley!
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Christopher Bridge Wines, Oregon City, Oregon
2016 Kerner
Never heard of Kerner? You’re not alone. A popular, but still lightly-produced wine in Germany, it is rarely seen outside of Europe.
A genetic child of Riesling (and the German red wine Trollinger), Kerner is a fresh and racy wine with good acid and more body than a typical Riesling. This is a savory wine that is still refreshing and definitely unique.
It reminds you of Sauvignon Blanc with its herbaciousness but no green pepper here. Lean, minerally, and yet full of fruit it has subtle notes of apricots and almonds.
Most amusingly, Kerner is named after a poet in the 1800s who was notorious for writing drinking songs, including the famous “Wohlauf, noch getrunken” (which roughly translates to “Arise, still drunk!”)
A Cellar 503 selection in September 2019, Unusual Varietals Willamette Valley | Kerner
