Tony Soter established his own namesake winery, Soter Vineyards in the Yamhill-Carlton region of Willamette Valley in 1997. He owns a 240-acre parcel of land with 30 acres planted to Pinot Noir and 2 acres of Chardonnay, which are dedicated to his sparkling wines. Tony Soter wants his wines to be a “moving experience with a sense of wow and awe,” To do this he uses less new oak. Tony is a mature winemaker who “creates nuance’s in his wines that are expressive of their origin” with a respectful approach to farming and the land. He doesn’t embrace the idea that a wine makes itself, although he is a minimalist who is committed to creating an “authentic style” with wines that are “elegant and aromatic.”

This sparkling wine is 81% Pinot Noir and 19% Chardonnay from the Mineral Springs Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon. It is aged for 3 ½ years on the lees before being disgorged. The production is a modest 960 cases.

This well-crafted rose has a glistening ruby façade with an abundance of fine, long persistent bubbles that coat your glass. Within the brooding core are creamy overtones of ripened Rainier Cherries and crème de cassis buttressed with hints of candied citrus and delicate minerality. The opulent red berry fruits transport you to a lush, creamy mid-palate that is vibrant and artistically balanced. The journey continues for minutes on you palate, carrying you to a rich, persistent finish that is pure pleasure in the glass and a diversion from reality. Enjoy this moment in time as it will be hard to duplicate this experience with most sparkling wines. Congrats to Tony and his team.

By W Peter Hoyne