Eugene, OR - King Estate Winery

With so many wineries to choose from in Oregon, it was hard to decide where to visit first. We chose the King Estate Winery due to its reputation of having excellent food and great wine. My husband and I enjoyed the thirty minute scenic drive through the lush rolling hills southwest of Eugene.  You can't miss the winery since it appears like a castle perched high on the hilltop, surrounded by 30 acres of spectacular grounds.  The restaurant and tasting room is located at the very top of the hill and offers magnificent views.  There is a casual elegance about the interior design, accented with rich cherry wood, large picture windows, and soothing Mediterranean colors.  The feeling is polished and immaculate.  We were seated in the private dining room at an intimate table looking out on the patio.  If the weather had been nicer, it would have been lovely to sit outdoors.  The food is an epicurean's delight.  Many of the ingredients are grown on property or purchased from local growers.  After taking the first bite of food and sip of their signature Pinot Gris, we knew we chose well. 

What did we have: We decided to try the Signature wine sampler which includes their Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, the two wines they are famous for.  Chardonnay and a dry rose were also included.  All four were pleasant, but the Pinot Gris is the variety that stands out.  All the items on the lunch menu sounded wonderful. My husband wanted to try the barbecue quail and I selected the smoked trout club with delicious apple cured bacon and pickles cured on the property.  The home made potato chips were a real treat.  I would say that any foodie would enjoy the offerings at King Estate.  We saved room for the bittersweet chocolate marquise, topped with homemade coffee toffee crunch ice cream.  Only one word to describe this dessert - yum.  Our server delighted us by bringing a sampling of the Vin Glace  a sweet dessert wine with a crisp finish that was the perfect sipping wine to end our meal.   Feeling full and content, we made our way to the tasting room to check out a few other offerings.  I requested tastings of the Acrobat and Domaine Pinot Gris to compare with the Signature.  The Domaine is an outstanding wine made exclusively from organic grapes grown on the estate offered at a higher price.  But all three are very enjoyable and we purchased bottles of each.

What's fun: The King Estate is a destination in itself.  I wish we had more time so we could have taken the tour and seen more of the estate.  It's a "feel good" kind of place knowing the ingredients grown on property are organic and top quality.  The wine tasting process is fun.  You can opt for three sample of the Signature varietals at no charge or pay $5 to try the more expensive wines.  There were a group of college girls next to me sampling a $60 bottle of Pinot Noir.  They admitted rarely paying more than $8 for a bottle of wine, so this was a real treat for them.  The server was personable and knowledgeable about the wine.  The entire staff was welcoming enhancing the experience.  We had planned to stop at a few other wineries before leaving the Eugene area, but truthfully, King Estate satisfied all our wine and food desires for that day.