Eugene Weekly : Uncorked : 5.19.11

 

Uncorked 2011:

Ich Bin Ein Pfalzer
Giving German wines a go at •S Wine

In Vino Veritas, So Why So Sniffy?
Wise words for the would-be wine fan

The Grape American Acetic NyQuil Taste Test

At The End of The Bottle
Local entrepreneurs make interesting uses of corks

Wike A Hike, But Dwunker
Oregon combines wine/hiking for the tourists

 

Wike A Hike, But Dwunker
Oregon combines wine/hiking for the tourists
by John Locanthi

Oregon is a state rich in natural beauty, with literally hundreds of vineyards. People come from all across the nation to go hiking along the scenic rivers, lakes and mountains. Other folks are increasingly visiting the state for its growing wine reputation.

photo courtesy brad niva / wildrogue.com

A few industrious Oregonians have combined the two tourist activities to create (drum roll please) “wiking” ã hiking and wine tasting together at last. As goofy as that term may sound, wiking is growing in popularity. In the May 13 Travel section of The New York Times, Oregon was featured as the nexus of several new wiking adventure outfits, from day hikes to longer, more intensive excursions.

Rogue Wilderness Adventures has a four-day, 40-mile hike along the Rogue River that features nightly wine tastings and lectures from a winemaker. There is a tour opening along the Metolious River where guides carry bottles of wine along the hike. And this summer, Grand Cru Wine Tours is opening the first wiking trail through wine country or, to be precise, the southern Willamette Valley.

The trail starts at Left Coast Cellars and leads hikers through Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge along with various other vineyards. Byron Williams, who created this wiking tour, attempted to weave together wine country and the natural beauty of the state.

“These are things you dont get on a normal hike,” Williams said. “Great scenery, great wildlife, yes, but you also get to try some wine along the way.”

For more information on local and state wiking adventures, visit www.grandcruwinetours.com, www.travelsalem.com, www.wildrogue.com or www.wanderlusttours.com or
www.traveloregon.com