With everything else that’s going on, we can’t forget that May is Oregon Wine Month.   

     Under normal circumstances, we could simply go to the store, wine shop or tasting room to pick up one of the traditional Oregon favorites…pinot noir, pinot gris or chardonnay. 

      But since there’s precious little that’s “normal” right now, I thought I’d highlight an Oregon wine that isn’t one of the big three, that you probably can’t find at your favorite retail outlet but is nonetheless, quite attainable. 

     And quite good.

     It’s Wine Thursday!, our weekly good-wine-at-a-good-price-that-you-can-find recommendation. 

    We’re stretching the rules a bit with this one. 

     You’ll be challenged to find it at a store but it’s easy enough to order and have delivered to your door which is currently so de rigueur.  

     “It” is Melrose Winery’s 2019 sauvignon blanc. 

      Located near Roseburg, many miles from the high-profile Willamette Valley,  Melrose flies underneath the Oregon wine radar. 

     But there are some wonderful wines coming from the Umpqua Valley, including this sauvignon blanc.  

    I grew up drinking Squirt. 

   The Melrose sauvignon blanc reminds me so much of that old-school Squirt flavor combo:  lemon meets lime meets grapefruit. 

     It’s tart, refreshing and pleasantly acidic.  This is meant to be drunk well-chilled on a warm day. 

     The folks at Melrose were in the process of expanding their retail distribution when covid hit…and distribution hit a wall.

     But the sauvignon blanc can be ordered at the Melrose website.  Like so many other wineries, Melrose is currently offering significant pricing & shipping specials.

     https://www.melrosevineyards.com/