Catching East Coast Fish Pairing with Left Coast Cellars

This summer seems to be the summer of fish and white wine pairings for me. It’s a great time to eat fish,especially when your husband catches it. There is such a variety of white and rose wines that pair so well with fish and Left Coast Cellars produces some rare and exceptional wines that fall into that category. There is nothing better than eating fresh fish and drinking good white wine that leads to great memories.

Last year I got introduced to Left Coast Cellars and was quite impressed with their wines. I’m going to admit, I was never a fan of Pinot Gris until I had it from Oregon and now I am hooked. Left Coast Cellars not only produces a Pinot Gris but a wine you don’t see very often being made, a White Pinot Noir and I am always intrigued with wines out of the norm.

What is a White Pinot Noir? 

At Left Coast it all began as an experiment. One of those experiments that you undertake and hope for the best others just happen. This experiment was a huge success. The grapes are crushed at extremely cold temperatures so there is minimal coloration from the skins. There is no time for them to sit and extract of color and tannins from the skins and seeds. Once pressed, the juice is then fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees.

My thought was what do I pair with a White Pinot Noir? This 2017 vintage of Left Coast Cellars White Pinot Noir SRP $24 is 91% Pinot Noir and 9% Pinot Planc from the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Once the grapes are pressed they are aged for 4 months in stainless steel. The wine shows aromas and flavors of white berries and white flowers, nectarine, peaches with hints of wet stone. I paired it with the Sheepshead Fish Paul caught and grilled peaches and vanilla ice cream. The wine went well with both. With the fish, it cut back on the acidity. With the grilled peaches, it was the perfect way to end a nice dinner.

The Orchard Pinot Gris

Left Coast The Orchard Pinot Gris 2017 SRP $18, a blend of 91% Pinot Gris and 9 % Pinot Blanc from Willamette Valley, Oregon. This wine paired well with the Sheepshead Fish too. Yes it was a two bottle evening. This is a very exciting Pinot Gris and complex as well with aromas of pineapple, white flowers, and wet sand. On the palate it is soft and exciting with flavors of apricot, white plum and ripe pears. A delightful wine with a white fish or just on it’s own.

Sharing the Estate Rose

Left Coast Rose 2017 SRP $24 is a blend of 54% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 9% Pinot Blanc aged in 100% neutral French oak for 4 months. A nice food friendly Rose or drink on it’s own. Aromas of strawberry and black cherry has a hint of earthiness. Flavors of cherry, mandarin orange with a slight hint of white spice layer on the palate. I believe in sharing and brought this wine to the restaurant to share with my favorite people Bob & Vickie. I think this will pair very will with our Halibut and Lobster dish that is topped with a provencal tomato nage.

Left Coast Cellars is a family run winery located in Rickreall, Oregon. Take a tour of their estate below and if you are in the region, make sure you stop in for a tour and tasting.

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Left Coast Estate from Left Coast Estate on Vimeo.

Heading Left to the Left Coast - Cellars

When you think of the left coast bet you automatically think of California.  Right?  Well, left coast is left and not necessarily California, in this case it's Oregon. The Left stands for left handed as three of the family members of Left Coast Cellars (and myself I might add) are left handed.

Left Coast Cellars was founded in 2003 by Suzanne and Robert Pfaff and in 2011 Joe Wright joined the team as winemaker. They have one of the largest contiguous vineyards in the Willamette Valley with 350 acres and 150 of those acres under vine.  In the vineyard there are eight unique micro climates that contribute to the uniqueness of their wines and 90% of the winery is solar powered.

Left Coast Cellars produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, White Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.

I had the opportunity to taste their 2013 Cali's Cuvee Pinot Noir and the 2014 The Orchards Pinot Gris.

I want to begin by saying that Pinot Gris was not a favorite wine of mine but since tasting a few coming out of Oregon and this wine included, I have become a huge fan.

The Orchards Pinot Gris I paired with a scallop dish over pasta and it was wonderful.

The wine was aged in 100% stainless steel for 4 months.  Aromas of bartlett pears, herbs and dancing minerality filled my glass.  The wine was nicely balanced with hints of citrus and green apple with crisp and fresh minerality.

The vineyard this wine comes from happens to be planted on the site of a historic apple and pear orchard dating way back.  As you can see the soil must still hold the past as it shows in the wine.

Looking at my notes as I write this post two words described this wine... "Love It." SRP 18

The 2013 Cali's Cuvee Pinot Noir did not disappoint. (Sorry I forgot to take a personal photo of it. Got to carried away with the Pinot Gris)

This Pinot Noir was fermented in 5-ton open top stainless steel tanks then aged in 10% new French oak with the balance in 2,3 &4 year French Oak barrels for 8 months.  This wine was named after their left handed daughter Cali who has a passion for landscape design.

I immediately smelled aromas of clove coming from my glass.  As the wine opened up plum and cherry aromas became apparent.  The wine had a nice garnet red color.  On the plate flavors of red berry raspberry and cranberry burst in your mouth.  Towards the end of the taste it finishes with hints of clove.  SRP $24

If you see a selection from Left Coast Cellars in your wine shop, you can't go wrong.