St. Josef’s Willamette Valley Wines

Fruit, Earth & Spice – The wine that put Oregon’s Willamette Valley on the Map

Kitara are our special ‘barrel select’ reserve wines; named for the winemaker’s son Kirk and daughter Tara. We let these wines speak for themselves as they are a product of special cellaring & care. Every year after we settle the wines into barrels for aging we are tasked with the ‘challenge’ of tasting each one. One of the curious things of winemaking is that every barrel has its own character and tastes different, even with the same barrel with fruit from the same row of grapes. We sample of barrels of each vintage and take our family favorites to make a separate small lot blend. These wines are a combination of our favorite attributes- supple fruit, blended with tannins & oak- then we extend the aging for 6-12 months. Kitara wines are special enough to carry the family name with a combination of subtle fruit, complex personality and velvety finish.

These gorgeous Estate Pinot Noirs come from a small section of our special southwest sloping, Jory soiled hillside vineyard that has produced some really wonderful wines. We have tracked rows 2-11 over time to discover that this block has a unique terrior in our 40+ acres. The name comes from a family joke that Starling Hill is a very small production- since it’s what we’re left with when the #@&! birds are done with their harvest. Each Starling Hill vintage is a very small quantity- usually just a couple of barrels. We bring in ‘experts and friends’ to taste through our favorite barrels and then select just the best. It is then bottle aged for several years prior to release so that the complex flavors can mellow, mature and resonate.

Our vineyard is on the same latitude as some of the great wine areas of France and we are making an excellent cool climate Syrah. (Did you know that St Josephs is an appellation in France that grows a cool-climate Syrah)…

We produce a cool-climate Syrah, that carries the characteristics of ruby red fruit & lighter tannins, instead of plum and deep purple. Made in the classic rustic Rhone style this is a leaner, strong wine with garnet color, red raspberry & black cherry, pepper & light oak. It is the kind of old world (French) style Syrah we enjoy- that goes with food instead of overpowering it. This Syrah comes from a single block of our Willamette Valley vineyard- the oldest Syrah vineyard in the valley.

KB Cabernet

Made for serious cabernet lovers- this is a special wine.

Very big, bold with pronounced plum & black cherry. Due to the intense flavors and amazing body it will last 10-20 years as it ages and mellows. This vintage can be enjoyed today decanted- or cellared & enjoyed in a few years.

KB Merlot – Simply Wonderful

A medal winner in every contest it has been entered in- included multiple international tastings. Rich, smooth & supple- everything you expect in Merlot & more.

Sparkling Chardonnay!

Made in the traditional charmat method; the same as Prosecco and German Sekt. The wine was fermented and aged in steel tanks and then naturally carbonated. It is light, crisp and dry. With light fruit and delightful bubbles that dance around your tongue.

Sparkling Riesling!

Made in the traditional charmat method; the same as Prosecco and German Sekt. The wine was fermented and aged in steel tanks and then naturally carbonated. With fresh floral notes, light fruit and semi-sweet sparkling finish.

Wonderfully complex, a great white wine made from red grapes.

Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes in the French method- the juice was run off at the crush, and kept out of contact with the skins producing a bright pink color. The juice was then treated as a white wine- fermented & aged in steel to keep the essence of the flavors. But don’t let the fun pink color fool you…ours is bone dry and maintains a grassy, light flavor with surprisingly complex fruit finish. Many people who enjoy hearty red wines would enjoy this varietal. It is excellent both on its own and with light food dishes.

Oregon’s Answer to Chardonnay

Pinot Gris (also called Pinot Grigio) has become the standard bearer of Oregon white wines. It is light, easy to drink and satisfying both on its own and with food. St Josef’s Pinot Gris is a beautiful blend of light fruit, with a subtle round finish a traditional Alsatian Style wine that offers a crisp, clean taste with a wonderful acid balance. To keep the essence of a classic, natural wine it was fermented and aged ‘oak free’ with a minimum of winemaker contact.

The Willamette Valley has a climate suited for producing wonderful Pinot Gris– with long warm days in the summer combined with cool nights into the fall. St Josef’s Pinot Gris is made from a single block of our “Lilli’s,” vineyard.

“All Steel”- Light & Grassy, but don’t be fooled

Many people associate chardonnays exclusively with the big, oaky, buttery California style. Not here in Oregon. In the Willamette Valley, due to the cooler weather and ‘abundant water’ the Chardonnays are lighter, grassier and have a nice acid balance.

The fruit aromas tend to be lighter and towards grapefruit & honey texture. Ours is made in the classic European style. Fermented & aged in steel to maintain the fresh flavors of the grape, not the wood barrels. This makes them an excellent accompiant to foods, particularly fish and fowl.

The best grape varietal that you can’t pronounce.

Gewurztraminer is a German varietal that is renowned for its intense fruitfulness and spicy complexity. Gewurtz in German means ‘spice’. The grape is so tasty when ripening that our children are known to search out the rows when no one is looking…. St Josef’s L’Esprit (meaning Spirited- the name is used since it is much easier to pronounce) is made semi-sweet and slightly spritzy. The wine is full of citrus, spice and grapefruit on the nose with a long, soft finish and can be enjoyed both by itself along with a host of foods. It is very popular with Asian fusion cuisine and Thanksgiving turkey dinner since unlike most white wines Gewurztraminer can stand up to the strong spices and flavors.

Don’t be surprised – it is one of the most popular white wines

White Riesling (also known as Johannesburg Riesling) is Germany’s most famous grape and it has a special tradition with us. Since Josef, the owner/winemaker, and family have many connections to the Rhine & Mosel valleys. St Josef’s Riesling is made in an off-dry style, and has a wonderful floral bouquet and acid balance that stands up for itself. Excellent for sipping- it has long been ignored by people who think it is not a ‘serious’ wine. Enjoy with light dishes or by itself and discover why it is cherished by our customers.
Since some customers think Riesling should be sweet we have also created a sweeter style to enjoy. From one of our old vine blocks the grapes are picked late in the season when the berries start to shrivel and concentrate their sugars.