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Dec 24, 2023

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm & Vineyards bloom together in Woodburn

Winery spotlight: Wooden Shoe Vineyards Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm & Vineyards,

Winery spotlight: Wooden Shoe Vineyards Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm & Vineyards, Woodburn, is an innovative combination of flowers and wine. (Photo by Emily Iverson/Photo by Emily Iverson)

We tend to forget that Willamette Valley wine country covers more than the areas surrounding Newberg, Dundee and Carlton. If you are willing to take the time to head east to places like Woodburn, Mount Angel and Yoder, you will discover gems like Wooden Shoe Vineyards.

I recently visited their tasting room in the middle of a vast tulip farm for the first time. I was impressed by the charm of the setting and the hospitality of my hosts. They are also making some very nice wines out there, so head east.

Wooden Shoe Vineyards is best known for: When I asked this question, I was sitting with Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm president Barb Iverson, Karen Bever, Iverson's sister and a founding member of the farm, Jeanna De Risio, Wooden Shoe Vineyards tasting room manager, and Carole Ream, tasting room associate.

They simultaneously answered, "albariño." Wooden Shoe has a still and sparkling version of albariño, each selling for $22. The wines are made for Wooden Shoe by Sean Allen, the talented winemaker/owner at nearby Pudding River Wine Cellars.

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"Must try" current release: 2018 The Dark Queen ($70 for 500 ml., which includes a package of locally made chocolate truffles).

The other night I drove out to the tasting room to watch bottles of this 50-50 blend of Maréchal Foch and syrah port-style wine being sealed with wax. The after-dinner treat features rich, thick aromas and flavors of bittersweet dark chocolate, black cherries, blackcurrants, caramel and sweet tobacco leaf. It is absolutely perfect with the accompanying truffles.

At 20% alcohol by volume, The Dark Queen is also pretty nice to snuggle up to on a cold winter's night. Just be sure to sip responsibly.

Innovation: Wooden Shoe Vineyards exists in large part because of adaptation.

Nearly 15 years ago, the Iverson family caught wind that the state legislature might limit events like weddings from being held in areas zoned exclusively for farm use. Fortunately, there would be an exception carved out: wineries. Voila, Wooden Shoe Vineyards was born.

The innovative combination proved successful as the Iversons sell approximately 90% of their annual 1.200 case production at their Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. The upcoming festival runs from March 17 to April 30, with online-only tickets on sale March 1.

History: The Iverson family farming story begins in 1950 with hops and pole beans. Over the decades, they added more than 100 crops, including their famed tulips.

Jon Iverson was hot off a crop and soil science degree from Oregon State University in Corvallis when he led the family's grapevine planting operation in 2009. The Iversons initially planted pinot noir, Maréchal Foch, albariño and a small selection of table grapes like Diamond Muscat, Flame and Jupiter.

In 2012 the Iversons collaborated with Allen to make their first Wooden Shoe Vineyards wines. In 2020 the family replaced the Flame vines with tempranillo and pinot gris. They now have 12.2 acres planted with grapes, with all sites located within a mile of the tasting room.

What we don't know: This was an easy answer for De Risio. "That we have a vineyard. People come out here and always say, ‘we had no idea you grew grapes,’" De Risio said.

Biggest success so far: "Creating moments for visitors to the farm," Iverson said. Calling the tulip farm "a bright spot," Iverson noted that she's proudest of the memories her visitors take home with them.

The annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival attracts 130,000-200,00 visitors a year, so that's a lot of memories.

I’m sure one of those memories is the wine tour among the tulips. It's hard to beat tip-toeing through the tulips with a glass of crisp, dry albarino in your hand, sparkling or otherwise.

Last book read: "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" by Edmund Morris, which Iverson described as "excellent."

Where to buy: Given the beauty of the drive and the farm-style hospitality, I recommend buying your Wooden Shoe Vineyards wines in person at their tasting room.

Otherwise, you will find their wines at Portland Wine Merchants, Harvest Fresh Grocery & Deli in McMinnville, Roth's Fresh Markets in Silverton and Bailey Hill Market in Eugene.

Head to the Joel Palmer House in Dayton or the MarKum Inn in Mount Angel to enjoy a Wooden Shoe Vineyards wine by the glass or bottle in a restaurant setting.

10 a.m.-4 p.m., daily, 33814 S. Meridian Road, Woodburn, Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm & Vineyards, woodenshoevineyards.com or [email protected].

-- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at [email protected]. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine.