From: Oregon, USA
Varietals: 50% Riesling, 30% Gewurztraminer, 14% Early Muscat, 3% Sauvignon Blanc, 3% others

Tasting Notes: Big Salt is a white wine that tries to capture a day at the beach in a bottle. Fresh, dry, breezy – the bright aromas of the wine (it’ll smell sweet, then finish dry!) are met with a dry, almost salty textured palate that’s well-suited for sitting in the sun and hanging with friends. 

Pairing: Go with something that marries classic (that leans into regional cuisine) & familiar! For today’s pairing, we’re sharing a recipe for “Onion Quiche” by Melissa Clark. It’ll yield about 8 servings and take about 2.5 hours (and will be the perfect weekend brunch centerpiece).

About. Founded by husband-and-wife duo John House and Ksenija Kostic in 2011,  Ovum is a celebration of the diverse expressions of Oregon Riesling. After years of learning the intricacies of the Willamette Valley while working together at Chehalem, John and Ksenija set off to further investigate the myriad terroirs of Oregon through the lens of Riesling, and now source fruit from through the state. They have found sites with blustery Pacific winds, extreme diurnal shifts, and rocky, well-draining soils.

To emphasize the idiosyncrasies of these vineyards, all of Ovum’s wines see the same practices in the cellar: natural fermentations, no additions or subtractions except for SO2, extended lees contact of 8-9 months – all in neutral barrels of acacia and oak, as well as Nomblot concrete eggs.

The resulting wines are textured and concentrated, driven by minerality, and framed by unwavering acidity. Ovum’s work is among the most compelling white winemaking we have encountered in our search throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Like previous vintages, this remains predominantly Riesling (50%) and Gewürztraminer (30%), with small amounts of Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, and other grapes. What's unique is the smorgasbord of AVAs, including grapes from Columbia Gorge, Elkton, Rogue Valley, Illinois Valley and Willamette Valley. Fleshy and nicely textured, floral orange aromas lead into a saline wine with a mix of cucumber, apple and green melon flavors.