We’re thrilled to announce that our new partnership Chardonnay with Willamette Valley Vineyards is now available by the glass and bottle at Ray’s Boathouse and Café! Ray’s Chardonnay, bottled exclusively for Ray’s by Willamette Valley Vineyards, continues our tradition of partnering with Northwest wineries to create incredible wines for our guests.
“I’ve been excited about Oregon chardonnay for some time now. Most people think of Oregon and the Willamette Valley as the land of Pinot Noir; but amazingly Chardonnay is the real secret behind our friends down south and I’m thrilled to share this with our guests at Ray’s!”, said Chip Croteau, Ray’s Wine Director.
From the first time Chip met with the winemaking team at Willamette Valley Vineyards, he knew they were the perfect partners. Willamette Valley Vineyards believes that wines made with consideration for the environment, employees and community simply tastes better; and we couldn’t agree more. From their vineyard certification as LIVE (Low Impact Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon-Safe, to their use of biodiesel and support of native bee populations, Willamette Valley Vineyards’ focus on sustainability and being true stewards of the land echoes Ray’s own history and ethos.
As for the Chardonnay, it’s delicious! The vines used to grow Ray’s Chardonnay are 100 percent Dijon Clone that hail directly from Burgundy. Willamette Valley Vineyards’ founder Jim Bernau traveled with the Oregon Governor’s Delegation to Burgundy in the 1980s to seek out French clones to improve Oregon’s Chardonnay quality. These vines were brought back and quarantined at Oregon State University before being propagated for use in Oregon vineyards. Naturally derived Dijon Clones from France being planted in the Willamette Valley was one of the greatest tipping points in Oregon wine quality.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a white Burgundy nut. Having an Oregon Chardonnay bearing the Ray’s name, made by such incredible people, and one that is downright delicious…well, you’ll just have to come in and try It for yourself,” Croteau said.
The new Chardonnay is now available for enjoying at both Ray’s Boathouse and Café for $15 a glass and $60 a bottle. It’s a versatile wine with mouth-watering acidity that pairs beautifully with the seafood focused menu. It’s a refreshing counterpoint to our Seared Octopus dish, the richness of garlic butter being smoothed out by the crisp edges of the Chardonnay. One of Chip’s personal favorite pairings: a great Chardonnay with Dungeness Crab. He can’t recommend enough Ray’s WVV Chardonnay with our tender, meaty Dungeness Crab Cakes.
About Willamette Valley Vineyards
Founded in 1983 by Jim Bernau with the dream of creating world-class Pinot Noir while serving as stewards of the land, Willamette Valley Vineyards has grown from a bold idea into one of the region’s leading wineries, earning the title “One of America’s Great Pinot Noir Producers” from Wine Enthusiast. All of the vineyards have been certified sustainable through LIVE (Low Impact Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon-Safe programs. The winery is community-owned by wine enthusiasts devoted to sharing the Oregon story of world-class wines. wvv.com
