Our Rating
Willamette Valley
Rose Blend
There’s something about Oregon rosé that’s always a little more serious than it lets on. Behind the pretty salmon hue and the floral charm, you often find structure, tension, and a certain west-coast wildness that doesn’t scream for attention but gets under your skin nonetheless. The 2019 Martin Woods Rosé is a perfect example—playful on the surface, but built with the kind of patience and precision that makes you pause mid-sip. It’s easy to enjoy and just as easy to overthink, depending on your mood and your company.
Tucked into the wooded foothills near McMinnville, Martin Woods Winery flies a little under the radar—but not for lack of character. It’s a small, thoughtful operation focused on wines with a real sense of place, crafted from vineyards that lean into the edges of Oregon’s growing conditions. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Gamay are the heart of the portfolio, often from own-rooted vines, and much of the cellar work revolves around Oregon oak—a less flashy but more site-specific alternative to its French counterpart. The winery itself feels more like a retreat than a production facility, and that low-key, woods-and-wildflowers vibe shows up in the wines.
Evan Martin didn’t exactly take a straight line into winemaking. Indiana-born, with a detour through philosophy studies and a stint chasing powder as a ski bum, he eventually found his footing among barrels and fermentation tanks. After formative years at Belle Pente and a couple of early harvests in Walla Walla, he decided to put down roots in Oregon—both figuratively and literally. Martin Woods began as a passion project, grew slowly and organically, and now reflects Evan’s winemaking ethos: attentive, exploratory, and deeply tied to the land. He still keeps one foot in hospitality through HiFi Wine Bar in McMinnville, a spot that channels his love for music, community, and killer bottles from all over the world.
This isn’t a porch-pounder, though you could easily sip it on a sunny deck. The 2019 Martin Woods Rosé starts with a clear, deep salmon hue that hints at its seriousness. The aromas walk a tightrope between orchard fruit and citrus zest—strawberry, kiwi, lemon peel, mandarin, even a faint whiff of wet stone. There’s a lot going on aromatically, but nothing feels overworked. Just bright, lifted, and gently floral.
Take a sip, and the wine lands with a confident snap: lemon and strawberry up front, quickly joined by tart apple and a flash of peach skin. Then comes a surprising savory streak—graphite, a hint of saline, maybe even a little dried herb on the back end. The mouthfeel is fuller than you might expect from a rosé, with a dry but rounded texture that holds the fruit and acidity in perfect balance. The finish is long and quietly layered—none of that abrupt citrus-pit cut-off some rosés give you. Instead, this one sort of glides out, leaving a cool, umami echo behind.
It’s worth noting that this is a wine built with a lot of care and a little patience. The Pinot Noir was pressed early and delicately; the Gamay got a short soak to extract just enough color and grip. Meanwhile, the Gewürztraminer and Riesling spent time cold-soaking on their skins—an unusual move in rosé production, but one that explains the aromatic intensity and slightly chewy texture. All the components were fermented sequentially as harvest rolled in, which helps explain why the wine feels more like an integrated whole than a four-way blend.
The 2019 Martin Woods Rosé might not wave its arms for attention, but it rewards anyone willing to lean in. It’s a quiet showcase of Willamette Valley’s complexity and a bit of a shape-shifter depending on what you’re eating—or what mood you’re in. It handles charcuterie boards, grilled seafood, or even spicy dishes with equal ease, but it’s just as compelling on its own.
At $28, it’s priced above your average pink bottle, but this isn’t your average pink bottle. With just 350 cases made, it also doesn’t stick around for long. If you’re into cool-climate wines with a little edge and a lot of nuance, this one’s worth seeking out. Just don’t be surprised if it makes you want to book a trip to McMinnville—or at least track down another bottle before summer really hits. You can pick it up here. (link to buy it here)
USA
Willamette Valley
Rose Blend
13
Evan Martin
Not Needed
Now to 2026
Martin Woods Winery
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