Team C&J
This Winery Is Permanently Closed.
Winery Rating
Located at:
528 NE 3rd St, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wine Club Rating
Price Range For Tasting
As Rob recounts in an interview with the Oregon Wine History Archive while visiting his brother in England, the pair ended up at the home of the man who would later become the brother’s father-in-law, and at some point in the evening, England’s favorite champagne was offered to the two brothers. Needless to say, that bottle of champagne made quite the impression; what a way to develop an interest in wine!
The R. Stuart Winery was founded by Maria and Rob Stuart with the idea that wine should be approachable, food-friendly, and bring people together. In fact, the running theme behind Rob Stuart’s brand is that wine is a catalyst for community and friendship.
The label on their Big Fire wine sums this vision up best:
“Years ago, we had a dream that started as a little spark and eventually grew into a big fire…. At R. Stuart, the wines are really about people. The people who lovingly grow the grapes, the people who work alongside us at the winery, and the people you’ll gather around the table to enjoy them with.”
There are quite a few boutique wine tasting rooms in downtown McMinnville, and if you visit the Willamette Valley, R. Stuart should definitely be on your list.
Oregon’s Willamette Valley has the highest concentration of vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms in Oregon. At 5,200 square miles, it’s a massive region. For comparison’s sake, Napa Valley is 789 sq. miles.
The weather is pretty mild in this part of Oregon. We’re talking wet winters and warm, but not hot, summers. More than a few wine connoisseurs have compared the Willamette Valley to Burgundy. And for good reason, the region is producing some spectacular pinot noirs, chardonnays, and, interestingly, pinot gris wines. There’s so much attention on the Willamette Valley that, in addition to the salt-of-the-earth wineries and mom and pop owned vineyards, more than a few of Burgundy’s most respected domaines are acquiring wineries and establishing a presence here.
Domaine Drouhin, Louis Jadot, and Domaine Lafon are just a few of the famous Burgundian domaines making Oregon pinot noir.
Our overall impression of the R. Stuart tasting room in McMinnville, Oregon, was a good one: the menu is nice, the wine flights are nice, and the pricing is reasonable. The tasting room has an old-fashioned, welcoming feel with exposed brick and a classic country bar. The woman who guided us through the tasting was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
We gave many of the wines scores in the high 80s and low 90s – the whites were surprisingly good, and the R. Stuart pinot noir is above average in the crowded field of Oregon pinots.
Both the Mixed Flight and the Reserve Flight had their bright spots. The 2021 Big Fire Pinot Gris was one of the best of the bunch. An interesting fact about the Oregon wine economy, Oregon is the only place in the world where pinot gris is the second most planted grape! This grape does pretty well here, and Oregon’s winemakers, R. Stuart included, really know how to get the best out of its zesty qualities.
The Big Fire Pinot Gris really sings.
If you go for the winery’s Mixed Flight, you’ll get to experience the Love, Oregon and the Big Fire wines. Rob designed each of these brand imprints with a specific type of wine experience in mind.
Stuart’s Big Fire Wine
The Big Fire Wine label is meant to be an everyday wine. It’s relaxed, it’s laidback, it’s straightforward and it’s easy drinking. Rob made these wines for folks to enjoy on their back porch after dinner, when they’re settling in at home after a long day at work, or when they want to open a bottle for an impromptu glass of wine with a friend.
The Love, Oregon Wine
The Love, Oregon label, on the other hand, was inspired by the intrepid pioneers who risked their lives traveling along the perilous Oregon Trail in pursuit of new beginnings. These wines are a tribute to that Oregon spirit, and are crafted with a “sense of place” in mind. Rob and Maria put a lot of love – pun intended – into this wine. They’ve even put a nice message on the back label, “With best wishes, from your true friend. Love, Oregon.”
Stuart winery’s popular Reserve pinot noirs are on full display in the Reserve Flight. Rob was the head winemaker at Oregon pinot powerhouse Erath, before starting his own wine brand, so naturally, the pinots in this flight can hold their own.
Fruit for the R. Stuart wine’s Reserve pinots are sourced from vineyards around the Willamette Valley, so there’s some diversity among the bunch. Bottles like the Autograph Pinot Noir are a blend of multiple vineyard sites, while others, like the Dux Vineyard Pinot Noir and Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir, are from single vineyard sites.
Not included in the flights, but one we just had to try, was the Three Clowns Cabernet, which started off as a side project with Rob and a few friends who help him with the harvest each year. What began as a barrel or two of wine for a few close friends spun off into its own bottling.
The 2017 Three Clowns vintage we tried had noticeable smoke taint, which Brett liked, but Tina found overpowered what was an otherwise interesting palate.
The R. Stuart Wine Club has something for everyone. If you fall in love with the Big Fire wines, you’re in luck because they have their very own membership tier! Pinot lovers can rest assured that the Reserve wines also have their own wine club allotment.
The club comes with quite a few member perks. There aren’t a lot of wineries that provide members with private tours and private barrel tastings, but the R Stuart Wine Club does. Members also receive free tickets to winery events, complimentary ground shipping, and a pretty nice bottle discount: 15% or 20%, depending on the membership.
Our detour through downtown McMinnville and our McMinnville wine tasting experience at R. Stuart was a great way to experience Oregon wine country. Rob and Maria Stuart have a great operation going, and the wines are absolutely worth your time.
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