Spindrift Cellars Surfs into Northwest Wine Scene

Paul Gregutt has called it the “little winery that could,” and we agree that it perfectly describes Oregon’s Spindrift Cellars. Owned by the husband-and-wife team of Matt and Tabitha Compton, Spindrift Cellars is a small boutique winery located in Philomath, OR (five miles outside of Corvallis) that uses environmentally friendly practices, from the earth to the bottle, to produce its wines.

Matt serves as winemaker and works to source the best grapes from the Willamette Valley for his wines. All of Spindrift Cellars’ grapes come from vineyards that Matt manages through his company, West Vine Farms. This allows him to know everything about the grapes he’s putting into his wine and guarantees he’s only using certified sustainable sources. All of the vineyards he works with are certified sustainable by LIVE and Salmon Safe (meaning that they meet agricultural practives recognized by international standards). This environmentally friendly approach continues to the bottle as Spindrift Cellars uses only eco-friendly packaging from the bottles to the case cartons.

All Spindrift Cellars are bottled with screw caps! Why, you ask…

“Although screw tops have had a negative connotation, they are the way of the future,” begins the explanation on Spindrift’s website. “The times of ‘corked’ wine will be a thing of the past. The screw top closure ensures a fresh bottle every time, is fully recyclable, attractive and best of all, easy to open. No more broken corks, no more ‘corked’ bottles. Wine in screw caps can be safely stored upright for any length of time.”

For a small winery, there really isn’t a cost savings in using screw caps, but Spendrift Cellars believes this enhances the quality of their product, while meeting their eco-friendly values.

And what about that name? The Comptons were struggling to come up with a name for their new winery when a family trip to Newport Beach, OR inspired them.  With the waves crashing on the beach Tabitha’s grandfather told them that the spray that comes off a wave is called a “spindrift.” The couple thought that name was perfect for their winery and now adorns every bottle of Spindrift Cellars’ wine.

Recommended Wines from Spindrift Cellars

2009 Pinot Noir $20

A spicy yet fruity Pinot Noir, Spindrift’s 2009 vintage is barrel aged for 10 months in French Oak. Pair it with venison or wild mushroom risotto for the perfect seasonal dinner as we transition into fall.

2009 Pinot Gris $14

A minerally white wine, this Pinot Gris has both citrus and spicy aromas and flavors. The lengthy finish has nice balanced acidity that will pair well with light citrus fish and fresh summer veggies.

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