Romantic Wine & Cheese Tasting on the Oregon Coast

As residents of Portland, Oregon, we often find ourselves driving west on Highway 26; otherwise known as the Sunset Highway, to Cannon Beach. Our favorite stop is at Mo's for a cup of famous clam chowder and a walk on Cannon Beach past Haystack Rock and back.

Reluctant to leave the magnificent views of the majestic Pacific Ocean, we head south on 101 toward Tillamook and take the Wilson River Loop back to Portland. Stopping by the Tillamook Cheese Factory for a scoop of the delicious Tillamook Ice Cream, we delay our trip home.

Too late we notice the signs for the Blue Heron French Cheese Company and vow to stop on a future trip. This weekend we finally accomplish this. With temps in the mid-50s we aren't in the mood for ice cream so it is easy to pass by the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The sign that reads "Cheese & Wine Tasting" at Blue Heron French Cheese Company is more compelling. We pull into the parking lot and notice a couple sitting at a picnic table sharing romantic sips of wine together.

Upon opening the door to the tasting room, we are sidetracked by attractive displays of gourmet food items such as a selection of mustards, grilling sauces, balsamic vinegars, olive oils, jams, jellies, toppings, cheeses, crackers, wine, and knick knacks. After browsing possible selections, we head over to the cheese counter where we are offered a variety of samples of Brie: Double cream, Smoked or Herb Brie. We choose the Herb Brie. It is rich, creamy, and melts in our mouth, with the flavor accelerating as we taste it.

If we hadn't already had lunch we would be tempted to have a quick bite in the Deli. It seems to be a popular spot for lunch. The seating area looks inviting and the food looks tasty.

Instead, we join the others tasting the wine. For two dollars, we enjoy four tastings. Because we prefer reds over whites, we choose to taste a Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, and, as the fourth choice, a Late Harvest Riesling for me and a Marion berry Port for my husband. Our favorite: the Pinot Noir. Most of the wines are a bit sweeter than we prefer, but the Pinot Noir is more peppery than sweet. We purchase a bottle of Pinot Noir along with the Herb Brie and a box of sesame crackers.

On the way back to our car, we notice the couple is still enjoying the sunny afternoon and a romantic sampling of the vine. These are some of the special moments of the Pacific Northwest-whether you're living here as a full-time resident or visiting here briefly as a tourist.