About Grenache
What does Grenache taste like?
Grenache is naturally fruit-forward, but think elegant, pretty, juicy fruit not jammy or stewed fruit.
How is Grenache different from Pinot Noir?
Where Pinot Noir can sometimes be earthy and savory, Grenache has a tendency to be more fruit-forward and a bit richer with more weight on the palate.
What food pairs well with Grenache?
Our Grenache red wines pair well with a range of foods, from roast chicken to pork tenderloin to tomato sauce pasta dishes to your favorite cheeseburger. Our Grenache Blanc pairs with seafood dishes like calamari, seafood alfredo, and oysters. Our Grenache Rosé pairs perfectly with an afternoon on the patio with friends.
Is Grenache a red or white wine?
Both, and also pink! We currently make 1 rosé wine, two white wines, and three red wines each vintage, all made from Grenache.
Why isn't Grenache more popular in the Pacific Northwest?
Grenache is a challenging grape to grow and can be a bit temperamental in the winery. It needs a lot of heat in order to ripen in the vineyard, but wait too long to harvest and you’ll end up with a jammy and flabby wine. It is often blended with Syrah and Mourvedre to try and balance Grenache’s fruitiness with Syrah’s darker profile and Mourvedre’s structure. With our focus on Grenache, we are able to pick the fruit at the right time to maintain flavor and balance.
Can Grenache make a rosé?
It might be the best variety for making rosé! The natural fruitiness makes an excellent pink wine.
About Ocelli Cellars
What does "Ocelli" mean and how do you pronounce it?
Ocelli, pronounced “ah-sell-eye” is a Latin term for spots that look like eyes but aren’t. Think of butterfly wings and the tail feathers of a peacock.
Who makes the wine at Ocelli Cellars?
John Peacock is the winemaker and co-owner of Ocelli Cellars, with his wife Sirpa Peacock.
How long have you been making wine?
Our first vintage was 2012, and John took over winemaking with the 2019 vintage.
What makes Ocelli Cellars different from other Oregon wineries?
Ocelli Cellars is the only winery in the northwest exclusively making Grenache wines. We are located in the Willamette Valley, but do not make any Pinot Noir or Chardonnay like most of our neighbors.
Why do you only make Grenache?
Grenache is John’s favorite variety because it is naturally fruit forward and makes a wine that is not super tannic. We have found the versatility of Grenache lends to a wide range of styles of wine, and we have been able to build out a full portfolio of wines just using Grenache. It also shows its sense of place well, and we find that different vineyards each have their own flavor profile.
Where do you source your grapes?
Our Grenache for our red and rosé wines come from Eastern Washington, and our Grenache Blanc fruit comes from Southern Oregon. We make our wines at our winery in Newberg, Oregon.
Visiting & Tastings
Where is Ocelli Cellars located?
Our tasting room is just outside Dundee, Oregon on the corner of Worden Hill Rd and Fairview Dr. We are across the street from Domaine Roy and Furioso.
What are your tasting room hours?
We are open Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 5pm.
Do I need a reservation for a tasting?
No, we welcome walk-in tastings during our open hours. If you would like a tasting Monday - Wednesday, we can accommodate that with a reservation.
What can I expect at a tasting at Ocelli Cellars?
We offer a flight a five of our wines, often including at least one white wine. Our winemaker John is usually in the tasting room and will often lead you through the tasting. Our tasting room has views of vineyards and the Willamette Valley, and we have outdoor seating available.
Is Ocelli Cellars pet-friendly?
Yes, well behaved dogs on leash are welcomed.
Are you close to other Dundee wineries?
We are within walking distance of three other wineries, and within a five minute drive of another twenty or more.
Can I host a private event at Ocelli Cellars?
Yes, we can host private events, both during and after open hours.
Buying Wine
Can I buy Ocelli Cellars wine online?
Do you ship wine to my state?
Where can I buy Ocelli Cellars wine locally?
What is the price range for your wines?
Wine Club
What is the Ocelli Cellars wine club?
How often do wine club members receive shipments?
What are the benefits of joining the wine club?
Can I pause or cancel my wine club membership?
Do wine club members get discounts on tastings?
Winemaking
How is your Grenache made?
Do you use oak aging?
Are your wines organic or sustainable?
What vintages are currently available?
How many cases do you produce each year?
Why Wine?
Wine is more than just a beverage, there is a story behind each bottle, and it is the great connector between people. The uniqueness of each bottle of wine that comes from grape variety, vineyard location, growing season, and winemaking technique has fascinated us since we first got into wine. That fascination has grown to the point where wine is a large part of our life, from our monthly wine tasting group to the trips we take for our vacations. Wine for us is a borderline obsession.
Why Grenache?
The complexity and nuance of the Grenache variety are immense, and there is a great variation of style. While Grenache is a relatively familiar grape variety, it is distinctly different from the more common focuses of the northwest, like Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley or Syrah and Cabernet from Washington. Grenache can be delicate and pretty, elegant and rich, or more structured and intense, and this range of styles lends to the variety to being a great one to create and build a brand portfolio with. As far as we know, we are the only winery in the northwest focused solely on Grenache. Our goal is to take a look at the various vineyards across the northwest producing Grenache and give them a touch of dedication and focus and make 100% Grenache from each of the sites we can.
Why Ocelli?
When brainstorming ideas for the name of the winery, we wanted the name to be associated with our surname, Peacock. Naming anything is a tedious undertaking and this was no different. The obvious options were already taken, so after learning far more about peacocks than we would care to admit, we came across a diagram of the various types of feathers, and saw the term ocelli when referring to the tail plumage. Ocelli are spots that look like eyes, like those of butterflies, ocelots, and the tail feathers of a peacock. After lengthy consideration, we felt that this name truly fit our brand and we had discovered our name.
