". . . direct from vine to table."

So much has happened.....

2011-07-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Seriously? I haven't written in my blog for 10 months? That seems impossible! So much has happened. First off the Medical Teams auction was held on October 31 and we raised over $1.35 million dollars! Can you believe it? And over $80,000 was raised in wine-related items - that makes a real difference in the lives of those who are desperate for help. And here we are again.....procuring wine cases, wine verticals, wine dinners....and on and on....for the 2011 Great Adventure Auction. Let's hope we can get close to $100K with wine items.

My daughter leaves for Europe/Asia in three weeks. My god, I'm going to miss her. She is my most sweetest heart. She has such an adventure ahead of her....I shall pray for her safe journey.

Many fun wine events have transpired as well. I had a wonderful time with Terri Stevens-Rader over Memorial Day. Some friends you meet along the way and the friendship is instant.....you can go a long time without seeing them and then - zap! - you pick up where you left off. She's a dear heart with a fun spirit! And another friend in that very special category is Pat Nelson - my friend from Markowitz days. We have traveled together, been a part of a wine dinner club together, cried together and a whole lot of laughing together. Oh, my women friends - how I love you!~

And my darling sweet Vienne and sweet Claire....my two most lovely granddaughters! You have grown so much over these past several months. Amazing to watch!

Oh yes, this is a wine blog! Amazing wine has graced my table this year. And, did I tell you that Custom Wine Marketing's wine club - Cellar Select - is one year old this past July! And I've gone from 6 "charter" members to 19 members!!! This is my greatest thrill! It's so great to know that there are folks who trust my palate and know that I'm going to choose great wine at great prices....such fun!

My favorite wine this past year? Too many to choose from. But I have had fun putting together a case of 2008 Pinot Noirs and a case of 2009 Pinot Noirs. I want to hold them for awhile and see how they develop. For someone who swore they didn't "like" Pinot Noir (said very snottingly some years ago!), I really enjoy it now! The complexities and fine nuances are amazing!

By the way, I've meant some nice wine acquaintances this past year. Jane Morrell is a new friend. She represents a wine brand in Washington. I met her at a tasting at Mitchell Wine Group, and we hit it off. I look forward to getting to know her this next year. And then there is Kathy Hermann. She is a new member of the MTI wine procurement committee - neat woman. Very creative, energetic, persistent. A perfect fit for an Aires!

Okay, so I digress! But like I said at the outset....so much this year. I invited you at the beginning of this blog to take this journey with me. I hope you are still there. :-)

Fall Soiree - Food and Wine Pairing - Oct. 2 - 2010

2010-10-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

Had a great time on October 2nd with Cellar Select members at the Fall Soiree – Food and Wine Pairing at Whole Foods. It was a perfect venue – very cozy and intimate – sort of like being in the kitchen space of an Italian villa. We poured through some amazing wines paired with very tasty nibbles – like a 1999 Mumm DVX Santana (retailed for $50-55 – no longer available) with gravlox, capers and crème fraiche and the 2008 Sinister Hand with little beef tenderloin sliders – absolutely YUM! Already planning my Spring Fling – probably some kind of vertical tasting with a local winemaker paired with a light meal. Stay tuned – or e-mail with your request to join Cellar Select – too many benefits to list here!

Thanks everyone for making our first Fall event such a blast – each one of you added to a great time!

Joseph Phelps, Staglin, and other tasty Reds!

2010-09-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

Oh boy……I love this business! Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the California Trade Tasting Event sponsored by Lemma Distributing and tasted some of THE most amazing cabernets and cabernet blends EVER! The highlight was the 2006 Joseph Phelps Backus Vineyard Cab (retail $270/bottle!). Absolutely frickin’ awesome! It was juicy, flavors of blackberry, a little spice, really a perfect wine. Not that I would ever spend the wholesale cost for this spectacular wine, but I am grateful I get to at least taste it in my lifetime. Other highlights were the 2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia Red Blend and the 2005 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon, both Bordeaux style blends and both retailing for a little over $200/bottle.

I also enjoyed sampling a few affordable, yet full bodied and flavorful reds out of California. I loved the 2008 Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel out of Dry Creek ($26.50/bottle) – juicy and jammy, rich and luscious. The 2008 J. Lohr Syrah out of Paso Robles was quite good – dark crimson in color, rich ripe aromas of blueberry framed with flavor of blackberry and boysenberry and a nice peppery finish (only $15.00/bottle).

Keep checking my blog from time to time to see what other little gems I find out in the world of trade events and winemaker dinners. Next up – a review of the CWM Cellar Select Fall Soiree on October 2. Should be a blast!

A Wine Tour to some New "Favorites!"

2010-08-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

Saturday Cindy and I went wine tasting with a co-worker and her husband, Jennifer and Randy Hunt. They are both foodies and winies so it was fun to share this experience. We each packed a picnic to share and, as most potlucks go, it all seemed to work out great!

We started our tour with a nice drive into the Dallas countryside to try the wines of Illahe. I became acquainted with Illahe because the son of one of my instructors from Chemeketa Viticulture Center, Pat Lundeen, is the winemaker (along with Brad Ford) for Illahe. (Michael also has his own label - Genius Loci - and I look forward to trying these wines.) We were really taken with the white wines we tasted (Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, and Viognier). I was especially taken with the Viognier primarily because unlike most examples of this varietal, I didn't find it to have that viscous quality to it. The nose was as heady as most Viogniers but I liked the texture and finish so much better. I can hardly wait to try it on one of the really hot days I'm counting on before the summer is out!

From there, we made a quick left hand off 99W to turn into the driveway entrance of Left Coast Cellars. Again, this took me to my Viticulture Center days, as one of the students I met there, Devon, is the main marketing person at Left Coast. Devon left Dom. Serene for Left Coast a few years ago, and I thought it would be fun to say "hi" and taste what they are making there. Unfortunately, Devon was not there but fortunately I found a yummy Pinot Noir (Suzanne's Reserve). Suzanne's is a study in subtly in an otherwise flashy vintage (very warm weather). Darker, mysterious aromas of blueberry and black currant are intensified by distant smoke, white truffles and rich earth. I really enjoyed the setting of this winery - as you drive the long road to the winery, you pass a small lake on your left, continuing on past wild flowers, grasses, yard art, etc. This winery also has a small little cafe so you can have a nibble before heading on to your next destination.

Finally, we really enjoyed our experience at Maysara. I have wanted to taste here for a couple of years - especially on holiday weekends - as I've been told they have some amazing food! But Saturday, the pleasure was really in meeting the youngest daughter of the Momtazi family - Hannah. She was a delight. She is way tooo young to be so wise. And she knows her family's wine! Apparently her older sister is the winemaker. At Maysara, they are committed to holistic farming, employing practices from both organic and BiodynamicÂ® agriculture and to gentle winemaking techniques to allow the wine to express their own characteristics from the vineyard. Had the pleasure of tasting a lovely Pinot Gris, a dry, crisp Rose', and a couple of outstanding Pinot Noirs. It is here we paired our picnic with Maysara wines - what a great idea it was for us to wait as the food tasted especially delicious with these accompaniments!

Well, I could go on and on but I'll stop for today. I'd love to put together a wine tour for you. Give me a call or e-mail me, and I'll see what I can do! Cheers and until next week.....

A Day at Owen Roe is Unlike Any Other Tasting!

2010-07-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic day for wine tasting - 95+ degrees in the valley, 65 degrees in the winery! And to make it even sweeter, I was at the Owen Roe winery near Champoeg Park in St. Paul. My appointment was for 2 p.m. to taste through their current wines but I had no idea what Rose had in store for me! Started with the DuBrul Riesling - absolutely fantastic! You could tell it would be very food friendly - a bit viscous on the palate, .4% residual sugar but not sweet. Fruit and acidity was perfectly balanced. On to the Chardonnay - admittedly not my favorite white variety - yet I could see how it might pair with a poached chicken salad. The Merriman Pinot Noir was beyond delicious. I love a Pinot that has a little more oomph! than some of the more lighter in color and flavor Pinot Noirs. It had a slightly smoky, earthy aroma with full flavors of dark cherries. Yum! Had the pleasure of another DuBrul masterpiece - the 2006 Cabernet Sauv. Fantastic! I actually have one in my cellar at home so this let me see how it might be showing right now. Although I loved it on Saturday, I may let it sit a while longer. Finished with a "killer" Zinfandel and couldn't leave without trying The Parting Glass, a lovely Semillon dessert wine that would be orgasmic poured over grilled peaches and vanilla ice cream - Yikes! As the sun was setting over the vineyards - well this is getting a little too poetic - actually spent nearly 3 hours, lazily tasting and chatting with other visitors.

Enjoyed meeting some folks who were also there for tastings - from Indiana, San Francisco, Tualatin - new and old fans of my personal favorite - Owen Roe! If you get an opportunity this summer or fall, call Zoe or Rose at 503-678-6514 and set up a tasting appointment. You'll thank me for it! Guaranteed!!

Riesling takes on a whole new experience!

2010-07-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

Loved this wine! Joel Myers, in collaboration with his three sons, makes an exquisite Riesling that is ultra food-friendly. Joel, the founder of Vinetenders, which currently tends over 400 acres of prime vineyard property in the N. Willamette Valley, started his own label in 2000. I have followed Joel for the last five years, and have been consistently pleased with his wine. He is the vineyard manager of Hyland Vineyard, acquired in 2007 by the owners of Solena wines and makes a mere 70 cases of this delicious dry Riesling from this vineyard site. Asian food is often difficult to pair because of the different sauces, seasonings, textures but we paired this Riesling with our dinner last night and it was fantastic! Super food friendly, I can't recommend this wine enough. Try it - better yet, send me an e-mail and I'll see that you get your hands on one of the remaining bottles of this small production wine!

Summer has Finally Arrived.....

2010-07-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

Life is full of surprises. Here it is July 6, and I do believe summer may have arrived--finally! And just in the knick of time as I have some fantastic whites and rose' wines to share with friends and family. Poured a lovely Topel Sauvignon Blanc recently. I stumbled on Topel shortly after they opened their tasting room off the town square in Healdsburg, CA on my trip there last October. They were featuring chardonnay, meritage, cab sauv, and this lovely, crisp Sauv Blanc. It was so good when I got it home, I called and had another case shipped to me. And it was 50% off at the time! I love those kind of deals.

Yesterday, we cooked a fantastic tri-tip on our Traeger grill. Marinated the meat for 12 hours and then slow cooked it until it was perfectly tender and amazingly flavorful. Add a spicy Syrah and you have a perfect meal. This quarter's Cellar Select wine members will have a chance to sample a new label - Christopher Michael. His 2007 Paso Robles Syrah hit the mark perfectly and for under $15!

Speaking of Cellar Select, I am having a ball! Every quarter I get to make wine selections to meet and greet the palate of my club members. July is the first delivery, and I have some special wine to present. Soave Classico, JK Carrier Provacateur Pinot Noir, Abacela Vinter's Blend, to name a few. Just give me a call or email me and I'll get you details for the next quarter.

Keep your eye out for my weekly blog. Now that I'm tasting and enjoying wine again, I have much to share. Salud!

A Special Day with Friends.....

2009-08-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

I left the chores of Saturday morning behind to take a drive into Oregon wine country as Cindy and I headed for the First Ever Owen Roe Barbeque and Wine Tasting at Agrivino, just outside of Carlton. We connected with some good friends and family to share in the bounty of the day.

My friends at Owen Roe were pouring new releases and pairing them with terrific grilled food and, of course, a spread of cheese and bread. Oh, the bleu cheese!! The 2007 Lady Rosa Syrah that blew the socks of the wine critics, continues to amaze. Perhaps a little spendy, but so worth it. Perfect for spicy barbeque. And the 2008 Abbot’s Table did not disappoint. Full flavored and full bodied sums it up!

I had the pleasure of meeting Eric, the head winemaker, at Owen Roe. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan with a “close to Canadian” accent, Eric has worked with the folks at Owen Roe since 2004 starting with plying his craft on white wines and working his way to being the head “dude” this past year. He is very busy working the two winery sites – the original in St. Paul, Oregon and more recent opening in Sunnyside, Washington. Of course, David O’Reilly still puts his final blessing on the wine but is turning more of his attention to marketing ~~ something he could teach a college course on!

We left the Owen Roe event mid-afternoon and headed to the small town of Carlton. What a sweet place to visit. I met a new friend lady at the Indie Wine Festival three years ago who was just starting a little bistro/wine bar in Carlton called The Horse Radish. The selection of cheese there rivals any I have found in Portland. And the wine bar had a nice selection of wine to taste – which, of course, we did! The 2005 Stevenson Pinot Noir was incredible, and I couldn’t leave without one of those! Michael Stevenson is the winemaker at Panther Creek, consulting with Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent, and like so many other winemakers with vision, has started his own wine label. Yum is the only word that described this 2005 entry into the Pinot Noir market ~~ keep your eye out for this label.

To finish the day, we headed over to Carlton Winemaker’s Studio for a little Meriwether bubbly. Unfortunately, Meriwether is no longer a resident winemaker at the Studio so we left there without the bubbles but, to my great pleasure, I reconnected with an attorney friend, Mike Wiswall with Hoffman Hart & Wagner, and his lovely fiancé. It was awesome! Interesting how sometimes you go somewhere with one intent in mind only to have your life intersect with someone else who was there at the exact same moment, and your original reason for going no longer exists. It was so nice to visit with him and get caught up. Friends ~~ can’t live without them!

Saturday was a great day ~~ eating yummy food, drinking delicious wine, but more importantly being with good friends. What a fabulous combination!

Another Terrific Memorial Day tasting.....

2009-05-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

"Yum" is the first word that comes to mind in last weekend's wine tasting. The word was/is that we shouldn't expect great things from the 2007 harvest. And that may be true somewhere in the Willamette Valley but not where I spent my time over Memorial Day. Started the day at J. Christopher Winery and Holloran Vineyards in West Linn. Jay Somers is the consulting winemaker for Holloran and also makes his own wine under the J. Christopher label. Both of these labels have found a way to make 2007 delicious, exciting, and age-worthy. J. Christopher's white blend (Cristo Misto) and his Rose' (Cristo Irresisto) are both quite lovely and his Willamette Valley Pinot Noir received high praise from the likes of Matt Kramer, who has been very critical of the 2007 harvest. Jay's wine is well-priced; a good balance between quality and affordability.

From there, I headed to Penner Ash Winery. This is a beautiful location on a sunny day and I wasn't disappointed this year. The weather could not have been better. Initially, I was a little put off by the attitude of the tasting staff - but as I ventured downstairs for the Pinot Noir tasting and then further down into the 2008 barrel tasting, it became a much more positive experience. The Pinot Noir from Shea Vineyard is once more, heads and shoulders above the fruit sourced from other vineyard sites. Dussin Vineyard came in second, in my mind, with good balance, nice fruit forward presentation, good color. These wines generally run $40-45/bottle retail so they are definitely to be purchased for special occasions!

Finished the day at Redman Vineyards. I went there with the intent of supporting a woman in business but left there a little disappointed in the quality of the wine. It may take a couple of years to sort this out and, perhaps, the wine will improve with each vintage. Bill Redman, co-founder with his wife (Cathy), of Redman Vineyards, passed away in March 2009 so it will be up to Cathy to determine how she wants to proceed with the winery. They poured a Barbera and a Tempranillo ~~ and I was excited to try them. Perhaps I had a little palate fatigue, but they didn't meet my expectations for these two varieties. I'll try them again -- just to be fair!

One last winery on Monday - St. Innocent Winery outside of Salem. Mark Vlossak is celebrating his 20th year as winemaker and owner of St. Innocent. He is a master winemaker in my opinion. His Pinot Blanc is one of the best I've tasted - and consistently so. He makes a superb Chardonnay - aged 100% in neutral oak barrels - that is very Burgundian in style. Not big and oaky, but crisp and clean with flavors of apple and Asian pear. Both of these wines are well priced. Again, "yum" comes to mind!

Hope you all had a great Memorial weekend - mine was fabulous! Keep your eyes peeled for news on the wine club -- Cellar Select -- with kick off in September. This will be a fun way to try some new offerings as well as some old favorites! Salud!

New wines, lively conversation, holidays and more....

2009-01-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

I need to start posting a little more often than every six months! Is anyone reading this? If so, you'll be pleased to know that I tasted a delicious white wine - 2007 Suavia Soave Classico - Veneto Italy. This was one of the best wines for the money I've tasted in a long time. Lots of lemon, white peach and mineral character, with hints of orange peel and dry almond. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and a crisp finish. This Soave scored 90 points in Wine Spectator and #75 on its list of Top 100 for 2008. If you can't find it at your local wine store, give me a call. This is an extremely food friendly white wine and it's less than $20 a bottle.

We've had a very strange winter so far. It was extremely cold during the Christmas holidays so we are all holding our collective breath that the vines, especially in Eastern Washington, have not been damaged. A few years back there was such a deep freeze in the Walla Walla area that there, literally, was no wine available from grapes in that region. Many of the winemakers had to search the Yakima Valley area for fruit. It was a bit of a lean vintage (2003). But we do know that 2008 was the perfect wine growing year - with delayed bud break in the spring to a long, beautiful Indian summer that allowed the grapes to ripen to perfection before harvest. Can't wait!

The downturn in the economy in the last half of 2008 has trickled down to the wine industry. Sales of middle to upper end wine have been down as much as 50% with more folks looking for good value wines, with increased sales at Costco and Trader's Joes for wine under $15. I guess folks think this is an area where they can cut back. I have a number of outstanding wines for under $15 if you're interested. All the talk about the economy has certainly fueled lively conversations on how we individually can weather the downtown and what our government in general can do to help stimulate the economy. I for one am ready for a new administration and a new set of ideas. How about you?

A day in the vineyards with friends.....

2008-07-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful day recently with a few of my wine buddies visiting wineries in the southern Willamette Valley area as part of a group with Women for Wine Sense. We had a blast! We started out early in the morning, heading toward King Estate south of Eugene. This is a must see winery, all 110,000 square feet of it! Absolutely stunning view of the valley. They are known for their Pinot Gris although Pinot Noir isn't far behind. We enjoyed a sumptuous lunch, with a taste of wine for each course, before heading a little bit up the road to Chateau Lorane. That's where we are in this picture. The view from the terrace to a wooded area overlooking a private lake was most serene. The winemaker here specializes is unusual varieties...and his Marechal Foch was delish! We ended this perfect day at Willamette Valley Vineyards and tasted through their portfolio. I have to admit not being a big fan of their wine but the company was great and, again, we were treated to an amazing view toward the west and the coast range. Had a great day! Would love to have you join us at our next outing. Salud!

Summer in the Vineyard

2008-06-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

I have had some mighty fine wine lately...how about you? Memorial Day brought a number of new releases (but old favorites) to the public. Jim Prosser does it again with his amazing Provocateur Pinot Noir (I'm tasting it as I write!) and his Glass White Pinot Noir. I can hardly wait for his single vineyard Pinot Noir releases. Jim is a winemaker dedicated to the purity of winemaking, and he never disappoints. I also had a chance to visit St. Innocent's new winery west of Salem (near one of my other favorites - Bethel Heights). St. Innocent's is a beautiful facility overlooking the valley. If you go to their holiday open houses - don't go with a full stomach! They had some amazing food -- and all for $10. French Market Soup, grilled sausages, delicious bread and cheese, lovely strawberries dipped in chocolate...yum! Certainly a different look and feel from the industrial strip mall site in Salem -- great job! And let's not forget Owen Roe. David had his wine tasting the weekend before Memorial Day. He had a couple of amazing vertical tastings the best of which was the DuBrul Vineyard Merlot, from 1999 to 2005. Absolutely incredible flavors of dark rich berry/cherry, full mouth feel, lovely nose -- just inhale that nose! Call me (503-310-4576) or comment to my blog if you have had a similar experience with a new wine or release. I love hearing from you!

Signs of Spring

2008-03-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

What a gorgeous Oregon day we had yesterday. Signs of new life are everywhere. The crocus are up, the daffodils are blooming, the tulips are showing courage by pushing their buds through the soil, the vineyards are coming alive! I love this time of year, having come off of an unusually wet winter, the 60 degree days are so appreciated. The smell of new-mown lawns, the primroses and hyacinths outside Lowe's, and the warmth of the sun on my face, make me want to start chilling those white wines and pull out my capris!

Lots of happenings with Custom Wine Marketing since November (has it really been since November??)! I have been working with Ben Worsley Designs to upgrade my website. I am adding links to an upgraded wine list which each month will highlight "Chris' Picks". These will be some of my favorite new finds and some of my highly recommended favorites. This will by no means be everything (because literally I can provide as many wines to you as Whole Foods, New Seasons, or your favorite neighborhood wine store) but it will represent 7-8 whites, 7-8 reds, and occasionally a bubbly or port. I will also be archiving all of my newsletters from past months. There will be a link to my current newsletter and then another link if you want to access information that was in a previous newsletter. PayPal is a new feature for all orders of one case or larger. This will eliminate the need to pay in cash or check for these larger purchases, if this is a more convenient option. So, keep your eye out for these and other changes.

I will be visiting lots of wineries this spring so watch for new wines! And mention my blog with your next order to receive the monthly discount -- it changes every month but for March it is buy one bottle of wine at the regular price and get your second bottle for 50% off. Salud!

November musings.....

2007-11-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

It's a rainy day in Oregon this Veterans Day. I have a fire in the fireplace, my two sweet animals are snoozing, and I'm spending time planning my wine class this Friday, November 16. I'm going to talk about the contrasts between Old World wines and New World wines. It's interesting to delve into this topic as it seems to be such a direct reflection on the way the New World operates -- bold, loud, "in your face", obvious -- and the Old World has operated for centuries -- understated, subtle, complex. This should be a fun class as we compare Burgundy white (chardonnay) and red (pinot noir) against its California counterparts.

A lot has been happening at Custom Wine Marketing. October was marked with many events....Bar Mitzvah for Jordan, Wine Auction for Dove Lewis (Wet Nose Soiree), wine tasting for Arbor Custom Homes (for 200!), not to mention harvests and new releases from favorite producers. And now the holidays are racing toward us! What are you doing for Thanksgiving, Hannukah or Christmas? Will you be with family and friends? Will you be enjoying the results of good cooking, tasty recipes and fresh ingredients? How about your wine choices? Every food item has its favorite wine companion! Let me help you with this.

I recently returned from New York City where my daughter, Andrea, ran the NYC Marathon. What a time we had there -- my daughter, my granddaughter and me! We had a ball. And we missed the strike that has closed Broadway for three days by one week. They say timing is everything! Saw Wicked and enjoyed it very much. Went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art one day, Soho and Little Italy together with a visit to Ground Zero another day. Had some great food and tasty wine. NYC is fun to visit but I was glad to be home! Portland is an amazing city.

Okay, okay....can't delay my reserach any longer. Until next time....

Wine Dinner this Saturday -- what to make, what to make?

2007-08-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

So I'm looking through my Bon Appetit, my Cooking Light and my recipe books trying to find that perfect meal to compliment the perfect wine. I am part of a "wine dinner" group that started a couple of years ago when Emily's husband, Allan, bought her a bottle of Ggrich Hills Zinfandel. It was supposed to be absolutely delicious! Well, how was I going to find out if I didn't get a chance to taste it so, voila, "let's have a dinner where we each bring a bottle of Zinfandel," I suggested....and two years later, we're still comparing and talking about wine. We've blind tasted Pinot Noir (old and new world style), Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and a few others -- and, of course, we always start the evening with a sparkling -- champagne, prosecco, cava -- and end the evening with a dessert wine -- port, late harvest semillon, sauterne. I'm hosting Saturday, which means I make the main course while others bring appetizers, salad, dessert. Any ideas out there using all the fresh ingredients that are available now? If I choose your recipe, you get a bottle of wine for my thank you! I'm waiting......and, by the way, Emily's Zin won the blind tasting -- good job Allan!

News from the Vine

2007-08-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

What a fun day we had on Saturday the 4th. A group of us went to J.K. Carriere to meet with the winemaker, Jim Prosser, and what was supposed to be a one hour meet-and-greet, turned into a 2+ hour indepth discussion, wine tasting and tastes from wine aging ever-so gracefully in barrels -- showcasing Anderson, Shea and Temperance Hill Vineyards. What a treat! And if you haven't been to the French Bear in Newberg, don't delay. We had a real treat from their lovely menu of quiches, sandwiches, salads, soups, and a nice, affordable wine list. Oh yes, did I mention the desserts?? We finished our Saturday together in Carlton at the Walk in the Park -- a fund raiser for Salud!, providing low-cost medical and dental coverage for migrant farm workers in the area. The weather was perfect for wine tasting and I believe a good time was had by all. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next event -- likely to be in October. I'm looking for the unusual and the tasty!

Here's some news for you....

2007-07-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

So here's my first posting. I feel like I've passed the major test of getting over being technologically challenged! Thanks to my good friend, Josh Stump, I have decided to take the plunge and start posting wine news, local wine events, great wine tastings, notes from travels and tastings, and other fun things that are of interest to me and, hopefully, of interest to you. I'd love to hear from each of you. What is it that you like to taste? Where have you traveled lately? Eaten at any good restaurants on your travels or, perhaps, right here in our own backyard? Let me hear from you. How can I be of the most value to you with wine, food pairing, or event planning? I'm new to this but excited about it and feel energized by the power of this new communication vehicle. Until next time....