Love the Club Your With…

Today’s wine clubs offer members a great deal more than merely complimentary tastings, seasonal parties and wine discounts. It’s like being a part of the inner circle.

Click here to read more about the benefits of being a Wine Club Member on Oregon Wine Press…

Give it Up for Oregon's 17th AVA

The Oregon Wine Board recently announced that Elkton Oregon received approval from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau  (TTB) becoming the state’s newest American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Elkton Oregon AVA, Oregon's 17th, is located within the Umpqua Valley AVA, which is also a part of the greater Southern Oregon AVA.

Some call it terrior.

Similar to wine appellations in Europe, AVAs are designated when someone petitions the TTB proving that specific areas show qualities determined to be unique to that region's geography with boundaries that are specifically defined. The Elkton AVA is on the Umpqua River and a mere 36 miles from the Pacific Ocean. This location brings daily sea breezes and penetrating fog, giving Elkton its unique climate – cool, maritime and temperate. According to Charles Humble of the Oregon Wine Center, “The climate in Elkton is quite different from the prevailing perceptions of the surrounding areas. Southern Oregon is most often thought of as warmer and drier than winegrowing areas farther north in the Willamette Valley.”

Humble says, “The newest Oregon AVA is the fulfillment of wine pioneer Ken Thomason’s dream of growing world class cool climate Pinot noir and white grapes near the small town of Elkton, which has a population of 170. Thomason began planting grapes in 1972 on a west-facing bench two miles east of Elkton at a site now owned by Mike and Vonnie Landt of Rivers Edge Winery.”

The newly attained AVA status will enable winegrowers and winemakers within the Elkton Oregon AVA to better describe the origin of their wines while allowing consumers to better identify wines from that region at the point of sale. Some wineries and winemakers feel that narrowing the AVA down to such a small area actually makes it harder to sell the wine. I've heard people say they have a hard enough time describing to someone where the Willamette Valley is, or the Umpqua River Valley, much less having to explain places like Chehalem Mountain, or Elkton, for that matter. This argument speaks to me, but I'm not in education, I'm a marketing person…I've learned to embrace the KISS philosophy, Keep it Simple, Stupid.

Ultimately, this article isn't intended to debate the merits or detriments of AVAs, it's about sharing the news that Oregon now has 17 different and unique ways to denote their wines. So let's all raise our collective glass for a warm welcome to Elkton Oregon AVA. 

Food and Wine Combinations that are Downright Deligious!

Pairing Pinot Noir with food can be as simple as grilled salmon, mushrooms or pork. And while that combination can be positively scintillating, when you challenge yourself to think outside the culinary box, doing so might just get you the golden ticket to epicurean heaven.

Dreaming of taking the food and wine experience to a whole new level, WillaKenzie Events Manager Claudia Bowers looked beyond traditional French or Northwestern fare to showcase how truly versatile the varietal could be, especially when paired with unexpected foods. Bowers worked with Portland chef extraordinaire Ricardo Segura of Patanegra restaurant, and the esteemed winemakers from WillaKenzie Estate, Elk Cove Vineyards and Ghost Hill Cellars to create a Pinot and Paella dinner that would expose people to a new trend in wine and culinary education.

You heard me right, she said Pinot and Paella.

According to Bowers, pairing Pinot Noir and Paella was a natural idea. “I wanted to show how Pinot Noir is the Little Black Dress of wine, it goes with everything is truly perfect for every event,” said Bowers.

When asked how his wines stood up against the exotic flavors of saffron and paprika of the paella, WillaKenzie Estate Winemaker, Thibaud Mandet says, “as long as the exotic flavors are not too strong and overwhelming, the match will be a good one. Wines with high acid levels, moderate tannins, solid structure and complex aromatics help, and Pinot Noir can be versatile that way.”

“It’s all about balance and intensity”, Mandet says.

When Patanegra Chef Ricardo Segura was challenged with serving paella with Pinot noir—a classically Spanish rice dish served in his restaurant—with Pinot Noir, instead of Spanish wines like Tempranillo or Grenache, he knew he had to make a few modifications. According to Segura, “There are so many variations of paella. In this instance, I utilized rabbit broth and meat to make the paella more rich than typical, complementing the lush, rustic, earthy and fruity components of the wine.”

Pinot Noir and Paella is just one of the many potential success stories. Because Pinot Noir is such a well-balanced wine, it can be coupled with a wide variety of foods and your imagination is your only limitation… don't let it hold you back. Combining food and wine can be a religious experience, this one will leave you praying for more.

Patanegra Paella 

by Ricardo Segura of Patanegra

Serves 6-8 people

1.5 lbs. escolar

1.5 lbs. mussels

1.5 lbs. prawns

1.5 lbs. langostinos

1.5 lbs rabbit

½ lb chorizo

½ lb chicken

½ lb ham

½ lb calamari

¼ lb roasted red peppers

1 ½ cups Sofrito (garlic, onions, peppers and tomatoes that have been pre-simmered)

Parsley for garnish

2 cups paella rice (short grain - Bomba is preferred, Arborio will do in a pinch)

Spanish paprika

4 cups rabbit (or chicken) stock

1 T saffron

Sea salt to taste

1. Heat some olive oil in a paella pan and sear/brown the rabbit, chorizo and ham.
2. Add the calamari and stir over high heat for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the Sofrito and continue stirring.
4. Slowly add rice, level off in the pan and then do not touch.
5. Add stock and bring to boil, then add salt and saffron and reduce temperature.
6. Reduce temperature, add remaining fish/seafood.
7. Cover and finish in 375 degree oven (or on stove over low heat) for 15-20 minutes.
8. Let rest for 5 minutes, serve, give thanks and devour.

Eat to Live, Live to Eat or Just Simply Love to Eat

The name James Beard is to foodies as Pavlov’s bell is to dogs. You hear the name and you immediately think of food so genuinely good and so simply scrumptious that your mouth begins to salivate. 

If you love to eat, are interested in the Portland food scene or culinary history, this is one play you don’t want to miss. Portland Center Stage is currently running I Love to Eat, a play that showcases the culinary genius James Beard, at the Gerding Theater through January 24, 2013.  Actor Rob Nagle brilliantly portrays the larger-than-life iconic figure who elevated cooking to an art form (while keeping it completely accessible) in this one-man show about the legendary chef from Portland. Nagle spoonfeeds the audience tidbits about cooking, and the history of cooking. You'll learn that the earliest recipe was one for beer and was written as a poem 6,000 years ago. He'll even demonstrate how to whip up a perfect mayonnaise, and surprisingly produces a batch of what looked like tasty sandwiches for those lucky enough to be sitting in the front row. I Love to Eat is not only a whole lot funnier than I expected, it’s also peppered with generous dashes of warmth, honesty, tenderness, passion and beauty, which all come together to fill you up and leave you truly satiated, as if you'd just consumed a wonderful meal presented by the perfect host.

The play honors the epicure who started it all.

Long before the Food Network was concieved, James Beard was the star of the first-ever TV cooking show on NBC called I Love to Eat (in 1946) where he demonstrated techniques for everyday American cookery. He wasn't a gourmet—in fact he despised the pretentiousness of that word—Beard’s philosophy was “Be simple. Be honest. Fresh ingredients, the best you can find, in season.” It’s a bit ironic that a man who wrote 26 cookbooks would say something like “There are no new recipes, just variations on a theme,” and yet he did. His ground-breaking way of cooking, one that included being true to one’s region, has stood the test of time and inspired so many great chefs.The James Beard Foundation was set up in his memory to provide recipes, education and scholarships that help aspiring culinary students from all walks of life, while preserving his vision of American culinary's heritage and future. 

You don't have to be a chef or a foodie, you just have to love to eat.

I’ve accepted it, as a Jewish girl, I've always known how to eat… let’s face it, food is in my genes. As a skinny child, I think I heard the words “Eat, you’re a growing girl” (insert New York Jewish mother accent here) more than I heard anything else, including "Would it kill you to clean up your room?". My memories of childhood strongly steeped in food, like a good cup of tea. Food was not only the centerpiece of every religious holiday, it was also used as reward for good behavior, punishment for bad and was one of the ways my parent’s showed their love (my mother by cooking our favorite meals and my father who valued sharing culinary experiences with his kids by taking us out to ethnic restaurants so as to expose us to different foods from around the world). Though I clearly understood the foods of my culture, I wouldn't truly understand or appreciate the foods of my region, or seasonal or locally-sourced cooking until I moved to Portland.

Portland gets a new pantry.

Portland is fortunate to have a multitude of seasonal and even some year-round farmer's markets. And with places like New Seasons, finding fresh, local produce and the best ingredients needn't ever be a challenge. But things are about to get even easier and more interesting for Portlanders. Watch for the James Beard Public Market at the west end of the Morrison Bridge to arrive soon. The full-time, year-round, indoor-outdoor market will feature 40-60 permanent vendors who can help you satisfy your cravings for fresh and local cuisine.

The New Year Means New Oregon Wines to Taste

Where over 3,000 grape vines are now planted once stood a Christmas Tree farm. Paul and Lori Gates purchased the property in 1996 with a vision, their eyes set on the ideal spot for growing wine grapes. They cleared four of the estate’s seven acres and planted them to four different clones of Pinot Noir. Located on Iowa Hill in the Chehalem AVA at a 900 ft. in elevation, Gresser Vineyard is now planted in the Burgundian style, close to the ground, to capture the night’s escaping heat. Paul sees the value in paying close attention to his vines to produce the highest quality fruit and does so by being personally connected with his vineyard. In fact, he walks the vineyard regularly with a backpack sprayer to ensure he sees and can respond to every single vine. 

Producing the estate’s handcrafted wine has become a labor of love for the entire family. While Paul is the primary winemaker and vineyard manager, the whole family is involved in the production and management of the vineyard and label.

Gresser wines are truly value wines. You can consider them everyday wines, with an average price of $20 a bottle. In 2009, the Gates produced 700 cases, and as their label grows, the family is considering purchasing fruit to complement the grapes grown on the estate.

The 2008 Pinot Noir Red Label, priced at just $19 is completely estate-grown, elegant and thin, like a French woman dressed in sensual French perfume. The aromatics were captivating, with raspberry, cranberry, soft oak and chocolate covered cherries. The 2009 Pinot Noir Red Label ($19) showed more oak on the nose, with more tobacco notes and brown spice and the 2009 Pinot Noir White Label showed big red fruit flavors, finishing like a cherry cordial, sweet, long lasting and truly satisfying.

New Year’s Resolutions

Paul is a man with a past. He grew up in California's wine country, and has worked for a number of prestigious wineries, from local producers Shafer and Montinore, to the heavy hitter, Korbel, where he developed a taste for the bubbles. And though he hopes to produce a sparkling wine by next harvest, the Gates have also set their vision on building a gravity flow winery into the hillside of the estate in the next year or so. In the meantime, however, you can taste their wines at 1910 Main in Forest Grove, in co-operation with four other wineries and owned by the 1910 Main - An American Bistro conveniently located right next door.

Tease your Tastebuds and Wrap Your Tongue Around This…

A Portland summer just wouldn’t be the same without experiencing the Best of Oregon Food and Wine Festival, and this weekend you can help support the Oregon Food Bank by drinking and tasting some of Oregon’s best offerings at the 4th annual charity extravaganza taking place at Meriwether National Golf Course on Saturday, August 4th, from 3:00-8:00pm. Over 40 local restaurants, world-class wineries, premier brewers and distilleries will be lined up to knock you over with their very best.

Seize the chance to experience Oregon’s finest with grand brands like Archery Summit, Van Duzer and Willakenzie Estates, as well as an opportunity to discover virtually unknown wines from artisan producers like Omero Cellars and one of my new favorites, Kandarian Wine Cellars. Even Southern Oregon will be representing; break out of the Pinot Noir box and sip Merrill Cellars Cotes du Rogue and enjoy southern belle Abacela, who hopefully comes armed with Albarino. Restaurants such as Allium Bistro, Pazzo, the intriguing Theorem and Dundee newcomer Paulee are prepared to dazzle you with mouthwatering goodness while crowd-pleasers like Republic of Jam will jam you over with their jamtastic creations. The list of participants goes on and on, you’ll have to see and taste all it for yourself. Believe.

While the main festival takes place this Saturday, you can take advantage of Friday activities as well. There promises to be something for everyone as unique culinary cultural event provides party-goers with options for celebration. For golfers, a charity golf tournament takes place on Friday, August 3rd. Prizes will be awarded to the foursome with the best score as well as the longest drive and closest to the pin. Event sponsor, Kuni BMW will award a three-year lease to the first to get a hole-in-one on a designated hole. Put together your dream team and tee off at 2:00 pm following the shotgun start, then stick around for the cocktail party which follows at 6:00 pm. Or, skip the tourney all together, and even the main event, and just enjoy Friday night cocktails as the sun sets across the course. Individual ticket options are available for any and all activities.

Attendees will receive a commemorative glass and enjoy entertainment from Grammy-nominated artist Patrick Lamb. There's still time to purchase your tickets… culinary genius awaits you.

Dates and Times:
8/3/12: Golf Tournament and Cocktail Party

Golf Tournament tees off at 2:00 pm

Cocktail Party starts at 6:00 pm

8/4/12: 

Food & Wine Festival 

3:00-8:00 pm

Location:

Meriwether National Golf Course

5200 SW Rood Bridge RdHillsboro, OR 

Ticket Prices:

Tournament, Cocktail Party and Festival: $110.00

Tournament Only: $80

Cocktail Party Only: $25

Festival Only: $45

IPNC: The Weekend to End all Weekends

Wide selection of fine wines, including kosher wines.

You dream in shades of burgundy. To you, sexy legs are the ones that coat the side of glass, streaking the fine crystal with signs of viscosity. A nose is less a prominent feature on a face, but more so the fruit and spice characteristics that waft up from the glass, enrapturing your heart as well as your olfactory system. Age refers not to how many years you have tucked under your worn belt, but the length of time from creation you’ve been able to save that special bottle until it’s reached its moment of perfection, when you share it those you hope will appreciate it.

Traveling the world and tasting the finest in wine and food is a part of your lifestyle, yet you want to learn more… you seek out knowledge in order to better understand the luscious liquid that fills your glass. Maybe you’ve read about soils, have an inkling of terrior, visit various regions by way of jet plane (or your local wine shop), readily absorb cues from the wine with respect to aromas, textures, flavors… yes, clearly you’ve been bitten by the Pinot Noir bug.

If any of the above description resonates with you, chances are you may have already signed up for this year’s International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC), a showcase for both the world’s finest Pinot noir and the Northwest’s farm-to-table style of cuisine. If you’re new to wine and food appreciation, perhaps the extravaganza has yet to enter your field of vision. If the latter is your story (or it you're still busy figuring out your summer plans), I have one piece of advice: Pull out your bucket list and add this to the top, now (if it’s not yet sold out that is).

Preeminent winemakers, wine lovers, educators, revered regional chefs and epicureans from all over the globe will gather together in McMinnville Oregon for the 26^th annual event that is the absolute foremost in wine weekends. This year’s IPNC, scheduled to take place July 27-29, will land you smack dab in the heart of Oregon wine country exploring everything Pinot noir for three full days. With featured wineries from the North America, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, this is your rare chance to taste them all side-by-side and get to know them all intimately. Enjoy vineyard tours, a grand seminar by Burgundy expert Allen Meadows, and welcome keynote speaker, actor and wine producer, Kyle MacLachlan.

In addition to tasting a wide world of Pinot, you can learn about how geology, geography, climatology, international relations and anthropology all relate to the Pinot noir grape through engaging seminars from the world’s foremost authorities on the subjects at the event’s University of Pinot. Explore walkabout tastings, movie screenings, book signings, alfresco breakfasts and lunches, a grand dinner as well as the renowned and much anticipated Salmon Bake…whatever floats your cork.

If the whole weekend isn’t in your budget, you can still experience a taste of the event with a Sunday walkabout ticket or a Pre-IPNC dinner only. Though there are many interesting dinners on the list to chose from, my personal favorite is always Anne Amie’s annual Counter Culture; a celebration of international wineries and urban street food. This casual atmosphere welcomes some of Portland’s most coveted restaurants alongside wines from local and way beyond, with breathtaking views and relaxing grounds to soak it all up from. As night falls, a bonfire is lit and fire dancers have been known to make their appearance, dazzling the audience while adding an air of mystique and excitement to the already magical evening. The whole IPNC weekend is utterly enchanting, you might even feel like you've died and gone to Pinot heaven. Join me there.