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Posts Tagged ‘sake’

Liquid Libations

Posted on: April 3rd, 2013 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Oregon’s Washington County is a growing, thriving destination, with new adventures around every corner. With new things to discover (and dear treasures that need to be rediscovered),  it’s time to make a return visit to Washington County if you haven’t been here in a while. If you haven’t visited Washington County yet, what are you waiting for?

Liquid Libations

SakeOne

Tour the saké brewery at SakéOne, the only craft saké brewery in Oregon.

From new attractions to veteran establishments, take a self-guided tour to taste a variety of artisan liquid libations.

Start your journey in Hillsboro at Longbottom Coffee & Tea, one of the region’s pioneering roasting companies. Founded in 1981, Longbottom was certified organic 10 years ago and today is used as a training location for organic inspectors.

Travel to the city of Forest Grove for a brewery tour and saké tasting at  SakéOne, the first American owned-and-operated saké brewery and leading brewer of craft saké in America.  Next head over to Bull Run Cider, also in Forest Grove, and tour the apple orchard and small-production facility of the newest sustainable craft-cider producer.

Lunch at 1910 Main: An American Bistro, one of Oregon wine country’s premier restaurants. 1910 Main specializes in classic comfort foods, prepared with locally sourced ingredients with a Pacific Northwestern flair.

Next, venture to the city of Tigard and visit one of the newest tasting rooms, Indio Spirits Distillery and Tasting Room. Tour the distillery of this distillery, which has been producing a variety of spirits since 2004, and sample whiskey, vodka, rum and gin. Afteward, stop next door at Stash Tea, the original retail store for this venerable tea producer. Sample the latest teas and choose from more than 250 loose and bagged teas.

Finally, enjoy a martini and a tasty entree at the new Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar at Bridgeport Village.  Choose from three dozen signature martinis, paired with a menu that ranges from pizza to seafood. The popular Washington State-based eatery opened its first Portland-area location last month.

For more itineraries, such as the Saké, Beer & Spirits Trail or Wine: Oregon Style, please visit our website.

Find places to stay. | Create a personalized itinerary. | Find places to eat. | View the digital visitor guide.

 

A Mid-Week Tour of Oregon’s Washington County Wine Country

Posted on: November 9th, 2012 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Wine tasting isn’t just for weekends. Several wineries throughout Oregon’s Washington County–located in the northern end of the famed Willamette Valley–are open daily, year-round. On a beautiful autumn weekday, a wine blogger and I set out to experience wine country, and found some surprises along the way.

We started out quite early and arrived at our first stop, Elk Cove Vineyards, at 10:30 a.m. Elk Cove has been family owned and operated since 1977, and today, the second generation is running the winery, and earning applause with its Pinot Noir and other varietals. Our tasting flight included Elk Cove’s highly-rated Pinot Noir, and a selection of whites, such as a late-harvest Riesling. The crisp wines complemented the views of the fog-filled vineyard, which was lit up with the colors of fall: Brilliant yellow, golden orange, deep rust and dark green. (Elk Cove Vineyards is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed some holidays)

Miki's Christmas Shop has the 2nd largest collection of German Smokers (incense burners) for sale in the U.S.

After lunching at 1910 Main — An American Bistro– a cozy restaurant offering modern twists on American comfort foods–we set off for Shafer Vineyard Cellars (established in 1978) and home to Miki’s Christmas Shop.  We took in the breathtaking views of the foothills of Gales Creek Valley, as well as the vineyard, which was ablaze with yellow grape leaves, before entering the quaint tasting room. We were greeted by Miki Shafer, the owner and winemaker, who poured us tastes of her Pinot Noir, Riesling, and special holiday wine, the aptly named Holiday Magic (which, when combined with Shafer’s sparkling wine, makes a spicy, festive drink). Between sips, we ventured into the Christmas Shop, and perused the holiday decor from around the world, including what is the second largest collection of German Smokers in the U.S. (pictured, right). (Shafer Vineyard Cellars is open daily, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on major holidays*)

The next stop was the quaint farmhouse tasting room at David Hill Vineyards & Winery, which boasts some of the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley. With sweeping views of Oregon’s Coast Range, David Hill remains one of the most picturesque wineries in the Willamette Valley, as well as one with one of the most diverse selection of varietals found in the northern valley. In addition to Pinot Noir (including the palate-pleasing BlackJack Pinot Noir, crafted with grapes from the estate’s oldest vines) and slate of whites, such as Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling, David Hill offers Merlot, Tempranillo, Port and more. (David Hill Vineyards & Winery is open daily, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on major holidays)

Visit the "wild west" at the L-Bar-T Bison Ranch Gift Shop

With a little time to kill, we journeyed to the gift shop at L-Bar-T Bison Ranch to pick up some bison jerky.  We were entertained with the signs warning passersby not to “tease” the wild bison that roam the fenced-off ranch in Forest Grove. As one of the most acclaimed ranches of its kind, it has an old, wild west feel to it, as does its gift shop (pictured, left).

Our final winery stop for the day was Oak Knoll Winery, one of the pioneering wineries in Oregon. Founded in 1970, Oak Knoll started with an “experimental” batch of blackberry wine; today, Oak Knoll produces a diverse variety of wines that appeal to all palates. I started with the 2009 Pinot Gris, which was named one of the “Top 100 Best Buys of 2012″ by Wine Spectator, and followed with the 2010 Rose of Pinot Noir. Oak Knoll’s tasting menu offers an interesting slate of blends and sweet reds not often seen in the northern Willamette Valley: “Toasted Cow Red Vintners Blend,” a blend of Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah; “Toasted Cow White Vintners Blend,” a sweet blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Müller Thurgau, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris; “DEVIANT,” a sweet red billed as a “sweet red revolution”; and “Concord”, made from Concord grapes. (Oak Knoll Winery is open daily at 11 a.m.; closed on major holidays).

If you can’t make it to Washington County wine country during the weekend, plan a weekday to enjoy the warm and these warm and inviting wineries.  Additional wineries that are open daily year-round include:

  • Cooper Mountain Vineyards, the first certified organic, biodynamic winery in the Pacific Northwest (open daily, 12-5 p.m.)
  • Kramer Vineyards, a winery that offers a variety of red and white wines, as well as on-site roasted coffee (open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • Montinore Estate, a family-owned, certified organic and biodynamic winery  (open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • Plum Hill Vineyards, a small, family-owned winery built on a historical dairy farm (open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; opens at noon on Sundays; closed major holidays)
  • Ponzi Vineyards, one of the pioneering Oregon wineries offering a diverse range of varietals (open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • SakéOne, an American owned and operated, premium saké brewery (open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

 *Most wineries are closed on the following major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter.

Saké: Wine, spirit or beer?

Posted on: August 22nd, 2012 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Visitors enjoy a tour of the kura at SakeOne in Oregon's Washington County

During a recent tour of the saké brewery, SakéOne, in Forest Grove, a valid question arose:  Is saké wine or beer?  It’s brewed in a similar fashion, yet can be enjoyed like a wine, so that doesn’t easily answer the question. However, saké can be substituted for spirits in a number of cocktails (hence the saying, “sakétini”), so is it a spirit?  Although this age-old question may not be answered today, let’s take a better look at this often misunderstood beverage.

What is saké, anyway?

Saké (pronounced sock-ay) is a traditional Japanese rice-based alcohol beverage, which is presumed to have been around for at least 2,000 years (some texts claim that the beverage originated as early as 712 A.D.).  Today, it is consumed globally, and is produced in several countries throughout the world, including the United States. This diverse beverage has numerous categories, all of which explain the purity of the saké, the style of the saké (e.g. sweet, dry, aged, unpasteurized, etc.). Learn more about terminology here.

Many Americans think of saké as a hot beverage; however, this type of saké is low-quality and is heated to mask the inferiorities of the beverage. High-grade, premium saké, such as the labels produced by SakéOne, are meant to be consumed as a chilled beverage, thus enhancing the flavors and aromas of the saké.

Is saké wine, beer or spirits?

Saké has a higher alcohol content than wine or beer  (15-20% for saké, vs. 3-9% for beer and 9-16% for wine), and has a lower content than most spirits (35-60%). While some maintain that saké is “rice wine,” the production process closer resembles beer brewing, rather than wine making. Saké is crafted in a kura (brewery), and the main ingredients consist of rice, water, koji and yeast. The complicated process of turning rice into saké is explained here.

So, perhaps the answer is that saké is neither wine, beer nor spirit; it just is.

Taste for yourself!

Experience saké with a visit to SakéOne, an American owned-and-operated brewery which employs many Japanese saké brewing customs. Their tasting room is open 11am-5pm daily (closed on select holidays). Free daily tours of the kura happen at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

This month, don’t miss the annual Kura Blessing and International Saké Day Celebration, September 29, 2012. Join this symbolic ceremony with ancient Shinto roots as the Rev. Koichi Barris of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America cleanses the kura in this traditional ceremony conducted in both Japanese and English. After the ceremony, pop into the tasting room to celebrate International Saké Day with a flight  SakéOne’s brewing partners in Japan, the Murai Family and Yoshinogawa.

Raise Your Glass to Oregon Wine Month

Posted on: May 4th, 2012 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan 1 Comment

Oregon Governor, John Kitzhaber, recently declared May 2012 Oregon Wine Month, in celebration of the state’s ever-growing wine industry.  With 420 wineries and 850 vineyards, wine is part of Oregon’s identity, and is a delicious accompaniment to a Washington County getaway. Celebrate Oregon Wine Month this May by visiting the nearly 30 wineries in Oregon’s Washington County and taste a flight of locally crafted wine, from Pinot Noir to Pinot Gris, and a number of surprising varietals in between. Or celebrate at one of these fun wine events throughout the May (Mother’s Day weekend events are listed here):

Oregon Wine Month winds down during the annual Memorial Day Weekend in Wine Country (countywide, hours and prices vary per winery).  Various wineries throughout Oregon’s Washington County (as well as around the state) are open their doors to the public for a festive open house featuring nibbles, entertainment and tastes of new wine releases.

For more information about Memorial Day Weekend in Wine Country and a listing of participating wineries, visit these industry partners:

Need more inspiration to get into the wine-tasting mood? Check out this video, taken at Ponzi Vineyards, or this video, taken at SakeOne.

FUN FACT:  Did you know that Oregon is the  4th largest wine-producing state in the U.S. (behind Washington, New York and California, the largest producer in the U.S.) ?

A Closer Look at Our Cities: Forest Grove

Posted on: April 9th, 2012 by WCVA No Comments

This month we go westward for a closer look at Forest Grove, located in northwestern Washington County, a small city that transcends its college-town atmosphere with its exquisite wineries, unique stores, distinctive restaurants and historic lodge.

Forest Grove's iconic Main Street

Forest Grove, Oregon

Located in the foothills of the Coast Range at the base of the Tillamook State Forest, Forest Grove is home to Pacific University, unique restaurants, six wineries, one craft beer brewery and the world’s only American owned-and-operated large-production saké brewery.

Sip

Forest Grove boasts an impressive collection of placed to sip handcrafted beverages at the source–wineries and breweries. In addition to visiting the area’s artisans, two wine shops, both located on downtown’s Main Street, pour wines from around the world.  Or relax at one of Forest Grove’s coffee houses  or pubs.

Shop

Forest Grove’s collections of boutiques, ranging from antiques to art, provide a rewarding shopping experience, while a seasonal farmers’ market, farm stores and tree farms offer visitors more shopping options.

Dine

Forest Grove has a multiude of restaurants serving cuisine from the four corners of the world. Nosh on American comfort-food dishes,  pair a locally produced wine with your favorite Italian dish, explore Middle Eastern cuisine,  satisfy a craving for Mexican food, try Pad Thai or other Thai specialty, explore a buffet of your favorite Chinese dishes, or taste yummy baked delights from area bakeries and cafes.

Explore

Finding your way through downtown Forest Grove is now easier, thanks to its new way-finding signs, which connect visitors to the area’s key districts and points of interest.

Play

Forest Grove offers many events throughout the year, appealing to all interests, including these upcoming popular annual events:

Sleep

After a day (or two, or three) of exploration, you can be rest assured that Forest Grove has a selection of places to stay overnight, including

For additional information about Oregon’s Washington County and its  amazing cities, visit our website.

Celebrating the Fourth with Local Wines

Posted on: June 27th, 2011 by WCVA No Comments
SakeOne

SakéOne is one of several tasting rooms open during the 4th of July weekend.

Independence Day is best associated with hot dogs and apple pie, and here in Oregon’s Washington County, we like to celebrate with a glass of locally produced wines. Our friends at the North Willamette Vintners Association agree, as they are set to launch their first “Red, White and Celebrate” event, July 2-4. Eighteen wineries, plus SakéOne, Forest Grove’s own saké brewery, will be featuring tastings paired with each stop’s own brand of good ol’ American hospitality.

The following is a list of participating locations and scheduled activities:

Red, White & Celebrate! at ADEA Wine Company (26421 NW Highway 47 Gaston, OR): Open on Saturday or by appointment on Sunday and Monday

Red, White & Blueberry! at Apolloni Vineyards (14135 NW Timmerman Rd. Forest Grove, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings, blueberries from Tom’s Berry Patch and blueberry baked goods for sale

Red, White & REV! at Ardiri Winery & Vineyard (35040 SW Unger Rd. Cornelius, OR): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; tastings all weekend “paired” with exotic, high performance cars on display on Saturday, plus traditional barbecue fare available for purchase

Red, White & Strawberry! at Cooper Mountain Vineyards (9480 Grabhorn Rd. Beaverton, OR): 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings, plus samplings of local strawberries, drizzled with Cooper Mountain’s own balsamic vinegar produced from the winery’s vineyards

Red, White & Fun! at David Hill Vineyard & Winery (46350 NW David Hill Rd. Forest Grove, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday only; wine tastings, art, music, food and lawn games

Red, White & Rose! at Elk Cove Vineyards (27751 NW Olson Rd. Gaston, OR): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings

Red, White & Firelight! at Garden Vineyards (12960 NW Dick Rd. Hillsboro, OR): 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday July 4th; wine tastings, grilled foods, lawn games and viewpoints of fireworks displays throughout the valley

Red, White & Blues! at Helvetia Vineyards (23269 NW Yungen Rd. Hillsboro, OR): 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings, picnics and salmon snacks all weekend; special blues events on Monday featuring Bob Shoemaker, Delta Blues music master, with Leadbelly, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and more

Red, White & Barrels! at Kramer Vineyards (26830 NW Olson Rd. Gaston, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine flights and barrel tastings

Red, White & Sangria! at Montinore Estate (3663 Dilly Rd. Forest Grove, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings all weekend, special sangria tastings and activities, including live music on Saturday

Red, White & Rose Festival! at Oak Knoll Winery (29700 SW Burkhalter Rd. Hillsboro, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings and celebration of the winery’s commemorative Rose Festival labels

Red, White & You! at Patton Valley Vineyard (9449 SW Old Hwy 47 Gaston, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday only; new release and vertical tastings

Red, White & Watermelon! at Plum Hill Vineyards (6505 SW Old Hwy 47 Gaston OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; 3rd annual wine and watermelon event with wine tastings and watermelon with (or without) toppings

Red, White & Bocce! at Ponzi Vineyards (14665 SW Winery Lane Beaverton, OR): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings and bocce ball

Red, White & Berry Fest! at Smith Berry Barn with Provincial Vineyards (24500 SW Scholls Ferry Road Hillsboro, OR): 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; special wine tastings at the annual Berry Festival at Smith Berry Barn, featuring family activities, great food and live entertainment

Red, White & Celebrate! at Purple Cow Vineyards (52720 NW Wilson School Rd. Forest Grove, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday only

Red, White & Celebrate! at Raptor Ridge Winery (18700 SW Hillsboro Hwy. Newberg, OR): 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings

Red, White & Sake! at SakéOne (820 Elm Street Forest Grove, OR): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday only, closed Monday; saké tastings

Red, White & Rose! at Tualatin Estate Vineyards (10850 NW Seavey Rd. Forest Grove, OR): 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday; wine tastings

See a complete list of wineries in Oregon’s Washington County, or learn more about this event.

Interested in planning a weekend getaway to Washington County? See the list of hotels/motels and dining options.

Create Your Own Adventures With New Interactive Videos

Posted on: March 23rd, 2010 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Video Series is First of its Kind to be Used to Promote Tourism

With an innovative, bold new Web video campaign, Washington County, Oregon, is now allowing visitors to create their own vacation adventures with an unprecedented series of videos on the popular video sharing website YouTube.

These “Create Your Adventure” videos allow viewers to discover the many gems of Washington County. Adventurers are given the choice of three tracks, which viewers can tailor to their own interests. Each series ends with a scenic drive along the Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route, which highlights Washington County’s rolling backcountry roads, farm stands and wineries.

Golf is one of several relaxing pursuits on the Create Your Adventure journey.

Golf is one of several relaxing pursuits on the Create Your Adventure journey.

Each track offers nine adventures, with a total of 27 possible vacation itineraries:

  • Relax: highlighting attractions such as shopping, golf, hiking, a day at the spa, and a night out on the town, among other activities
  • Escape: highlighting pursuits such as disc golf, hot air balloon rides, a visit to a farmers’ market and saké tasting, among other activities
  • Explore: highlighting outdoorsy attractions, such as bird watching, hiking, biking and kayaking, among other activities

“Washington County truly is a hidden gem,” said Ruthie Reinert, president and CEO of the Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA). “As a destination marketing organization, we saw a need to create a tool that provided a sample of all the ways a visitor can have an authentic travel experience in Washington County.”

Birding is one of the adventures explorers can choose

Birding is one of the adventures explorers can choose

The videos were modeled after the popular “Choose Your Own Adventure” books, which were popular among school-aged children in the 1980s and ‘90s, and allowed readers to choose what happened next in the story.

“Destinations typically tell you what to do and where to go,” said Martin Stoll, CEO of Portland-based GoSeeTell Network, the production company behind the interactive “Create Your Adventure” videos.  “Washington County is letting its visitors choose their own destiny. Visitors drive the story and decide where they’ll go and what they’ll do. It’s an exciting breakthrough in the often pre-packaged tourism marketing industry.”

The interactive video project, which was a joint partnership between the WCVA and the GoSeeTell Network, is the first of its kind in the tourism industry. It uses a YouTube technology, which links multiple video clips with an interactivity button that causes the next video to play. This is the first time this Web video technology is being used for tourism.

Give Thanks to Oregon Wines

Posted on: November 10th, 2009 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments
Apolloni Vineyards

Apolloni Vineyards

Spend a weekend in Oregon wine country, and taste why Oregon has earned a reputation as North America’s most revered handcrafted Pinot Noir. Vintners and wineries of northern Willamette Valley in Washington County, Ore., open their doors for tastings, hors d’oeuvres and conversation during the annual Wine Country Thanksgiving.

The weekend marks the release of new vintages at many of Washington County’s wineries, giving oenophiles a chance to be among the first to taste new wine releases, as well as a chance to visit wineries that are not regularly open to the public.

Participating wineries include:

  • A Blooming Hill Vineyard & Winery
    5195 SW Hergert Rd., Cornelius; (503) 992-1196
    www.abloominghillvineyard.com
    Fri-Sun, 12-5pm
    $5 tasting fee (applied toward purchase of one bottle)
    New release: Pinot Noir
    Douglas Fir Noble Christmas trees available for purchase
    Fee includes: Chocolate cake tastings 
  • Alloro Vineyards
    22075 SW Lebeau Rd., Sherwood; (503) 625-1978
    www.allorovineyard.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-4:30pm
    $10 tasting fee
    New releases: 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, Riesling & Chardonnay, 2007 Pinot Noir & late-harvest dessert wine
  • Anam Cara Cellars
    22222 SW Nicholas View Drive Sherwood; (503)537-9150
    www.anamcaracellars.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $10 tasting fee
    Fee includes: Selection of Oregon cheeses
    Purchase two bottles of wine, get the third bottle for $1 (must be same varietal/vintage)
  • Apolloni Vineyards
    14135 NW Timmerman Rd., Forest Grove, (503) 359-3606
    www.apolloni.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee (refundable with wine purchase)
    New releases: 2007 Sangiovese and 2007 Merlot (available in tasting room only)
  • Árdíri Winery and Cellars 
    35040 SW Unger Rd., Cornelius; (503) 628-6060
    www.ardiriwine.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $10 tasting fee
    New releases: 2007 Pinot Noir
    Special tastings: 2008 Pinot Noir, barrel tastings
    Fee includes: Logo glass, light food and chocolates made with Árdíri’s Pinot Noir
  • Barron-Wahl Vineyards
    27015 SW Ladd Hill Rd., Sherwood; (503) 625-7938
    www.barronwahl.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-4pm
    Light hors d’oeuvres
  • Beran Vineyards
    30088 SW Egger Road, Hillsboro; (503) 628-1298
    www.beranvineyards.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee (proceeds to benefit Community Action programs)
    Holiday discount, 20% off per case
  • cooper-mtn_corksCooper Mountain Vineyards
    9480 SW Grabhorn Rd., Beaverton; (503) 649-0027
    www.coopermountainwine.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $10-20 tasting fee
    Fee includes: Logo glass, live music, cheese and wine pairings
    Organic and Biodynamic Vineyard Treks at 11am, 2pm and 4pm
    25% off purchases of cases
  • David Hill Vineyard & Winery
    46350 NW David Hill Rd., Forest Grove; (503) 992-8545
    www.davidhillwinery.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee
    Fee includes: Logo glass and light food
  • Elk Cove Vineyards
    27751 NW Olson Rd., Gaston; (503) 985-7760;                      1-877-ELK-COVE
    www.elkcove.com
    Fri-Sun, 10am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee
    New release: 2008 Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
  • Freja Cellars
    16691 SW McFee Place, Hillsboro; (503) 628-7843
    www.frejacellars.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $10 tasting fee (applied toward wine purchase of half-case or larger)
    New release: 2006 Reserve Pinot Noir
    Fee includes: Logo glass, assortment of fruit, cheeses, chocolates & bread
  • Garden Vineyards
    12960 NW Dick Rd., Hillsboro; (503) 547-9046
    www.gardenvineyards.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $10 tasting fee (applied toward wine purchase)
    Fee includes: Light snacks
  • Helvetia Vineyards
    23269 NW Yungen Rd., Hillsboro; (503) 647-7596
    www.helvetiawinery.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $2 tasting fee (refundable with purchase)
    New releases: 2007 Chardonnay, 2008 Gewürztraminer Barrel tastings
    Indian-caught smoked salmon
    Gifts and Christmas trees available for purchase
  • J. Albin Winery
    19495 Vista Hill Dr., Hillsboro; (503) 628-2986
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee
    Handcrafted Pinot Noir, Saignee Rosé, sparkling wines, dessert wine and Pinot Gris
  • Montinore Estate
    3663 SW Dilley Rd., Forest Grove; (503) 359-5012
    www.montinore.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $10-15 tasting fee
    $10 fee includes: Logo glass
    $15 fee includes: Culinary pairing classes, logo glass
  • Oak Knoll Winery
    29700 SW Burkhalter Rd., Hillsboro; (503) 648-8198
    www.oakknollwinery.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee
    Fee includes: Live music and light food
    Special case discounts (20-50% off), pick an ornament from the holiday tree and open it to reveal percentage-off discount on purchase of a case
  • Patton Valley Vineyard
    9449 SW Old Highway 47, Gaston; (503) 985-3445
    www.pattonvalley.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $15 tasting fee
    New releases: 2007 Lorna-Marie Reserve Pinot Noir, 2007 Syrah
    Fee includes: Glass, food
  • Plum Hill Vineyards
    6505 SW Old Hwy. 47, Gaston; (503) 359-4706
    www.PlumHillWine.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee
    Fee includes: Glass, music, snacks
  • Ponzi Vineyards
    14665 SW Winery Ln., Beaverton; (503) 628-1227
    www.ponziwines.com
    Fri-Sun, 10am-5pm
    $15 tasting fee
    “The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook” book signing with author/founder Nancy Ponzi (Sunday only)
    New release: 2008 Tavola Pinot Noir
    Fee includes: Riedel Pinot Noir Glass
  • Purple Cow Vineyards
    52720 NW Wilson School Rd., Forest Grove; (503) 330-0991; www.purplecowvineyards.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee
    New releases: 2006 Tempranillo Reserve, 2007 Gabriela
  • Quailhurst Vineyard Estate
    15031 SW Pleasant Hill Rd., Sherwood; (509) 427-5132
    www.QuailhurstWines.com
    Saturday, November 28, 9am-5pm
    $20 tasting fee
    Fee includes: Logo glass, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, entertainment
    Specials on selected wines
  • Shafer Vineyard Cellars
    6200 NW Gales Creek Rd., Forest Grove; (503) 357-6604
    www.shafervineyardcellars.com
    Fri-Mon, 11am-5pm
    $5 tasting fee
    Fee includes: Hors d’oeuvres, hot apple cider and coffee
    36th Anniversary Special: Purchase one case, get the second case free (excludes Pinot Noir)
  • SakéOne
    820 Elm St., Forest Grove; (503) 357-7056
    www.sakeone.com
    Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm (Tours: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm)
    $10 tasting fee
    “Rice Exposed Tour“: tastings of fresh Oregon koji rice and kasu, rice cake pressed from fermented saké which is commonly used as a pickling agent in Japanese cuisine
    Fee includes: Tour, saké pairings, chocolate-dipped fortune cookies
    Saké and sakétini holiday gift sets 20% off
  • Tualatin Estate Vineyard
    10850 NW Seavey Rd., Forest Grove; (503) 357-5005
    www.tualatinestate.com
    Fri-Sun, 10am-5pm
    Complimentary tastings

Most wineries are open Nov. 27-29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).  Each winery may charge a tasting fee, and fees may vary. Event information, fees and participating wineries are subject to change. For additional information about the Thanksgiving holiday weekend tastings, visit the North Willamette Vintners Association’s website.

Vinology – For the Love of Wine

Posted on: June 4th, 2009 by Guest Blogger No Comments

NWV logoThe North Willamette Vintners are kicking off their Vinology class series, featuring a Wine Lovers track and another for Professionals. The Wine Lovers series is the one for you whether you’re an avid wine lover or just discovering the lifestyle. This is an educational, entertaining and hands-on opportunity to advance your love of wine, with classes including:

  1. SWIRL, SNIFF, SIP, SPIT:
    FUNDAMENTALS OF WINE TASTING; June 13, 2009, 1pm – 3pm at Oak Knoll Winery

    2.  

  2. PRECISION VITICULTURE:
    FARMING FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND QUALITY; July 18, 2009, 1pm- 3pm at Patton Valley Vineyard

    3.  

  3. SPARKLING WINE 101:
    EVERY DAY SHOULD BE A CELEBRATION; August 8, 2009. 1pm-3pm at J. Albin Winery

    4.  

  4. BARREL MAKING 101:
    THE CRAFT WITHIN THE CRAFT; September 12, 2009, 10am – 12pm at Elk Cove Vineyards

    5.  

  5. SAKÉ 101: October 10, 2009, 10am – 12pm at SakéOne

For more details on these classes, complete details on the Professional series, and to purchase tickets, visit the North Willamette Vintners website.

Each class is only $30 in advance or $40 during the week of the class – don’t miss this opportunity to get the inside scoop on wine and saké from the pros!

Experience the North Gateway to Oregon Wine Country with Tastings, Food and One-of-a-Kind Activities

Posted on: March 27th, 2009 by Guest Blogger No Comments

Wine lovers are invited to journey to 14 landmark wineries along the North Willamette Wine Trail.  Washington County’s wineries, in association with the North Willamette Vintners Association, will be opening their doors April 4-5, for a weekend of wine, food and activities.  This first-ever event, the North Willamette Wine Trail, celebrates the diversity of wines found in the northern area of the fertile Willamette Valley.

For one low price, attendees will receive a commemorative wine glass and enjoy a variety of complementary tastings, culinary delights and one-of-a-kind educational activities at each participating winery along the route.

Many of the wineries will be offering new releases, reserve label or barrel tastings, and hands-on activities include “becoming a biodynamic farmer for a day,”  dipping wine bottles in wax and demonstrations on how to pair local salmon with your favorite wines.

Participating wineries include:

Event Details:

What: 2009 North Willamette Wine Trail
When: Saturday, April 4 & Sunday, April 5 from 11am – 4pm
Cost: $35 in advance ($40 at the door);  “Designated Driver” tickets are $10

For tickets and more information, visit www.NorthWillametteVintners.org.