Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Photo by Dave Shea, via Flickr

Adding to the list of all that Portland-area visitors and residents have to be grateful for is the annual Wine Country Thanksgiving (Nov. 23-25). During Oregon’s premier tasting and cellar-stocking event, more than 160 wineries open their doors to the public, offering samples of favorite labels and special vintages. From Dundee-based White Rose Estate’s 2010 Pinot Noir, which was just named the year’s best wine by Portland Monthly, to Dayton-based Sokol Blosser’s Evolution White, a fruity splash that pairs great with a variety of dishes, there are literally hundreds of wines to choose from.

The holiday weekend festivities include live music, food and wine pairings, and the opportunity to visit with winemakers at some of Oregon’s top wineries — including many not usually open to the public.

The easiest way to wind your way is with the Willamette Valley Mobile Wine Tour. This smartphone-optimized website uncorks all the info you need to organize a Wine Country Thanksgiving road trip, including vineyard hours, wine details, contact information and GPS-assisted maps. It’s amazing when you think about it: Thirty years ago, when the event was first launched, such an innovation was unimaginable. But today, the wine is still a timeless treasure.

Image courtesy of hoodriver.org

You probably already know that many fabulous wineries and tasting rooms can be found in Washington County and the Willamette Valley. But, recently, I was pleasantly surprised to discover how many wonderful tasting rooms there are in downtown Hood River, about 60 miles east of Portland in the Columbia River Gorge.

I haven’t spent much time in downtown Hood River, and I loved how walkable everything was. I planned this excursion for a couple of friends who were visiting from out of town. If I can plan a successful trip, so can you — or just use my list as a starting point. (more…)

Although the opening weekend for the Portland Farmers Market in March is the official start to the fresh food season, I find my tastes align more with berries than with Swiss chard.  As such, I always eagerly anticipate late spring, when the first sweet delicacies appear. May and June are also two of the best foodie months in town.

May kicks off with the Taste of the Nation, a fundraiser for Share Our Strength that brings together tastes from restaurants, breweries and wineries.

In mid-May, the Indie Wine and Food Festival highlights the best of local, small-batch vintners and pairs them with nibbles from great restaurants.

Over Memorial Day Weekend, winemakers open their doors for the 21st annual tasting extravaganza in the Willamette Valley.

Finally, in June, the entire month becomes a feast for foodies with the return of Dining Month Portland, which includes three-course dinners for just $25 at nearly 50 restaurants, every day of the week.  This year’s participants include James Beard Award nominated locales like Lincoln and Nostrana, plus past winners like Paley’s Place.

Can’t visit in May or June?  Don’t worry, there are plenty of other fantastic food events. Check the calendar or book the Portland Perks package and receive a discount-packed coupon book featuring savings at nearly 20 different restaurants.

A made-in-the-Willamette-Valley picnic

Farming by the phases of the moon, burying manure in a cow horn, letting 450 sheep loose in the vineyard to eat back the weeds — these are just a few of the things that Montinore Estate does to grow grapes biodynamically.

The technique is complicated, but the purpose is simple: to make better wine. Owner Rudy Marchesi converted this, one of the larger wineries in Oregon, to biodynamic five years ago. His wine has improved immensely since. But whatever it takes, he’ll tell you that his bottom line is to make great wine, at an affordable price. Montinore’s versatile Riesling is only $12 a bottle, and refreshing Pinot Gris is $15. Their Pinot Noir ranges in the low $20s, and for you connoisseurs out there — this is a great price for a Willamette Valley Pinot. (more…)

Penner-Ash Wine Cellars in Newberg (photo by Chris Hughes)

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so you might well be wondering what wine to pair with your turkey dinner.

I brought a bottle of Erath Pinot Noir to my family dinner last Thanksgiving and it — along with my signature orange-ginger cranberry sauce — went over famously. This article claims that there’s a scientific reason that Pinot Noir pairs well with turkey — and offers some great Oregon Pinot recommendations, too.

Speaking of wine and Thanksgiving, the holiday weekend is one of the best times to visit the Willamette Valley wine country. From Friday through Sunday, more than 160 wineries will be open to the public, including many small operations that aren’t normally accessible. The whole winemaking community gets into the holiday spirit, with special offerings like deals on new releases, barrel-tasting opportunities, gourmet nibbles – even live music at some wineries.

Wine tasting in the Willamette Valley is always a friendly, intimate experience, and the Thanksgiving weekend is no exception — you’re likely to meet the vinters themselves pouring in the tasting rooms.

So, grab the relatives (or escape them) and settle into the season with a leisurely weekend in wine country. It goes great with turkey!