“The wines of Gérard Raphet are a Burgundy lover’s Burgundy. While the wine’s color in the glass is a delicate ruby, aromas and flavors surprise with their forceful intensity. This contrast often catches the uninitiated off guard, yet it is part of the attraction and seduction of these limited and highly sought-after wines.
Wine
Japanese Food and Italian Wine Dinner
Beavercreek’s Osaka Japanese Steakhouse will be hosting a wine dinner on Thursday, August 24th at 6pm. According to Vintner Select wine representative Michael Freeman, this dinner will showcase the textural and savory elements of Japanese cuisine with complimentary profiles of wine. The wines featured will be from the Malvirà estate.
This tiny property, located in the northern Italian region of Piedmont, is situated just across the Tànaro river from the more famous Barolo & Barbaresco zones in a less familiar locale called Roero.
The Malvirà estate serves as a family owned/operated Agriturismo, a working farm with a 13 room bed & breakfast that rests in the heart of their organically-farmed vineyard. For more information, check out their website www.malvira.com
The wines for our evening will provide a range of different styles & vintages, going as far back as a special cellar-release 2006, directly from the winery.
Here’s the menu:
Shrimp Tempura | lightly battered for a crisp crust
Sparkling Arneis ‘Rive Gauche’Spumante
Beef Negimaki | a traditional Japanese dish of thinly pounded beef wrapped round scallions with savory sauce
Barbera d’Alba ‘San Michele’ 2013
Hamachi Sushi | mild flavored Yellowtail tuna prepared as a gentle introduction to the world of sushi
Favorita Langhe Bianco, 2015
Katsu Fish | panko-crusted and pan fried white fish
Roero Arneis Vigna Trinità, 2014
Hibachi Filet of Beef | tender filet mignon prepared by the Hibachi chef
Langhe Rosso ‘San Guglielmo’ 2006
Call the restaurant at 937-320-1188 to make the required reservations to enjoy this wine dinner, which runs $65 per person.
Osaka Japanese Steakhouse is located in an out lot at the Fairfield Commons at 2476 Commons Blvd.
Wine Gallery Tasting & Sale
The Wine Gallery Wine Shop and Bistro located downtown at 5 W. Monument is hosting a wine tasting and sale this evening, Saturday, June 24th, beginning at 6pm featuring 24 wines sweet to dry available for tasting. They will have whites, reds and pinks available with special pricing for case purchases. If you have any events coming up this summer or early fall that require wine, you won’t want miss this event. They will have cases of wine as low as $40 for 12 bottles. But with prices like this, they do not allow mixing of the cases.
You’ll also be able to enjoy all pizza’s, salads and appetizers at 1/2 off during the wine sale. Check our menu out at www.thewinegalleryandcafe.com
Call 937-224-9463 to reserve a table this evening. Cheers! |
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Dayton’s Best Wine Tasting for Singles
Dayton-area wine lovers know that the region has no shortage of tasting events throughout the year (or during any given week!), but one of the newest is poised to distinguish itself as the best setting for singles to meet new people who share a common interest.
Planned2Give will host its quarterly Grapes of Gratitude event Thursday, May 25, at the Normandy Banquet Center (507 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Washington Twp.), from 6 – 8 pm. The team-based, comepetitive wine tasting focuses on a different varietal each time; the winter installment featured merlot, while this week’s spring outing is timed to coincide with National Chardonnay Day.
“This has turned out to be a great event for singles,” Lisa Grigsby of Planned2Give said, “because of the relaxed environment and everyone already having one common thing to discuss and really get into the details. And it’s a perfect opportunity: at our last event, the participants were probably 80% singles, and 75% women, and the ages ranged from 21 to about 45-ish. Talk about great odds for a gentleman looking to meet a lady–this would be it.”
The casual, after-work event works by the “rule of three,” which requires teams of one to three participants to each bring three bottles of the same varietal. (For instance, three bottles of 2005 Lindemans Bin 65 chardonnay). For each team, two of the three bottles are bagged to hide the label, tagged, and then poured for tasting and ranking by each contestant during the course of the evening. Each team’s third bottle is set aside, unopened. At the end, the unopened third bottles are divided and taken home by the teams that brought the five highest ranking wines–except for the lowest ranked wine, which is returned to the team that brought it.
Worried about bringing the same wine as another team? Not a problem. Year, batch, temperature, length of time since the bottle was opened, and other factors can all affect the flavor and bring different rankings.
The “three for three” format used here is gaining popularity around the country among wine enthusiasts and novices alike, including Cincinnati’s Bacchanalia Society events. One of the goals of the event is to change perceptions and challenge biases people might have toward certain varietals.
“Last time,” said organizer Lisa Grigsby, “we had a lot of people who weren’t merlot fans, but by the end of the night, everyone had found one they liked, and then it was, ‘Wow, I never would’ve bought or ordered this, but now I know there’s one I really enjoy,’ and that’s because they got to try it without commitment. Everyone was surprised about the differences among the tastes and complexities of the wines.”
Teams can contain no more than three participants, so a group of four will be considered two teams, and must bring six bottles of the featured varietal to gain entry. However, said Grigsby, people needn’t worry if they plan to come alone.
“We had plenty of people who came by themselves as one single-person team. Only the person at the sign-in table knows who’s together and who’s not, so once you’re inside, no one has to know if you’re with a group or not. Everyone was very friendly. It’s very low-key and not snobby in any way. When we revealed the restults, a lot of people were surprised; one of the most expensive wines did not place in the top three, and one of the winners was a very inexpensive wine. The blind tasting takes that name brand association away, so it’s all about taste.”
Each Grapes event benefits a different local charity, and May’s proceeds will go to Wagtown, a new organization working toward the goal of making every city dog-friendly in the interest of creating stronger, more vibrant communities that attract people, spur economic growth, and foster loyalty.
“We try to support grassroots organizations,” said Jeff Jackson, Planned to Give co-owner, “smaller nonprofits where the attention can put new eyes on them and the money raised can really be impactful. Our last charity partner was Bogg Industries, which focuses on feeding the homeless all around the region through their Mobile Meals program. We raised enough money to feed 1,200 people, and that feels good. While we’re open to any charity, we’re really looking for the ones we can help expose. Wagtown’s ‘animal-friendly community’ concept really appealed to us, and they’re a new organization, so we wanted to showcase them in a meaningful way.”
Snacks will be on hand at the event, including pizza from Mack’s Tavern and chardonnay-infused sweets. The first half-hour of the evening encourages socializing and sampling the foods offered while event staff log and bag the various wines and register arriving guests. The early part of the evening will also include information about Wagtown, as well as presentation to Bogg Industries of the funds raised at the winter installment.
“It’s very casual,” Grigsby said. “People can come from work, come in jeans… There’s nothing formal about this event. It’s not an all-night commitment on a weeknight; it ends at 8 pm, though last time, a lot of groups ended up going somewhere for dinner afterward. It’s something different, something fun, a way to try a lot of wines on someone else’s dime, and then maybe get to take a bunch home.”
Tickets for participation in Grapes of Gratitude are $10 in advance and $15 at the door; advance tickets (with online handling fee) are available for purchase at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-grapes-of-gratitude-tickets-34094527650 or you can pick them up at the nearby Arrow Wine store on 725, while you’re grabbing your 3 bottles of Chardonnay.
Grapes of Gratitude- Wine Tasting Helps Others
Competitive wine tasting comes to the Miami Valley this Thursday, Feb 23rd at 6pm. Grapes of Gratitude is a team wine tasting event created to allow local nonprofits to raise money while participants blindly taste an array of wines of the same varietal.
Late Night Wine Tasting at Christopher’s
On Saturday, March 4th Christopher’s Restaurant will host another of its popular after hours wine tasting events. Featuring six selections from their new wine list paired with exquisite hors d’oeuvres prepared by their very creative catering department. This will be a casual, fun event with a party style atmosphere. It takes place after the restaurant closes for service, from 9:30-11:30 pm. Come for the whole event or drop in any time!
Tickets are available for $ $20 presale and $24 at the event at Christopher’s. Space is limited, so it is recommended to purchase in advance. Christopher’s, an eclectic neighborhood eatery known for offering culinary creations, comfort foods, homemade soups and desserts that is vegetarian friendly, is located at 2318 E Dorothy Lane, just west of The Greene.
6 Course Wine Dinner at Meadowlark Wine Dinner
An intimate 6 course dinner paired with 6 different wines with special guest, California wine maker Peter Stolpman. The menu is a collaboration from chefs Wiley, Elizabeth Valenti, Dave Rawson and Jenn DiSanto from the newly formed catering and events division SageCraft.
Reserved seating only and space is limited. Call SageCraft to reserve your space (937)296-0600. Price is $79.00 per person and includes all 6 courses, 6 wines and a few sweet treats to finish out the evening.
Oh No! Less WINE?!
Sometimes you get a scoop that you are really not interested in hearing. Such is the case with a bummer of a tidbit we heard earlier this month
We had heard that Beavercreek’s Brunings Wine Cellar would be closing it’s doors in the near future. A call to the store confirmed that this evening, though an exact date has not been released.
oOwner Mike Yegerlehner announced this morning that this weekend will be the last for the wine store. They’ll be hosting their final round of drop in wine tastings tonight from 5-8pm and then Friday 4-8pm and the final one will be Saturday from 2-6pm. Be sure to stop by and raise a glass and toast all the good times they provided over the years and to Mike and the staff’s next chapter.
The store is located at 2476 Commons Blvd, just blocks from the Fairfield Commons Mall and they are open Wednesday – Saturday 10am – 8pm.
2 Day Wine Festival at Jungle Jim’s
The 2016 Jungle Jim’s International Wine Festival will be a weekend to remember. With 90 wineries pouring over 400 wines, delicious food pairings by country, live music, and great company, it’s two extravagant evenings filled with the finest wines from around the world. Taking place at the Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim’s Fairfield on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12, from 7:00 – 10:00pm, Jungle Jim’s International Wine Festival will bring the Grand Hall to exuberant, flamboyant life.
There are 3 different tickets available:
Grand Tasting: Grand Tasting: With 90 wineries pouring over 400 wines, the Grand Tasting lets you enjoy delicious food pairings by country, live music, and great company. You’ll also take home a commemorative 2016 Winefest glass and Tasting Guide. Look for food pairings, samples of food presented by Jungle Jim’s International Market. There will be approximately 6 food pairing booths around the festival. However, samples will not be enough for a meal; they’re meant to help you enjoy the wines. $65
Those looking for a more in-depth experience can upgrade to Connoisseur. Along with all of the benefits of the Grand Tasting, you’ll gain access to a special Connoisseur Only area for a little rest and relaxation, where you’ll indulge in the International “Dinner by the Bite,” exclusive wine sampling, and have full access to the Oscar Bar. $125
The Non-Drinker Grand Tasting ticket is $25 and includes entrance to the event for one evening, food pairings, soda, water and coffee. $25
You can purchase your tickets online or at the door for this event. Handling charges on tickets increase your outlay to $69.23 for the grand tasting or $133.13 for the Connoisseur. Parking for the event in plentiful and free. Park in the area designated for The Oscar Event Center, which is close to the Holden Drive entrance to Jungle Jim’s International Market. You can also access the parking lots by coming in the gorilla entrance (which is the entrance with the digital sign) and turning right. The Oscar Event Center parking is on the right.
Buyer’s Club, The New Purchase Passport
An integral, beneficial, and unique piece of the Wine Festival experience is our Buyer’s Club program, previously called Purchase Passport. By signing up before the show, you’re ready to enjoy the festival in the most in-depth way possible. Buyer’s Club members will receive a special, free tasting plate. Once you order your tickets, you’ll have access to sign up for Buyer’s Club. It’s the best possible way to experience the show. Once you sign up, it’s as easy as picking up your Buyer’s Club card at the festival, tasting from hundreds of wines, and ordering the ones you enjoy most. You tell us which location you usually shop, and we’ll make sure your order is ready to pick up the week after the festival.
In order to sign up for Buyer’s Club, you must purchase a ticket to the 2016 International Wine Festival. So what are you waiting for? Buy your tickets now!
Fleming’s Tasting Featuring 50 Wines From Award Winning List
Since 2007 Fleming’s Wine List has been recognized by Wine Spectator‘s Restaurant Awards for having a wine lists that offer interesting selections, appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. The 2016 Award Winners were just announced and Fleming’s is just one of 53 Ohio restaurants that made the list.
They’re pouring the entire Fleming’s 100 over two nights for an expansive tasting experience.Take advantage of this unique opportunity to taste and compare varietals, flavors and styles. Savor the difference between California and Oregon Pinots. Sample Chardonnays side by side. Get introduced to those new reds from South Africa and Argentina. What if your favorite wine is one you’ve never tasted?
Saturday, July 16 5 pm–6:30pm
Saturday, August 20 at 5 pm–6:30on
$35 each night, includes passed hors d’oeuvres
Call Fleming’s at 937-320-9548 for reservations.
Help us Pick a Fight with Cancer!
Even pacifists agree that cancer needs its butt kicked. More and more people realize how cancer affects family members, friends, co-workers etc. It’s hard to find someone that cancer hasn’t touched in one way or another. So we are asking you to help us Pick a Fight with Cancer.
This Thursday, May 5th at the Engineers Club of Dayton, Mike Nichols will be hosting the Pick a Fight with Cancer Wine tasting from 6 – 9 pm.
This great event is to celebrate those who have survived cancer, those angels cheering on from heaven and to support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
Mike Nichols states: “Wine tasting event honoring the FIGHTERS. What better venue to lead the charge to support blood cancer research than the historic Engineers Club of Dayton. This historic venue was founded by innovators such as Edward Deeds and Charles Kettering whose inventions changed our world. We ask you to join us for an evening of hope to help render this disease powerless. With every sunrise there is hope and a world of possibilities.”
Along with food and delicious wines to sample, craft beer will also join the party. Giveaways and auction items will attend as well to help round out this wonderful soirée. Dr. James Budde from the Rahn Dental Group has provided a zoom whitening gift for one of our attendees. Square One Salon has graciously donated an Aveda Gift basket, Elsa’s South will provide several treats, dance lessons from Arthur Murray, skin creams from Tel Aviv, Israel and gifts from Rodin and Fields have been donated as well.
Tickets are available at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pick-a-fight-with-cancer-tickets-22797351492 or if you would rather pay at the door, tickets are $30 for one person or $50 for couple (couple meaning significant other, family member or bring a friend!)
So come out, join us and the FIGHTERS as we celebrate their triumphs and lend our support in picking a fight with cancer!
Cocktails with Champagne: A New Way to Ring in a New Year

New Year’s Eve means champagne, champagne, and more champagne!
No one appreciates champagne like they used to. The bubbly wine was created, accidentally, in England in the 16th century. The process was developed over the next two centuries, first to get the bubbles on a regular basis, then to create a bottle with the strength to contain the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the wine. Once the bottles stopped exploding, this treat became a favorite in the French courts. The French leaned to the sweeter sec and demi-sec varieties, while the English preferred the drier bruts. The wealthy were the only people that could afford it initially, turning it into a status symbol for extravagance and a rare treat for the working class. Champagne and all of its sparkling white wine compatriots have become much more common since the beginning of the 20th century, but the effervescence of the liquid and the pop of the cork kept the drink in celebratory circles.
New Year’s Eve is here, and champagne corks will be exploding for the evening. Most people will just enjoy the bubbles and the flavor out of either a toasting flute or a coupé. Experts and extreme lovers of champagne will drink it out of a white wine glass, which combines many qualities of the flute and coupé. This is a fine way to enjoy any sparkling wine, but it is not the only way. There are many cocktails over the years that have been developed with champagne as a co-star to other flavors being created. The cocktail, and your tastes, should dictate the type of champagne you choose to add. The list of champagne cocktails is a long, long one, so I have selected a handful that include spirits people usually have on hand or are easy to find.
BOURBON – Seelbach Cocktail
The Seelbach is named after the Louisville, Kentucky hotel it was created in. Most cocktails ask for a dash or two of bitters. This one calls for multiple dashes of two different bitters. They help balance out the sweetness of the champagne and the Cointreau (orange liqueur).
1 oz. bourbon
1/2 oz. Orange liqueur (Cointreau is what the recipe suggests)
7 dashes Angostura bitters
7 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Champagne
Pour the orange liqueur, bourbon, and bitters into a mixing glass over ice. Stir, and then strain into a champagne flute. Fill with champagne and enjoy.

Our very own Belle of Dayton, providing something to mix with champagne!
RUM – Sparkling Rum Punch (courtesy of My Recipes)
There are two great reasons to go with a punch when it comes to rum. First, from a traditional standpoint, rum is very common in classic punch drinks. Rum and brandy were very popular libations in the heyday of the punch in the late 18th century through the middle of the 19th century. Second, having a punch cocktail at a party allows guests to help themselves to something delicious as they arrive.
2 c. fresh, low pulp orange juice
.5 c. orange liqueur
.5 c. dark rum (Belle of Dayton has a 1775 Colonial Reserve that looks perfect)
2 750 mL bottles of chilled champagne
Blend the orange juice, orange liqueur, and rum into a medium bowl. Place in the refrigerator to chill and allow the flavors to marry for an hour. Before guests arrive, move the mixture into a larger bowl and add the champagne. Serve chilled.
GIN – French 75
The 75 mm field gun the French used at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century was a massive anti-personnel weapon. It delivered a variety of ammunition to the enemies of France, from shrapnel filled explosive shells to canisters of toxic gas. When Harry’s New York Bar in Paris blended gin and champagne into one glass, many said the cocktail had the same kick as this powerful weapon. Like the versatile weapon this is named after, it can be made with gin or cognac.
.5 oz. lemon juice (about half a lemon)
.5 oz. simple syrup (1:1 mixture of sugar and water)
1.5 oz. gin
3 oz. champagne
Combine the lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin in a mixing glass over ice. Shake, and strain into a champagne flute. Add the champagne and enjoy!

Tiny bubbles…dancing with my cocktail.
TEQUILA – Lime Sparkler (courtesy of She Knows)
This is something like the marriage of Jesse James and Sandra Bullock: you are not sure how it happened or why it worked, but it did. For a while, at least. Fortunately, liquors stay together for a longer time. The tequila-lime-sweet combination is a classic, and the champagne adds an extra burst of flavor.
1 oz. blanco (silver) tequila
.5 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
.5 oz. agave nectar (you can use simple syrup, but the nectar adds some richness)
Champagne
Combine the lime juice, agave nectar, and tequila in a mixing glass with ice. Shake, and strain into a champagne flute. Fill with champagne, and serve.
BEER – Black Velvet
When Prince Albert of England passed away in 1861, the country went into mourning. His wife, Queen Victoria, was inconsolable, and mourned the loss the rest of her life. At the time of his death, everything was draped in black. Clever bartenders at the time poured some Guinness into the champagne served at royal events, giving it the same black covering the rest of the décor had. It did not, however, make the people who drank it sad.
Stout (Guinness is the traditional selection, but any will do)
Champagne
Fill the champagne flute half way with champagne. GENTLY float the stout on top of the champagne. If you pour too quickly, the champagne will foam up and over the edge of the glass.
VODKA – Sparkling Cosmopolitan (courtesy of Inspired Taste)

Happy New Year! And happy cocktailing!
There is a wide variety of cocktails that incorporate vodka and champagne. Vodka is neutral enough to just add some kick to the cocktail and allow any other flavor, usually fruity, to shine through. This is another champagne concoction that modifies a base cocktail by adding some sparkle.
1.5 oz. vodka (Buckeye Vodka fans, this one’s for you!)
.5 oz. orange liqueur
.5 oz. cranberry juice
.5 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
Champagne
Pour the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, and lime juice in a mixing glass. Shake well, and strain into a champagne flute. Fill with champagne, and serve.
Whether you are christening a boat or celebrating a major event, champagne’s traditional hold on the celebration market is far from over. There will always be a thrill when the cork pops out and the bubbles start to fly. Keep the cork flying to a minimum, though. Shooting someone’s eye out is not the best way to start the new year. For them or for you. Cheers!
Wine & Food Pairing Event Benefits Aullwood
The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a 4-course experience including an appetizer, soup, entrée, and dessert perfectly paired with wine to delight your senses. Come learn and taste these wines with guidance from a true wine expert and get ideas for your own holiday gatherings. Aullwood’s meats will be incorporated into the selections. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased directly from Ray’s. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Aullwood’s educational programs for regional children.
Brunings Wine & Spinoza’s Launch Summer Series
This debut event kicks off a summer-long wine and pizza pairing series featuring special off-menu pizzas and unique wines available exclusively at Spinoza’s (menu price by the glass or bottle) and at Brunings Wine Cellar (retail price by the bottle or 10% case discount).
Pizza Feature for May/June:
Steak & Mixed Mushroom Pizza with Gruyere & Fontina Cheese, sauteed mushroom mix, marinated Black Angus sirloin, caramelized onions, and Danish blue cheese with horseradish aioli & scallions after the bake.
Dayton’s Premier Wine & Gourmet Food Festival is Sunday!
Twenty four years ago, when Vail Miller of Heidelberg and Mike Frank of Arrow Wine thought up the event that has come to be known as Fleurs et Vin, it was to bring wine to the people in a way that wasn’t stuffy and thus the Party in the Park began. Now moved on to the second generation of these influential families in the Dayton Drinking scene, the party continues to grow.
This Sunday, May 17th at 1pm there will be over 300+ wines to sample under a huge tent in Welcome Park, which is behind UD Arena. And we all know that the taste of wine can change when paired with food, so you’ll have food samples from 20 of the region’s finest independent restaurants. Offerings will include Lamb Taco’s, Slaw Dogs, Grilled Salmon, Carved Beef, BBQ Pork, Bacon Wrapped Dates, Chevre with Olive Tapenade, Shrimp & Crab stuffed Ravioli and so much more…
2015 Fleurs et Vin Participating Restaurants |
Amber Rose Carver’s Central Perc Coco’s Bistro De’lish Giovanni’s Hawthorn Grill Jay’s Seafood Kohler Catering Lock 2 |
Meadowlark Mudlick Tap House Nonnie Waller’s Oakwood Club Salar Scratch Event Catering Wheat Penny Thai 9 The Dock The Deli at The Top of the Market |
Dayton’s Premier Wine and Gourmet Food Festival also features a silent auction that has over 70 packages to choose from including autographed books, a handmade quilt, candles, jewelry and a sectional sofa rom Dayton Discount Furniture!
As well as Gift Certificates from Roost, TJ Chumps, Hairless Hare Brewery, Dayton Art Institute, My Pilates Studio, Briana Snyder Photography, Organic Trails Restaurant, The Dirty Gym, Baker-Bird Winery, Thai9, Lily’s Bistro, Houser Asphalt and 5 monts of house cleaning from Simply Green Maids.
And Gift Baskets from Square One Salon and Spa, Tim Horton’s and Trader Joe’s, Raise Your Brush, Sherwood Florist, Dayton Dragons, Marilyn Merlot, Jagermeister and more.
Perhaps you’d prefer Tickets to Crowns by The Human Race, Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Art Museum, Bach Society of Dayton, Shadowbox Theater, Dayton Funny Bone, Dayton Art Institute, Laser Web and ARC Ohio’s Masquerage.
Not a wine drinker? Relax in the Stella Artois Beer Garden, where Stella, Stella Cidre, Sam Adams Summer Ale and Goose Island brews will be on tap. Live music by J.T. Fedrick and the Sax Groove will provide a back drop for an awesome day of tasting at Welcome Park. The park, tucked behind UD Arena and Welcome Stadium is a new venue for this event and offers plenty of parking. Guests can enter gates B or C at the Arena, you’ll know you’re in the right place when you are welcomed by dancing grape, Kyle Cabernet.
Proceed for the event will benefit AIDS Resource Center Ohio. Tickets are $70 in advance, and can be picked up at Arrow Wine, Bella Vino, Liquor & Wine Warehouse, Miami Valley Spirits, Rumbleseat Wine, The Wine Gallery or purchased online at Fleursetvin.com. Tickets at the park will be $75. All guests at Fleurs must be 21 or older and the event is rain or shine.
Fleurs et Vin has partnered with UBER to offer first time users $20 towards your ride to or from the event by using code FLEURSETVIN15. Just download the app to get started.
Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting at Arrow Wine Centerville Tonight
Patricia Green Cellars is located in the Ribbon Ridge Appellation of the Willamette Valley of Oregon on a 52 acre estate purchased in 2000 by Patty Green and Jim Anderson. The winery, and thus the two friends and business partners, are noted for producing a tremendously broad selection of vineyard designated Pinot Noirs from several vineyards representing some of the better sites in the Willamette Valley with a particular emphasis over the years on Ribbon Ridge, Dundee Hills and the Chehalem Mountain appellations. Patricia Green Cellars focus is to produce Pinot Noirs that show the distinct characteristics of the sites and vintage within the context of the wines. Due to this all of the vineyards the winery either maintains or purchases fruit from are extremely well-tended sites that seek to grow the best fruit possible through rigorous attention to detail on every single vine. Over the years as many as 20 different bottlings of Pinot Noir have been produced in any given vintage. To ensure that these wines are of the highest quality possible, are unique in and of themselves and distinct across the range of wines the decisions we made about the quality of each barrel is quite rigorous ensuring that each bottling represents the best possible wine from each vineyard and vintage.
At a larger level the philosophy of the winery is fairly simple: Do what needs to be done. The two partners of Patricia Green Cellars feel that you simply cannot enter into a vintage with pre-conceived notions of what is going to happen, what the fruit is going to be like, what the wines are going to be like and what is going to need to be done to turn fruit into the best wines possible. There are certain approaches and techniques that will obviously be applied, however the intensity of those actions is fluid. That fluid nature would extend to nearly every aspect of the winemaking. Ultimately things are done as simply as is possible. The 14th century friar William of Ockham stated that “one should not increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.” This is the physics theory known as Occam’s Razor. It applies to winemaking though, too. With over 50 combined years worth of winemaking experience the two partners are quite possibly the longest-partnered winemaking duo in Oregon and they have come to realize that the hardest thing to do is to do the simplest things. However, by paring down, as much as is possible and as much as is sensible, they have found that the wines are better off for it.
Of course to be a truly successful winery one must start with very strong raw materials. That is where the strength of Patricia Green Cellars lives as a winery. Over the years an ever-increasingly strong set of vineyards has made up the core of the winery’s Pinot Noir volume. The crowning jewel initially was landing what is the Estate Vineyard with the purchase of the property back in 2000. After that the near yearly search to bring in extraordinarily high-quality sites, most times with older vines serving as a part of the equation, continues and the winery continues to be able to release unique wines from terrific sites that drive the reputation and finances of the winery. At this juncture Patricia Green Cellars has now assembled what is certainly its strongest collection of well-farmed, high-quality sites with great reputations in its entire existence. The dogged determination to continue to produce the best bottlings of vineyard designated Pinot Noirs, to continually show the willingness and ability to craft critically-acclaimed Pinots from new sites and sell them on a vintage in and vintage out basis has opened the door to this day where a stable of vineyards reflects the winery’s reputation and the winemakers’ skill level.
Arrow Wine Centerville will be sampling the Award Winning Pinot Noirs, from Patricia Green Cellars, Willamette Valley, today (Mon, April 20th) from 5-8pm. Patricia will be there explaining the nuances of the wines! The tasting is casual, reservations are not required and tastes are nominally priced.