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The Founders, the Legends and the Rising Stars of the Dundee Hills

Wine History in the Making at Portland’s August Wine Experience

Dundee, Ore - Members of the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association will bring an inspired wine tasting to Portland's Leftbank Annex on Thursday, August 26.

On this special evening, Dundee Hills wineries will be presented in chronological order, showcasing the founding wineries of the 70s and 80s, the legends of the 90s, and the up-and-coming wineries of the last decade.

This impressive format will allow guests to witness the progression of the Oregon wine industry from its earliest days.

Growers from featured Dundee Hills vineyards will also be on hand to represent the unique Jory soils, topography and geology that are the basis for the region’s premier wines.

"Never before have we brought so much depth of knowledge and, yes, so many great wines to Portland!" says Dundee Hills Winegrowers president Jesse Lange of Lange Estate Vineyard and Winery. "There will be no shortage of benchmark wines, and this is a perfect opportunity to meet the winemakers, growers and personalities who put Oregon on the world's wine map and continue to keep us there."

In addition to tasting fine wines, guests will enjoy cuisine from the area’s leading restaurants including Red Hills Provincial Dining, Farm to Fork and Press Wine Bar. A silent auction of collectible wines, large-format bottles, unique wine country experiences and more will benefit iSalud!, the winery-supported service which provides access to healthcare for Oregon's seasonal vineyard workers and their families.

Date: Thursday, August 26, 2010
Location: Leftbank Annex, 101 North Weidler Street, Portland, OR 97227
Time:  6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45 before August 15, $50 after August 15 or at the door includes a Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir glass Available online at www.Dundeehills.org

Special $5.00 parking. Check website for details

Participating wineries and vineyards include: Archery Summit, Argyle, Ayoub Wines, Bella Vida, Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard, Cleo’s Hill/Murto Vineyard, Crumbled Rock Winery, Daedalus Cellars, De Ponte Cellars, Dobbes Family Estate, Domaine Serene, Dusky Goose, Erath Winery, The Eyrie Vineyards, The Four Graces, Lange Estate Winery, Nysa Vineyard, Sokol BLosser Winery, Stoller Vineyards, Thistle, Torii Mor Winery, Vista Hills Vineyard, Westrey Wine Company, White Rose Wines, WillaKenzie/Jory Hill Vineyard, Winderlea Vineyard and Winery. Wine Country Farm and Winter’s Hill.

Clark County Wineries Host Labor Day Weekend Wine Tour

Eleven Southwest Washington wineries to hold wine tastings and special events  

What: Wineries throughout Clark County, Wash., will be hosting wine tastings and a variety of special events throughout Labor Day weekend to bring attention to the exceptional wines being produced in Washington’s newest emerging wine region.

When: Labor Day Weekend (Saturday, September 4 – Monday, September 6)  Noon to 6:00 p.m. (Times may vary, please check winery websites for hours.)
                        
Where:            
Bader Winery
Benke Cellars
Bethany Vineyard (voted Best Winery in Clark County in 2009)
Confluence Vineyards & Winery
East Fork Cellars
English Estate Winery
Gouger Cellars
Heisen House Vineyards
Olequa Cellars
Rusty Grape Vineyard
Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery

For more information on the Labor Day Wine Tour and the participating wineries, visit www.VisitVancouverUSA.com and click on the Event Calendar, then select September (or click here).

Who: The local organizer for the tour is Stacey Waddell at East Fork Cellars. She can be reached at (360) 606-9885.

                        
About Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office
Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office (formerly Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau) is an economic development organization responsible for competitively marketing Vancouver and the surrounding area as a destination for meetings, conventions, and group and leisure travelers. The organization’s mission is to promote Vancouver and Clark County by increasing convention and visitor business. For more information call (360) 750-1553, or log on to www.VisitVancouverUSA.com.

LOCAL TASTEMAKERS ANNOUNCE ATLANTA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
Inaugural Culinary Event to Take Place in May 2011

ATLANTA – Food lovers across the nation can mark their calendars as the countdown to the first Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, presented by Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure magazines, has begun. Dedicated exclusively to showcasing authentic foods, wines and spirits from across the Southern region, the inaugural event will take place May 19 - 22, 2011.

The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival presented by Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure magazines, created by Atlantans Dominique Love and Elizabeth Feichter, is a welcome addition to a city that is home to an impressive number of chefs and restaurants of national acclaim. The weekend-long gastronomic affair will be the first luxury festival in the nation dedicated exclusively to Southern food and beverage traditions. The Festival will highlight the best of the region from Texas to West Virginia and the states in between, building upon three key themes: old traditions, new traditions and imports and inspirations that have influenced Southerners in the kitchen.

“We are excited to introduce our plans for this dynamic event in Atlanta. Our deep love for our Southern heritage and the many food and beverage traditions that influence our culture is what motivated us to create the Festival,” Feichter said. 

Inspired by the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, the Atlanta Festival will take the best elements of other national festivals, build upon them and then infuse a spirit of honoring the regional food culture.  Leveraging the expertise of a Founders Council of the best Southern culinary talents, the Festival will offer carefully-designed seminars, demonstrations and tasting experiences, representing the unique flavors of the region. 

“We’re planning an experience like no other that will unite leaders of their craft – barbecue pit masters, award-winning chefs and mixologists, Master Sommeliers, fry cooks and local growers – to provide Festival guests the opportunity to sip, savor and learn about the best of Southern food and beverage traditions,” Love said.

Festival programming will be complimented by tasting and learning opportunities provided by wine makers and chefs from other southern regions around the world like Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece whose southern European food and wine traditions have influenced local flavors and techniques.

Midtown Atlanta will serve as home to The Festival, which will kick-off with a private reception on Thursday, May 19 and then open to ticket holders on Friday with seminars and special connoisseur programming. Saturday will include seminars, demonstrations, the opening of the Tasting Tents, and a number of special events around town.  The grand finale will begin Sunday morning with additional demonstrations and the Tasting Tents. A complete schedule of events will be available in the near future.

The Festival Founders Council of the region’s culinary industry leaders will help Festival organizers build authentic, quality experiences for guests. The Atlanta portion of the Council is in place and efforts to recruit members from each state represented in the Festival are underway. Atlanta Founders Council members include:

Hugh Acheson
Five & Ten, The National, Gosford Wine and Empire State South

Greg Best
Holeman & Finch Public House

Joe Best
Quality Wine & Spirits, Inc., Atlanta

Tony Conway
A Legendary Event

Shaun Doty
Shaun’s Restaurant and YEAH! Burger

Gina Hopkins
Restaurant Eugene, Holeman & Finch Public House and H&F Bread Co.

Linton Hopkins
Restaurant Eugene, Holeman & Finch Public House and H&F Bread Co.

Pano Karatassos, Jr.
Buckhead Life Restaurant Group

Jim Laber
Community Q BBQ

Kevin Maxey
Craft Atlanta

Duane Nutter
One Flew South and Rolling Bones

Kevin Rathbun
Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak and Krog Bar

Anne Quatrano
Bacchanalia, Quinones Room, Abattoir, Star Provisions and Floataway Café

Todd Richards
One Flew South and Rolling Bones

David Roberts
Community Q BBQ

Steven Satterfield
Miller Union

Steve Simon
Fifth Group Restaurants

Current event partners and sponsors include, Tivoli Properties, A Legendary Event, The Atlantan, Daniel Corporation, Jamestown Properties, Loews Atlanta Hotel, Midtown Alliance, Selig Properties, and Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure magazines.

About Atlanta Food & Wine Festival
The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, presented by Food & Wine magazine and Travel + Leisure magazine, was created by Atlantans Dominique Love and Elizabeth Feichter, and is the first high-end festival dedicated exclusively to celebrating the rich food and drink traditions of the Southern region of the U.S.  Scheduled for Thursday, May 19 - Sunday, May 22, 2011, The Festival will showcase the old and new traditions of the region while highlighting the imports and inspirations that have become Southern favorites. Tickets for Atlanta Food & Wine Festival will go on sale in October 2010. For more information, please visit www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com and follow us on Facebook.com/AtlantaFoodandWineFestival and Twitter.com/ATLFoodandWine.

Dundee, Ore: Members of the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association will bring an inspired wine tasting to Portland’s Leftbank Annex on Thursday, August 26.

On this special evening, Dundee Hills wineries will be presented in chronological order, showcasing the founding wineries of the 70s and 80s, the legends of the 90s, and the up-and-coming wineries of the last decade. This impressive format will allow guests to witness the progression of the Oregon wine industry from its earliest days.

Growers from featured Dundee Hills vineyards will also be on hand to represent the unique Jory soils, topography and geology that are the basis for the region’s premier wines.

“Never before have we brought so much depth of knowledge and, yes, so many great wines to Portland!” says Dundee Hills Winegrowers president Jesse Lange of Lange Estate Vineyard and Winery. “There will be no shortage of benchmark wines, and this is a perfect opportunity to meet the winemakers, growers and personalities who put Oregon on the world's wine map and continue to keep us there.”

In addition to tasting fine wines, guests will enjoy cuisine from the area’s leading restaurants including Red Hills Provincial Dining, Farm to Fork and Press Wine Bar. A silent auction of collectible wines, large-format bottles, unique wine country experiences and more will benefit iSalud!, the winery-supported service which provides access to healthcare for Oregon's seasonal vineyard workers and their families.

Date: Thursday, August 26, 2010
Location: Leftbank Annex, 101 North Weidler Street, Portland, OR 97227
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45 before August 15, $50 after August 15 or at the door includes a Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir glass Available online at www.Dundeehills.org Special $5.00 parking.

Participating wineries and vineyards include: Archery Summit, Argyle, Ayoub Wines, Bella Vida, Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard, Cleo’s Hill/Murto Vineyard, Crumbled Rock Winery, Daedalus Cellars, De Ponte Cellars, Dobbes Family Estate, Domaine Serene, Dusky Goose, Erath Winery, The Eyrie Vineyards, The Four Graces, Lange Estate Winery, Nysa Vineyard, Sokol BLosser Winery, Stoller Vineyards, Thistle, Torii Mor Winery, Vista Hills Vineyard, Westrey Wine Company, White Rose Wines, WillaKenzie/Jory Hill Vineyard, Winderlea Vineyard and Winery. Wine Country Farm and Winter’s Hill.

El Gaucho® Bellevue Presents
2nd Annual ‘Pour On the Plaza’ August 14

BELLEVUE, Wash.—(July 26, 2010)— Hot on the heels of being awarded Best in Show, Best Service and Best Private Dining by the Eastside’s own 425 magazine, El Gaucho Bellevue—is announcing the second annual Pour on the Plaza. On Saturday, August 14, guests are invited to sample the offerings of some of the region’s most distinguished wineries and restaurants while supporting the award-winning organization Room to Read.

Taking place from 2 to 5 p.m., Pour on the Plaza will once again be held on the City Center Plaza’s expansive, grassy outdoor area, in the heart of downtown Bellevue’s Financial District located at 450 108th Ave. NE, Bellevue.  Cost is $95 per person and reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at (425) 255-2715 or by visiting the reservations page here. Validated self-parking is available in City Center Plaza Garage. Guests must be 21 years or older.

The gifted jazz guitarist and vocalist Brian Nova will lend his smooth, jazzy vibe to the event.

Partnering Northwest wineries include:
 
Alexandria Nicole Cellars (alexandrianicolecellars.com)
Andrew Will (andrewwill.com)
Barons V (baronsv.com)
Col Solare (colsolare.com)
Darby Winery (darbywinery.com)
DeLille Cellars (delillecellars.com)
Domaine Drouhin (domainedrouhin.com)
Domaine Serene (domaineserene.com)
Dunham Cellars (dunhamcellars.com)
EFESTĒ (efeste.com)
Elevation Cellars (elevationcellars.com)
Fidelitas (fidelitaswines.com)
Gorman Winery (gormanwinery.com)
Lachini Vineyards (lachinivineyards.com)
L’Ecole (lecole.com)
Long Shadows (longshadows.com)
Mark Ryan Winery (markryanwinery.com)
Northstar (northstarwinery.com)
Novelty Hill (noveltyhillwines.com)
Pepper Bridge (pepperbridge.com)
Sparkman Cellars (sparkmancellars.com)
Stevens Winery (stevenswinery.com)
SYZYGY (syzygywines.com)
Va Piano Vineyards (vapianovineyards.com)
Woodhouse Family Cellars (woodhousefamilycellars.com)
Woodward Canyon (woodwardcanyon.com)
 
El Gaucho will offer an array of appetizers, including its signature 28-day Certified Angus Beef®. Additional partnering restaurants include:
 
Grand Cru (grandcru-winebar.com)
Palomino (palomino.com)
Wild Ginger (wildginger.net)
“We want to position Pour on the Plaza as Bellevue’s premiere food and wine event. Everyone last year had a wonderful response, so we are thrilled to hold it again in City Center Plaza– this time with ‘Room to Read’ as the beneficiary,” says Mackay Restaurant Group COO Chad Mackay.

About Room to Read:
Room to Read is a non-profit organization established in 2000 by former Microsoft executive John Wood. Room to Read promotes literacy and gender equality by collaborating with local communities, governments and partner organizations in developing countries through Asia and Africa.

El Gaucho® is the Northwest's steakhouse legacy focused on elegant, old school, tableside service for people celebrating their lives. The menu highlights 28-Day Dry-Aged Certified Angus Beef® Prime steaks, cutting-edge fresh seafood selections from sustainable sources, and extensive wine and single malt scotch lists. El Gaucho offers intimate private dining and nightly live music. El Gaucho Bellevue is located at the City Center Plaza at 450 108th Ave. N.E. For more information on the Bellevue location, please call (425) 455-2715 or visit www.elgaucho.com.

THE 2nd ANNUAL BEST OF OREGON FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL IS SET TO TAKE PLACE AT THE RESERVE VINEYARDS & GOLF CLUB
 
Portland OR – Local wine event production company, Pravia Wines & Events, is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual “Best of Oregon” Food & Wine Festival will take place at an exciting new venue this summer.  The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 14, from 5:00– 9:00 p.m. at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, Oregon.
 
“We are very excited about having the Best of Oregon take place at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club,” said Claudia Bowers, owner of Pravia Wines & Events.  “It’s a great venue with access outdoors to stunning vistas, as well as within the elegant club house.”

Best of Oregon Food and Wine Festival showcases the very best of Oregon's culinary culture – 30 world class wineries and 20 food artisans. Keep it local…is our message. Tickets to the main festival are $30.00 pre-sale and $35.00 at the door. Ticket price includes wine and food tasting. Wines will be available for purchase!!

The 2nd Annual Best of Oregon program will include a golf tournament to take place a few hours prior to the food and wine festival. The golf tournament will be offered to a limited number of participants at an entry fee of $150 per person. This fee includes access to all Best of Oregon festivities that day.  Kuni BMW is donating a brand new BMW for a “hole in one” prize!

A portion of the proceeds from the golf tournament, sponsorships and festival fees, along with 100% of door prize ticket sales will benefit Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation. “Best of Oregon continues to support Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation to help raise funds and awareness for its worthy organization,” said Bowers.
 
In addition to benefiting Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation, Best of Oregon maintains its message to support “the best” local food and wine vendors.  “Best of Oregon is an event founded by locals with the mission to revitalize and promote our local economy.” Bowers explained, “Together we can try to do our part to address the high unemployment rate in Oregon simply by supporting our local growers, and the food and wine industry. We want to encourage Oregonians to think and buy local, we want to encourage Oregonians to keep our money in Oregon. It’s the sustainable thing to do."

Best of Oregon is proud to partner with local sponsors, including Kuni BMW, The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club, Bridgeport Village, KOIN TV, 105.1 The BUZZ, Imbibe, Portland Monthly, Travel Oregon, Drink Think, Double Decker PDX, Washington County Visitors Association, Stumptown Coffee, Ninkasi Brewery, The Heathman Restaurant and CRAVE Portland.

For more information on the Best of Oregon Food & Wine Festival, please contact Claudia Bowers at praviawines@gmail.com or visit www.bestoforegonfoodandwine.com
Festival tickets and golf tournament spots are limited this year.

Best of Oregon Food & Wine Festival showcases the very best of Oregon's culinary culture -- world class wineries and food artisans.  Its mission is to support and promote Oregon's local economy by encouraging patrons to support the local vendors inside the festival.  Keep it local...   

Below is a listing of group and AVA (American Viticulture Area) events in the Willamette Valley.  Visit www.willamettewines.com and individual winery websites for additional event details.

Discover McMinnville AVA (August 14, 2010)
Discover the wines of the McMinnville AVA in the beautiful new Maysara Winery Barn.  12 participating wineries of the area will be showcasing wines paired with delicious appetizers and samples from local, artisan food purveyors. Tickets are available for $25 pre-purchase online or $35 at the door.  Raffles for wine, touring and gift baskets will be available with proceeds directed to Juliette’s House Child Abuse Intervention Center.
For more info visit: www.mcminnvilleava.org

Dundee Hills Wine Experience (August 26, 2010)
The Dundee Hills takes over Portland, setting up shop near the Rose Quarter at Leftbank Annex.  The pre-war industrial building will host many of the AVA’s renowned wineries, on hand to pour lesser known varietals like Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer in addition to their famed Pinot Noir.  For more info visit: www.dundeehills.org.

Chehalem Mountain Winegrowers’ “Explore Tour & Taste” (September 4-6, 2010)
Revel in the pre-harvest excitement this Labor Day Weekend as many wineries and tasting rooms from the Chehalem Mountain AVA open their doors to extensive tastings, pairings and seminars.  Home to the acclaimed Ribbon Ridge AVA, this region is home to 150 vineyards and less than 20 miles from Portland.  For more info visit: www.chehalemmountains.org.

Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon (September 5, 2010)
The heart of the Willamette Valley in Oregon will be the site of the newest WVWA sponsored Wine Country Half Marathon produced by Destination Races <http://www.destinationraces.com/. Held on Labor Day weekend, various wine and food themed activities begin on Thursday in Portland, culminating with the race and Wine & Music Festival on Sunday.  The inaugural Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon will feature a rural a USATF certified 13. 1 mile course starting at beautiful Stoller Winery and finishing in the town of Carlton.  Over two dozen of Oregon's top vintners will be pouring at the Wine & Music Festival, along with other culinary partners.  Most events are open to the public.  For more information and registration visit: http://www.run4oregonwine.com

The 2006 vintage was their inaugural vintage, already on the shelves!

A Happy 4th to all!

 Happy Fourth to all my enopals - or. to both of, you, if that's what we've come down to. If you have a fifth on the Fourth, you may fail to come forth on the fifth. Be Well; Carpe Vinum!