Enobytes Wine Blog

If you’ve attended Oregon’s International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC), you are well aware of the event’s long-standing Salmon Bake tradition.  It’s among one of the many world-class meals and tasting events held during the annual celebration in McMinnville, Oregon.

This year, Oregon Chef Jason Stoller Smith will travel across the country to recreate the Salmon Bake on the White House lawn. The idea was inspired by White House Food & Beverage Usher Daniel Shanks, who’s attended IPNC in ’05 and ’07.

Shanks suggested that the First Lady invite Chef Stoller Smith to recreate the Salmon Bake on the White House Lawn to showcase the Pacific Northwest region. His creation will be one many regional foods highlighted at this year’s annual congressional picnic scheduled for June 8.

Chef Stoller Smith will represent the Pacific Northwest region by roasting salmon over a custom-built fire pit with alder stakes.

Wild salmon roasted on alder stakes. Photo: Andrea Johnson

According to Mr. Shanks, “…the Pacific Northwest Salmon Bake will be a visual centerpiece and will be located on the South Lawn near the Oval Office.”

Those of us not lucky enough to attend the congressional picnic still have an opportunity to attend the IPNC event scheduled July 23-25 in McMinnville, Oregon.

As of today, à la carte tickets for the IPNC Salmon Bake are basically sold out, but you still have an opportunity to buy the full weekend package which includes a ticket to the Salmon Bake.

Tickets are limited, so if you’re interested in attending,  I’d recommend making your plans soon. The full weekend event is $975 which includes all seminars, tastings, vineyard tours, afternoon activities, the salmon bake and a sparkling brunch finale. If you’d prefer a shorter version,  they also have a half day “Passport to Pinot” pocket-sized version for $125. For details, contact the IPNC at 800/775-IPNC or www.ipnc.org.

California’s Central coast began calling to me while I was still in my 20’s, recently married and looking for a simple place to get away. I was already teaching middle school students the finer points of literature and I’d written a few articles for the local paper and a magazine or two.

Winter rain left the spring hills softly rolling and glistening green and cool morning breezes and fog gave way to warm sunshine and butterfly filled air.  My wife and I still go there as often as possible and it will always be one of our favorite romantic places.

But it was my older brother, Doug, and I who had the good fortune to spend a morning with Fess Parker at his offices in his eponymous winery on Zaca Station Road in Los Olivos. We had the idea that we’d produce a book about Read the rest of this entry »

Spain…a place so diverse yet the first thing that comes to mind for most is the grand region of Rioja, followed by wines like Tempranillo, Cava or Albariño.  Dig in a little deeper and you’ll discover Spain has so much more to offer. So I’m going to let you in on ten little secrets — well, to be more precise it’s more like a few inside scoops, a few predictions and a challenge or two.

By the end of this post, you’ll be a savvy Spanish wine guru doing the funky Hondarribi Zuri dance. Read the rest of this entry »

Just coming home from judging the California State Fair Home Winemaking
Competition, I was reluctant about reviewing a wine from Georgia.  One thousand plus homemade wines were entered into the state fair competition so I had taken my taste buds to edge and survived and just off that regimen I grabbed this bottle from Persimmon Creek Vineyards in Georgia wondering if it too would test my taste buds to their limit.

This wine rocked it from start to finish. A well made Cab Franc that delivered on flavor varietal profile and genuine wine making technique. These wines were put to one of our most rigorous test tastes, open on one night then try it again on the next night. It did well; the only reason this wine did not receive a score of 90+ was it’s failure to go beyond medium body into full bodied. In this range, 100% Cab Franc will hold its own; we look forward to seeing this wine on your local retailer’s shelves soon.

The fruit on the front is gentle and mouth filling.  The mid-palate is respectable with a clean finish. The dry lingering finish is somewhat varietal specific and expected. Great job – well done Persimmon Creek Vineyards; we wish you many successful vintages. Pair this one with big meats, without complicated sauces and almost any beef originated dishes with simple sauces. Keep your eye out on future reviews of this winery; they are going places. Drink now. ~Marc Hinton

2007 Persimmon Creek Vineyards Cabernet Franc
Georgia, U.S.A.
ABV: 13%
Case production: 250
Retail price: $22
Rating: 88

Just when you thought we should write off the reality show "The Wine Makers", out comes an announcement from CrushPad that PBS will launch the show in May.

Elimination round, "The Wine Makers"

I wasn’t able to confirm much information from the winemakerstv.net website (seems as though the site is parked for now) but rumor has it that the show Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re not into Viticultural research, I’ll forewarn you ahead of time that you’d probably enjoy getting your tooth extracted more than you would reading this post.

Photo credit: Harvard Gazette

If research bores you to death, then run, run for your life! If wine geekness is setting in and you enjoy learning about wines & vines and a bit of history, then read on and let the wine geek force be with you.

<Wine geek alert start, Viticulture 201>

<Reader shield up>

<Message>

Read the rest of this entry »

As predicted, the combination of high temperatures, drought and high winds have resulted in the worst fires in Australia’s history. Whilst the loss of life (currently at 106, not to mention those with severe burns) and properties is undeniably paramount, many of these fires have wiped out established vineyards in the Yarra, Beechworth and Bendigo. Even where fires have not burnt-out vineyards, the level of smoke-taint will mean that the vintage will for many producers, be unsalvageable. Fires around the Hunter Valley in NSW will likely replicate this scenario.

Meanwhile in Queensland they are experiencing some of the largest floods in the states history with 65%+ of the state currently under water.

Tasmania experienced a rare heat wave earlier this year and as such, this is unlikely to be a standout vintage for them.

The south of WA including Margaret River and Great Southern seem to be OK at this stage – though the experience of the last few years means no one is counting on a sure thing.

~ Peter Nixon, Australia correspondent

We are proud to announce that our team of talented writers is expanding. Please give a warm welcome to Edward Ragg and Peter Nixon!

Based in Beijing, Edward Ragg will report on the ever changing and developing wine industry in China. He is co-founder, with his wife Fongyee Walker, of Dragon Phoenix Fine Wine Consulting, Beijing’s first independent wine consulting company. A former Captain of the Cambridge University Blind-Wine Tasting Team, he has judged at the International Wine Challenge and Shanghai International Wine Challenge. Ragg holds the WSET Advanced Certificate and Introductory Sommelier Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers and is returning to wine school and listens attentively to Fongyee, mainland China’s only Master of Wine candidate.

Ragg also writes extensively about wine as a guest blogger for Catavino and Visit Vineyards as well serving as a wine columnist for The Beijinger, The Insider’s Guide to Beijing, The Financial Times’s FT Rui magazine and China’s top financial newspaper Caijing Ribao. His bother, Michael Ragg, is MD of the Burgundian négociant éleveur Mischief & Mayhem.

Also joining us is Peter Nixon. Based in Melbourne, Peter will report on the Australian wine industry, raising awareness of Australia’s finest wines and producers. Peter is a national wine retailer at Dan Murphy’s in the role of Fine Wine Marketing Manager. Prior to this position Peter managed the Qantas Wine Program for 3 years where he was highly regarded by the Australian wine industry for his efforts in elevating the potential of the airline as an international ambassador to the Australian wine industry.

Peter is also involved in professional show-judging both in Australia (Royal Melbourne and Winewise Boutique Wine Awards) and internationally (Decanter UK World Wine Awards). He was also involved in wine selection for Air New Zealand as a member of the Air New Zealand wine panel alongside John Buck OBE (Te Mata Estate) and John Buck (Foxes Island).

Please give a warm welcome to Edward Ragg and Peter Nixon! We look forward to their contributions on Enobytes.

I got a call today from a guy back in Ft. Collins, Colorado who plans to do a documentary about Willamette Valley wines.

His passion and desire to showcase our bounty here in Oregon was contagious. This is quite an honor in which our region should be proud. Today on Wine Bytes, my wine blog on OregonLive, I talk about the Willamette Valley documentary which will showcase the region showing the world how special this region really is – by documenting those who have persevered the early times leading to our present time.

The infamous Absinthe now appearing at a liquor store near you:
The green fairy came for a visit and I have to say I enjoyed her company. If you haven’t tried the real deal, go out and get yourself a bottle. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how smooth the anise flavored libation goes down. Read the rest of this entry »