Check it out! DOWNPOUR's first winery promotion. Just for being a follower, DOWNPOUR fans are in for a real treat. Check out the video for details.

Happy Holidays

From my family to yours!

Wine Spectator's Top 100

Many feel it's the Bible list of the best wines of the year, many feel it's compromised and political. Regardless, it's a big deal. Congrats to Argyle, King Estate and Evening Land Vineyards, all three Oregon wineries made the Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2009 list.

Click here for the full run down.

Your cork can take you to Portugal!

Willamette Valley Vineyards wants to send you Portugal, just for saving your wine corks. This might just be the coolest thing ever...

Willamette Valley Vineyards: As the first winery in the world to be certified by the Rainforest Alliance for using 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified cork, we are also the first winery to launch a cork recycling program of this kind--one with zero increase to its carbon footprint.

Shall we start a DOWNPOUR collective?

Click here for more details.

It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas

Ahhhh! Yesterday was just glorious. We could not have asked for better circumstances all around. Jolie and I hit the road a little before 1:00 and were cruisin into the Forest Grove area within what seemed like minutes. The sun was shinning so bright, without a cloud in the sky-I must say, it really didn't feel like Oregon in December. We pulled up to the David Hill Winery tasting room and immediately took in the serene surroundings and homey feel of the property. Before we could even take a look at the tasting menu, we were drawn into the most adorable gift shop-seriously, this gift shop had some of the most unique and nice things-and I'm not talking about kitschy knickknacks. Michele, the tasting room manager got us started with some tasty whites and off we went. Because we were the only people there we had the place to ourselves and Michele was more than happy to give us lots of information on the winery and how she got involved several years back. When we moved onto the reds, I was impressed by how dynamic they were, and how affordable! It is not often you see Oregon Pinots for less than $30 and I was more than happy to take home the 2006 Estate Pinot and a bottle of the Farmhouse Red, a blended table wine for just $10!


We got to talking with Michele about restaurants and I mentioned one of my favorites moments in life is at the end of an evening of great food and drink, when you have a little chocolate dessert, a sip of red wine left in your glass and a decaf espresso, this trio to me is utter bliss. And with this, Michele ran to the back room and appeared with 2 chocolate truffles for Jolie and I to enjoy with the last of our Merlot. It was a lasting memory and sealed my new love for David Hill.

Next on the tour: Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston. If you are a frequent Oregon red wine drinker, chances are you have tried one of Elk Cove's wines. ECV is one of the top 10 producers of wine in the state. And if you have had their wine, you're in good company, their La Boheme Pinot has been a favorite at the White House! But I must back up. The drive to Elk Cove was gorgeous. The trees lining the road and the entry to this vineyard just screamed "Oregon wine country" to me. Even with the sun shining bright, there was no mistaking, we were in Northwest territory. The long driveway gives patrons time to take in a vast and majestic view. Seriously, on this crisp winterish day the air outside felt so alive and even sparse vines exuded beauty. The tasting room itself has what seems to be a 360 view of the valley and Kari, the lovely tasting room coordinator says she has the best view of anyone she knows. Elk Cove is not joking with its name, promptly mounted above the tasting room bar is this elk head.



I must say, every so often a wine speaks to me, and when this happens, all rational thinking expires and I just MUST own this wine. That happened at Elk Cove. The 2008 Mount Richmond Pinot, even at its young age was something special in my opinion. I am so excited to add it to my collection.

We left Elk Cove just before the sun went down and as we ran to the car to crank the heat, I was just so thankful. Thankful to be able to enjoy such a great day at such nice wineries, with such an awesome friend, in such beautiful country that, at least for the day, felt like it was all ours.

Look out

Who here has heard of Gary Vaynerchuk? This 33 year-old stick of dynamite has built a new generation wine empire-books, online TV program, social media-he's everywhere, talking about wine.

Check out this video, where he reviews EIEIO's Pinot Noir. This Oregon producer had the bad fortune of naming this Pinot, Swine Wine. Clever? Of course. Appealing? Not so much.

Swine Wine - An Oregon Pinot Noir Wine Review

P.S. Vaynerchuk sells every wine he reviews...bear in mind.

Bottle Shock-3 corks out of 5

An entertaining movie that if nothing else, makes one thirsty for a 1973 California Chardonnay. The movie takes place in the gorgeous hills of the Napa Valley and certainly does a nice job capturing the beauty of this wonderous region.

Glad I didn't pay big bucks to see this in the theater...a perfect Netflix find, even better when watched with a glass in hand.

Stay tuned people, the Oregon wine country road show continues...it looks like next Tuesday Jolie and I will be hitting Cooper Mountain, Elk Cove and possibly Chehalem-speaking of Chardonnay.

Bottle Shock

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Bottle Shock from Netflix. If all goes as planned it should show up today.

Have any of you seen this wine flick?

A little plot summary: Bottle Shock is a 2008 film that tells the story of the events that led up to the Judgment of Paris in 1976, when California wine beat French wine in a blind taste test. It stars Alan Rickman, Chris Pine and Bill Pullman and is directed by Randall Miller, who wrote the screenplay along with Jody Savin and Ross Schwartz. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Stay tuned for a review!