Pinot and Pooches Unite at Oregon Winery

Memorial Weekend is like the shot heard round the world for the opening of wine season in these parts… well, the shot heard round Oregon anyway. Many wineries that don’t keep regular tasting room hours will throw open their cellar doors this weekend while most others will be offering special events and/or wine discounts. Typically a crowded weekend in Oregon wine country, Memorial Day weekend provides a fantastic opportunity to both visit some lesser-known wineries and to stock up on summer wines.

Though certainly not lesser-known, this year the incomparable WillaKenzie Estate (one of Wine and Spirits Magazine’s Top 100 wineries of the world for 2010 and 2011) is doing something really unique and worthwhile. Taking advantage of a surge of foot traffic on the holiday weekend, they’ve partnered with the Oregon Humane Society to create the “Pinot and Pooches” Pet Adoption event. Dog and wine lovers unite this weekend only with a goal of placing all the pets into the arms of loving families and stable homes. WillaKenzie Estate Winery's Owner Bernard Lacroute says, "Every animal is entitled to a good home. Our dogs Beasley and Iko here at WillaKenzie Estate Winery, enjoy the life that every dog deserves. We support the Oregon Humane Society and hope to provide each and every dog the opportunity to live like Beasley and Iko."

On May 26-27 from 11-5pm, visitors will taste WillaKenzie Estate’s wines (including their newly released 2011 Pinot Gris) and visit with shelter dogs desperately in need of good homes. If you’ve at all been considering getting a new dog, what better time than this event to cement that decision? If bringing home a new loveable scamp isn’t part of your grand plan, come give a dog a hug (we all need love), walk them through the vineyard and perhaps you’ll want to change your plans. 

This isn’t the first time WillaKenzie Estate Winery has partnered with the Oregon Humane Society, this past year they dedicated 10% of all sales on their Clos Marco Chardonnay to the organization in honor of their late vineyard dog Marco. Event Manager Claudia Bowers speaks about the winery's decision to partner with the non-profit organization, “Being ardent animal lovers, we chose to support the Oregon Humane Society because of their hard work and dedication to helping those animals that can’t help themselves.” Come do your part, if you can’t provide a home, you can simply buy a bottle. Tell a friend, maybe someone you know has been thinking of adding a new member to the family. 

Pinot and Pooches Memorial Day event is just $15 per person (free for Cellar Club members and up to four guests) and includes tastings of their 2011 Pinot Gris, 2009 Clos Marco Chardonnay, 2010 Pinot Meunier, 2009 Pinot Noir Kiana, 2009 Pinot Noir Emery and the 2009 Pinot Noir Aliette; along with foods like Sweet Briar Farms Grilled Pork Sausages with House-Made Rosemary Focaccia and a Mediterranean Salad by Chef Gabe Gabreski of A Cena Ristorante, as well as a variety of gourmet cheeses.

Visit their website for more information and to purchase your tickets.

**An Important Note About Visiting Dogs**
Although they are a dog-loving winery, they are asking that you do not bring your own pooch to this Doggie Adoption Event. They would like the shelter dogs to be the center of attention, and to make sure they are as comfortable as possible without additional stress other dogs may cause. Thank you for understanding.