Behind Every Wine Label Lies a Real Personality

A label is only the surface-level story of the wine. A winemaker’s job, besides making the best wine possible with a given vintage, is often to be the face of the brand. Winemakers attend wine dinners near and far, and participate in market tastings to acquaint potential consumers with their wines. With so many bottles on the shelf to choose from, it’s not easy to develop brand loyalty. Opportunities that allow the winemaker to display his or her personality and create a faithful fan are often what bring people back to the same wines each year. Discovering how a winemaker puts their touch on the wine requires one to look beyond the label on the bottle.

In this two-part series, I will peel back the label to show you how Oregon winemakers pour their heart, soul and personality into each bottle. I’ll start here with some of the female powerhouses of Oregon wine. Read the whole story Behind the Wine Label here…

SE Wine Collective Announces New Supper Social Line-Up

Mmmmmm. Paella and my favorite wine bar..it's a perfect pairing.

SE Wine Collective is excited to get ready for the next six months of Supper Socials with guests such as Will Preisch of Holdfast Dining and Tyler Malek of Salt & Straw. 

SE Wine Collective Supper Socials Line-up

Scott and Emily Ketterman of Crown Paella (April)

Ben Jacobsen of Jacobsen Salt Co. and Eric Joppie of Bar Avignon (May)

Nora Antene and Andrew Mace of The Limited Company (June)

Will Preisch of Holdfast Dining (July)

Tyler Malek of Salt & Straw (August)

Courtney Sproule of din din Supper Club (September)

First up: Crown Paella will join SE Wine Collective on April 13^th at 5pm for a night of paella, fresh spring wines and great company. 

Tapas will be passed around with fresh spring white and rosé releases while the Ketterman team demos the art of paella making from 5pm – 6pm. During this time, winemakers from Division Winemaking Company, Helioterra Wines, Fullterton Wines and Bow & Arrow Wines will also be on hand to chat about their wines. 

Reservations for the Supper Social are $65 per person including wine pairings and can be made through the SE Wine Collective website here. Guests also have the option of pre-ordering a paella pan for $25 to test their paella skills at home, as well as the evening’s recipe and special tricks from Crown Paella. 

SE Wine Collective and Crown Paella April Supper Social Menu

Food

Artisan Cheese Board

Selection of Spanish Cheeses with Housemade Membrillo and Crostini

Toasted Marcona Almonds with Sea Salt

Passed Tapas

Olivada with Preserved Lemon and Cypress Grove Chévre on Cucumber

Dungeness Crab Beignets with Spring Herb Sauce

Buffet Style Paella

Crown Royale Paella with Chicken, Mussels, Clams, Prawns, Chorizo, Saffron, Piquillo Peppers and Sofrito

Mixed Young Lettuces with Shaved Breakfast Radish, Fresh Snipped Herbs and Sherry Vinaigrette

Grand Central Ciabatta with Arbequiña Olive Oil

Plated Dessert

Orange Scented Crema Catalana with Olive Oil Shortbread Cookies

Wine Pairings

Division Villages 2012 L’Isle Verte Chenin Blanc

Helioterra 2012 Melon de Bourgogne

Fullterton Wines 2012 Pinot Noir Rosé

Bow & Arrow 2012 Gamay Rosé

About SE Wine Collective

The Southeast Wine Collective was founded in 2012 by Kate and Thomas Monroe of the up and coming Division Winemaking Company in response to their personal interest in creating a unique multi-faceted urban winery, coupled with increasing public interest in the urban wine movement. Their goal is to bring together like-minded wineries who are sustainably growing their businesses by establishing a venue for commercial custom crush wine production, a tasting bar and events in an area of SE Portland that already hosts a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene. Currently the collective is made up of ten wineries: Division Winemaking Company, Fullerton Wines, Helioterra Wines, Jackalope Wine Cellars, James Rahn Wine Co, Jasper Sisco, Ore Winery, Vincent Wine Company, Willful Wines and 5Q, while continuing to work as an incubator for future wine brands and budding industry ideas.

Unique Oregon Wines That Surprise

“The only thing that should surprise me here is that some things still surprise me.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Okay, so who doesn't like a good surprise? There are few things in life more delicious than a pleasantly unexpected experience or one that exceeds your expectations. When I drink a glass of wine and discover it exists in this happy place that lies somewhere between my predictions, assumptions and reality—I realize how much I love surprises.

To be honest, not many wines surprise me these days. But when they do, it’s not something I keep to myself. The following wines are non-Pinot noir jaw-droppers that I must confess recently left me marveling at the wonder and brilliance of Oregon wine. Read my article in 1859 Magazine for my surprising wine picks.

Helioterrra's Inaugural Release is a Reason to Party

With the number of Oregon wineries popping up quicker than mushrooms, and no one really seeming to know how many there actually are anymore, another one bursts onto the scene. I've been a fan of Anne Hubatch's since she was winemaker at Apolloni Vineyards in Forest Grove. Now she's a consulting winemaker for Apolloni, as well as a few other brands, a social media guru and has created quite a splash in Portland with her new private label, Helioterra Wines.

This Saturday, from 12-5pm, sample the wine and
celebrate Helioterra’s Open House Release Party. 

The grand premiere will feature tastings of 
Helioterra’s 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 
and 2009 Vintner’s Select Pinot Noir. 

To sweeten the deal, Vincent Wine Company, another intriguing newcomer 
on the wine scene, will be previewing his 2009 Pinot Noirs, and as if that’s not 
enough firsts, Hubatch will also be showing wines from her co-operative 

and covert venture, *Guild Winemakers.

Open House Release Party

Saturday, September 18th

Noon to 5pm

At the winery:

2621 NW 30th Ave.

Portland, OR 97210

The name Helioterra symbolizes Oregon’s state gemstone Heliolite (also known as Sunstone) and is the combination of the Greek words helio and terra, meaning sun and earth. It was inspired by the inherent relationship between the sun, the earth and the vine—all precursors for fine wine.

Hubatch produced nearly 400 cases in her inaugural 2009 vintage, which she describes as “a grounded, honest expression of her winemaking style, reflecting feminine sensibilities," at Boedecker and Grouchau Cellars’ Portland Wine Project… a sunstone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland and miles from any vineyards. Hubatch selects fruit from Apolloni, Buckhaven and Domaine Coteau Vineyards and ultimately aims to deliver premium wines without top-tier prices. Hubatch plans to release a Pinot Blanc and Syrah next spring, and though she is considering distribution, right now she's focusing on sales in her own backyard.

*I'm about to expose a deep, dark and juicy secret about the Guild Winemakers brand, so shhhhhhh! Promise that you won't tell a soul; we wouldn't want word getting out about how Guild puts the emphasis on value-driven Oregon wines. The Guild White (which is predominantly Pinot Gris) retails for $12.00 a bottle, while the Guild Red, retailing for a very affordable $13.00 a bottle, is a Rhone-style blend of Syrah, Mourvedre and Counoise. With case discounts on top of the great price, they're practically paying you to drink it!

Case discounts will offered for all three brands and if futures were ordered, they’ll be available for pick-up. Click here for more information or to RSVP.  Follow Helioterra Wines on Twitter here or friend them on Facebook here.

I look forward to sipping with you on Saturday!

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