Countdown to Romance…

Photo courtesy of The Allison Inn and Spa

The snow will stop here in Portland and things will return to normal, and when they do, you'll be glad you planned a romantic escape to any of Oregon's wine regions. This article in 1859 Magazine will help you decide where to go to heat things up.

Get Your Fixe - Cyril’s at Clay Pigeon Winery offers new multi-course lunch menu

Cheese maven Sasha Davies and Michael Claypool are the brains behind Cyrils at Clay Pigeon Winery. One part urban winery, one part cheese-centric restaurant, one part retail outlet, Cyril's is like a one-stop shop for the resident foodies (have we officially retired that word yet?). 

And now they're offering a very special lunch menu.

Release - Cyril’s at Clay Pigeon Winery is introducing their all new three-course lunch prix fixe lunch menu to Portlanders weekly at their small-scale urban winery and tasting room along Portland’s Eastside Industrial Corridor. Called The Fixe, the seasonal, weekly rotating multi-course lunch includes a salad, entrée and either a house made dessert or lunch time pour of wine or beer.

With the menu changing weekly based on seasonal and local availability of produce, pricing for The Fixe can range between $14 to $18. With options like Pork Empanadas & Winter Vegetable Cole Slaw, and Winter Greens Tart with Seedy Spinach Salad, it’s the perfect way to sample Cyril’s approach to fresh, local, organic, seasonable and sustainable dining. The Fixe is available Monday through Friday.

Clay Pigeon Winery is an urban winery producing wines with Oregon Pinot Noir and Syrah grapes. Cyril’s is the gathering place, tasting room, and retail shop set against the backdrop of the winery. Joining a burgeoning urban wine trial through Portland, Cyril’s at Clay Pigeon Winery offers a curated collection on wines, wine-friendly bites, four rotating taps from favorite brewers in Portland and beyond, as well as a tap of Kombucha.

Cyril's at Clay Pigeon Winery

815 SE Oak St
Portland, OR 97214
503.206.7862

info@cyrilspdx.com

Party like it's THIRST Fest 2014

What: Portland’s first LGBTQ Wine, Beer, Spirits Event

When: February 7 & 8, 2014 

Where: at Tiffany Center, Portland

THIRST Fest 2014, a wine, beer and spirits festival supporting the LGBTQ community through a partnership with the Cascade AIDS Project, offers members of the LGBTQ community, their allies and others the opportunity to taste and compare a wide variety of unique beverages while supporting a good cause. 

Friday, February 7th through Saturday February 8th at the Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison, downtown Portland, Oregon.  For advance sales tickets, please go to:

http://portland.strangertickets.com/events/13003818

THIRST Fest 2014 will introduce members of the LGBTQ community to some of the newest alcoholic beverages hitting the glass. The two-day event at Portland’s Tiffany Center will feature beverage and cocktail sampling, cocktail competitions and a chance for members of the LGBTQ community to influence its own latest trends in mixology. More than 40 craft distilleries, craft breweries and select wineries will be participating.

Taste samples, talk with local and national winemakers, craft distillers and brewers, and watch Portland’s top bartender’s battle for the 1st Annual THIRST Fest Battle of the Bartenders Cup. Local celebrity judges will decide which bartender will reign supreme, and attendees will be able to taste each competitor’s unique creations after they have left the stage. A full service, OLCC licenses liquor outlet will be available to sell distilled spirits, wine and beer at the show.  

Ticket Cost per person: 

$ 20.00 on-line advance sales*   http://portland.strangertickets.com/events/13003818

$ 25.00 at the door*


Hours: 

Friday, February 7th, 5pm-10pm
                                                

Saturday,  February 8th, 4pm - 10pm



* Admission PLUS! 
With paid admission, attendees receive 10 free drink tokens. (Additional tokens will be available for purchase.) 


For more information go to: www.THIRSTFest.com. 
Find them on Facebook: THIRST Fest

Cascade AIDS Project/CAP is the largest and oldest AIDS Service Organization serving Oregon and Washington. With a $5.1 million budget, they strive to prevent HIV infections, support and empower people infected and affected by HIV/AIDs, all while eliminating HIV/AIDS-related stigma. In the past year, CAP served over 1,800 HIV-positive clients and provided HIV counseling and testing to more than 3,000 Washington and Oregon residents as well sent children to Camp KC, a week-long camp for kids impacted by the disease. Their housing program provided stable housing for more than 600 individuals in the last year.

A Gift for Every Wine Lover on Your List

Don’t panic this holiday season; the perfect gift is actually out there. For oenophiles who want to take their grape love to the gifting level, here’s a list of carefully chosen wine-related gifts. Each item is crafted with wine in mind by Oregon artisans. A bottle, gift pack or gift certificate for a tasting from any of the region’s finest wineries is surely appreciated, but a creative wine gift might just put you down in history as the best gift giver ever. Be forewarned, you’ll forever be expected to gift über cool presents. Are you ready for the challenge? Read more in 1859 Magazine here…

Big News From Argyle Winery

Press Release:

ARGYLE REBRANDS, SETS STAGE FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Winery Expands Production as Next Generation Winemaker Takes the Reins 

DUNDEE, Ore. – Nov. 14, 2013 – For the first time in its 26-year history, Argyle Winery is unveiling new labels that set a dramatic tone for the winery’s products and better visually connect its award-winning sparkling and still wines under a unified brand. In response to and in anticipation of future growth, the company is also expanding production with the purchase of a larger facility as Nate Klostermann assumes the day-to-day head winemaking role under the watch of founding winemaker Rollin Soles.

Branding Conveys Argyle’s Quality

Elegant and contemporary, the winery’s new labels reflect the attention to detail in Argyle’s winemaking as well as offer customers better visual cues for choosing wines from the trusted brand.

Argyle’s clean new look and progressive series approach make wine selection easy:

• Wines with a single diamond on the label are part of the Grower Series, paying tribute to Argyle’s history as growers first, farming more than 400 acres in the Willamette Valley.
• Wines with two diamonds distinguish the Artisan Series, which features select wines representing the best examples of the specific craft of Argyle’s viticulture and winemaking for sparkling and still wines.
•  Wines with three diamonds signify the Master Series, simply Argyle’s best wines – only the rarest, most age-worthy wines made in small quantities often from single vineyards. 

“For the first time since our humble beginning, we are introducing new packaging that conveys Argyle’s quality,” said Chris Cullina, Argyle’s director of sales and marketing. “The naming series is based on the story of our land, people and tradition of winemaking, and the new graphics help consumers distinguish our different wines at first sight.”

Response to the new labels from distributors and key accounts has been overwhelmingly positive. They welcome the heightened sophistication and believe the packaging’s elegance and refinement rings true to the nature of Argyle’s wines.

New Production Facility For Maintaining Quality

Starting in 2014, Argyle will house its winemaking and cellaring operations in a new facility in Newberg, Ore., that allows the winery to maintain its sparkling wine production while providing room for growth.

“As the popularity of our sparkling wine has grown, so has our need for more space,” said Klostermann. “Bottle fermenting all of our sparkling wines, allowing them to age on proprietary yeasts for three to 10 years, requires more room.”

The new production facility, housed in a former manufacturing building, keeps with Argyle’s tradition of repurposing existing buildings and will allow the winery to continue expanding production from its current capacity of 50,000 cases. The popular tasting room will remain in the historic Victorian farmhouse that previously was Dundee’s town hall.

Collaboration Continues

Nate Klostermann assumed the role of head winemaker in February 2013 after eight years under the mentorship of founding winemaker Rollin Soles. An enologist respected for his acute palate and attention to detail, Klostermann is a recognized expert in blending still and complex sparkling wines. Soles will continue working with Klostermann on viticulture and winemaking, signing off on all wines before they are bottled. Klostermann also collaborates with vineyard manager Allen Holstein and his staff of skilled vineyard stewards, many who have been with the company for more than 20 years.

Argyle has been handcrafting fine wines since 1987, when it was founded to produce ‘method champenoise,’ vintage sparkling wine in Oregon. Today, Argyle not only produces some of the finest vintage American sparkling wines, it also crafts world-class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. Its wines are available at the fine restaurants, wine shops and select grocers, as well as online. For more information, go to www.argylewinery.com.

Contact: Matthew Domingo

(503) 231-3086

matthew@maxwellpr.com

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.

Oregon Wine Goes Social

In honor of Regional Wine Week (sponsored by Drink Local Wine), I'd like to take a moment to draw your attention to a new monthly tasting group with a focus on Oregon wine. The Oregon Wine Social which has recently emerged in Portland, brings Oregon wine country directly to the city. Thinking beyond urban wineries and giant wine festivals, each month this wine group presents a fantastic opportunity to taste a variety of producers from all over Oregon wine country in a very intimate venue.

This ain't no wine festival though. With limited tickets available, you won't be fighting your way through crowds thick as fog seeking wines and conversation with the producers. Instead, you'll discover interesting wines, time with the winemakers, cozy venues and clever food pairings from the restaurant of choice, all while mingling with other local food and wine lovers.

The next Oregon Wine Social celebrates the 2013 Grape Harvest on Wednesday, October 16th from 5:30-7:30pm at 23 Hoyt. This months guest wineries are Ghost Hill Cellars, Imbue Cellars and WillaKenzie Estate. In addition to the food, wine and great company, fun prizes and tickets to future events will be up for grabs. A few tickets still remain, but get them before they're gone.

Oregon Wine Social "Harvest Celebration"

Wednesday, October 16, 2013
5:30pm-7:30pm
Where: 23 Hoyt 

RSVP is required by Tuesday October 15th. $30 per person

Ticket price includes wine tasting from the 3 featured wineries, and special appetizers prepared by 23 Hoyt. 

Tickets are very limited and will sell out quickly. Ages 21 and over only. 

Click here to purchase Tickets

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