Anne Amie Vineyards, Carlton Oregon

Bud break...AHHHH...Bud Break

What a relief!  So many of us vineyard managers were joking whether we would get bud break at all this year...that joke got old when we entered May and still no bud break.  This year I am calling it the Cinco de Mayo bud break event, one of the latest we have recorded in the Willamette Valley.  Bud break normally occurs around April 15th. 

This week marks the true beginning of the growing season for growers.  The time of year when the vineyard manager brushes the moss off his back, puts on his running boots, fires up the equipment and begins the dirty dance of growing fine wine.  There is so much to look for when the buds start to push.  What I like to see is very clear in the picture above: little pink flower buds waiting for their chance to be the most noble of all white wines, Riesling. 

Let the sun keep on shinin'!

-Jason

Gardening Day

We've been taking advantage of the nice weather this week planting in our garden and in our back yard.  Pictured above, Thomas plants fava beans while Ksandek prepares the land for his culinary herb garden.  Below Jason makes me happy by helping me plant some doug fir starts that I got for our tasting in San Francisco. 

Yamhill-Carlton District Open House April 26.

His head sort-of bobbed down and towards me at the same time, elongating his neck like a pleasantly surprised turtle. "What's going on here today?" spilled from his now wide open grin, with equal parts excitement and curiosity. He didn't wait for a response, "we thought we would take just advantage of the weather, you know, buy some wine and sit out on your patio. But this...this is great!"

I didn't need to explain that we were hosting an open house for wineries of the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA. He and his friends had already figured out what the 14 stations set up throughout the tasting room were for. "So do we get a glass here, or how does this work?"

A ten dollar donation later, he and his friends each had a glass and a program to accompany their rightful excitement to taste some of the wines from the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA. Then, they slipped out of my sight, into the tasting room, and I greeted another group of guests who was equally excited to start tasting.

It seemed like this was a pretty standard response for the course of the afternoon. Regardless of having known in advance, or just happening upon the tasting, all of our guests were excited about the chance to taste some serious wine. I have to admit, I felt the same. In the four hours that the open house ran, we shared our wines with over 200 guests.

Many, many thanks to; Atticus, Barbara Thomas, Belle Pente, Carlton Cellars, Carlton Hill, Elk Cove, Kramer, Racine, Resonance, Roots, Stag Hollow, and Twelve. It was absolutely a pleasure to host you all in our winery, and I am confident in saying that we all represented the AVA well.

Cheers!

Ksandek Podbielski
Director of Hospitality

 

Wine Literary Awards

Our trip to San Francisco didn't stop with the intimate Oregon tasting.  On Friday night we hit the 18th annual Wine Literary Awards at the California Culinary Institute in San Francisco.  Armed with my lady posse in our fancy party dresses we headed to the "ball".  Ben Narasin who attended our tasting the day before was the lucky gentleman to share a table with the six of us.  Ben is a freelance writer for publications such as the San Francisco Chronicle and Wine Enthusiast.

Over 1000 wines including several from each of our wineries (Adelsheim, Elk Cove, Willamette Valley and Anne Amie Vineyards) were opened for a grand tasting at 6pm.  A dinner prepared by the students at the Culinary Institute was served and we all enjoyed a good laugh when Charles L. Sullivan, wine historian and author of the Companion to California Wine and recipient of this year's literary award was interrupted mid-speech by an extremely intoxicated party crasher.  Mr. Sullivan handled it with grace and only paused a moment before finishing his joke. 

Pictured from left are Leah from Adelsheim Vineyards, Meg from Willamette Valley Vineyards, Shirley from Elk Cove Vineyards, Stephany & Mariko from the Oregon Wine Board and me. I might be biased but I think we clean up pretty well! 

I know I've said before that work travel is tiring but being included in this group of talented smart women and the wineries and wine board that supports us make it all worth it.  Thanks for the memories ladies and stay tuned wine media...we might be coming to a town near you soon!

Cheers,

Kim

Recipe for Success: San Francisco

A selection of amazing Oregon wine from Adelsheim, Elk Cove, Willamette Valley and Anne Amie Vineyards:

CHECK.

The incredible Michelin rated Bushi-Tei restaurant in San Francisco with a creative chef who knows how to pair wine and food:

CHECK.

An esteemed group of journalists who decided to take a chance on us:

CHECK.

On Thursday, April 24^th I had the privilege of sharing the company of three incredible wineries at an intimate Oregon tasting for the media in San Francisco.  Leah Jorgensen from Adelsheim Vineyards in Newberg, Shirley Brooks from Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston and Meg Hursh from Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner joined me in Japantown at Bushi-Tei Restaurant where we held a tasting for select members of the media.  Among our guests were Harvey Steinman, Lynne Bennett, Tim Teichgraeber, Ben Narasin, Michael Shapiro, Justin Linkner, Kaveish Sewalia, Raul Gallyot, Amy Sherman, Danny Ronen and photographer Bob Holmes.

The tasting consisted of five flights (see menu below) and five wines from each winery paired with five courses.  The purpose of this tasting was to bring the wines of Oregon to California and the media in particular.  We know how hard it is for people to gather for a tasting like this in their own state or city let alone get up to Oregon.  Chef Waka is so talented and showcased our wines beautifully showing how Oregon wines are diverse enough to be paired with many types of cuisine.

 

Oregon Wine Tasting & Food Pairing

Bushi-Tei Restaurant

 

FIRST FLIGHT:

Anne Amie Vineyards 2007 Pinot Gris

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Pinot Gris

Adelsheim Vineyard 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

Elk Cove Vineyards 2007 Pinot Gris

 

Jamon Serrano wrapped white asparagus, green apple Parmesan dust,

upland cress olave extra virgin olive oil

 

SECOND FLIGHT:

Elk Cove Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir Rosé

Anne Amie Vineyards 2007 Cuveé A Müller Thurgau

Adelsheim Vineyard 2006 “CH” Chardonnay

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Estate Chardonnay

 

White sesame blanc mange, oyster, scallop, black tobiko,

mizuna, raspberry-ume coulis, vanilla bean oil

 

THIRD FLIGHT:

Adelsheim Vineyard 2006 Auxerrois

Anne Amie Vineyards 2007 Estate Riesling

Elk Cove Vineyards 2006 Riesling Estate

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Riesling

 

Scottish halibut crepinette, coco blanc bean,

spring vegetables, fennel nage, kinome oil

 

FOURTH FLIGHT:

Anne Amie Vineyards 2006 Cuvée A Pinot Noir

Adelsheim Vineyard 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Estate Pinot Noir

Elk Cove Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

 

Muscovy duck breast, mushroom melange, fingerling potato, dried cherry sauce

 

FIFTH FLIGHT:

Anne Amie Vineyards 2006 Winemaker’s Selection Pinot Noir

Adelsheim Vineyard 2006 Elizabeth’s Reserve Pinot Noir

Elk Cove Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir Five Mountain

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Tualatin Pinot Noir

 

Espresso crusted Sika venison loin, kabocha squash,