Friday Night Wine School - Defining Terroir, 5 Unique Oregon AVAs

Join us for our attendance-limited, signup-only Friday night tasting!  Depending upon the weather, tastings are held on the patio or the back of the shop with a max of 10 people per time slot.

Thousands of years ago, the Missoula Floods gave birth to what are now the diverse terroirs of the Pacific Northwest, creating some of the best grape-growing regions in the world.   And while Oregon's Willamette Valley is the most famous,  the state has 22 designated AVAs stretching from the Columbia Valley in the north to Applegate in the south.  

What better way to tie in all of the elements in our terroir series than by looking at 5 different AVAs in the high-quality, diverse regions of Oregon?  AVA, American Viticultural Area, is a defined wine grape-growing region with each AVA demonstrating a uniqueness in its geographic location, climate, soil and topography. When an AVA is designated on the wine bottle’s label, 85 percent of the grapes used to make the wine must be sourced from that AVA. If a wine label states Oregon, an Oregon county or an AVA wholly within Oregon, 100% of the grapes must be from Oregon and 95% from that appellation of origin.

With turkey day around the corner (we love Oregon wines for holiday food pairings!) John Lott thought it would be great to take you on a tour of 5 different Oregon AVAs and discuss the elements of terroir in each area and how are they expressed in the wines.  Why is Pinot Noir the grape of the Willamette Valley, yet big reds are the stars of the Columbia Valley just to the north?  How has the Rogue River contributed to the unique conditions of the Rogue Valley AVA? What is the difference between a Pinot Noir from Chehalem AVA and one in the neighboring McMinnville AVA?  We'll discuss all of this and more plus give you some great ideas for holiday pairings.   I hope you'll join us!  

  Here's how it will work: 

-You sign up for a time slot where you will taste with 9 other people. It is $5 to attend but you will receive that $5 back with the purchase of a bottle of any of the wines presented. If you are a couple or with a group, you can purchase up to 10 spots for a time slot if available. Use the green button above to reserve your spots.  $5 refund is one per attendee per bottle from the event only.
-We will hold our tasting outside on the patio from 5:30 PM to 8 PM on Fridays weather permitting. If it rains we bring the event inside to the back of the store.
-Please arrive 5 minutes early for your time slot as we may not be able to move you to another spot.
-No waiting in line for your taste of wine in a plastic cup and snippet of info. During your time slot, you will have the presenter's undivided attention as you learn about and taste the wines from Riedel glassware.
-When your tasting is over you can browse and shop or enjoy a glass or bottle at our indoor and outdoor tables.