I'm always so sad to leave here. We had such a great trip - although I am loathe to say it...I think I'm too old to drink and eat this much. When the NHC is here in 2018, we need a better plan!
Great food, great beer, great wine, relaxing, lots of games of cribbage and rummy...even though the weather didn't really cooperate and we didn't really walk as much as we needed to (ahem...did you see that biscuit sandwich??), it was a great trip.
Until next year! Goodbye PDX - we love you!
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Woooooooo APEX!!!
Love this place. If I can stop spending the money I do on wine, I could consider opening a place like this upon retirement.
Saturday - Back to Beer!
All righty...back to beer today!
Time to hit some old time favorites: Apex, Breakside, 10 Barrel, Bailey's Taproom, Belmont Station, maybe Voo Doo Donuts...
Going to also hit some new ones: Mt. Tabor brewing, and...who knows.
Let's face it - we have no plan today. Which is kind of deadly.
But it will involve beer. And hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can walk more!
Time to hit some old time favorites: Apex, Breakside, 10 Barrel, Bailey's Taproom, Belmont Station, maybe Voo Doo Donuts...
Going to also hit some new ones: Mt. Tabor brewing, and...who knows.
Let's face it - we have no plan today. Which is kind of deadly.
But it will involve beer. And hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can walk more!
Winery Day - Post Mortem
It was a rainy, rainy, fall day for wineries. But you know? That was OK. It's kind of a nice change from coming in July and it being hotter than hell.
We shouldn't try to do 6 wineries in a day. It just doesn't work - too many places to go, not enough time, not a good way to relax and enjoy the wines.
Over the course of the day, we tasted 41 different wines - some were just OK, but most were really, really good. If you subtract the 6 bottles I got for JL, we netted just one shy of three cases! A case of the Walter Scott futures will come in March, so that will be just in time for...well, who cares.
And, for anyone who thinks I was bombed out of my mind all day, I actually wasn't. I'm not sure why - the amount of alcohol I had was ridiculous. Maybe I'm just getting really good at it?
We shouldn't try to do 6 wineries in a day. It just doesn't work - too many places to go, not enough time, not a good way to relax and enjoy the wines.
Over the course of the day, we tasted 41 different wines - some were just OK, but most were really, really good. If you subtract the 6 bottles I got for JL, we netted just one shy of three cases! A case of the Walter Scott futures will come in March, so that will be just in time for...well, who cares.
And, for anyone who thinks I was bombed out of my mind all day, I actually wasn't. I'm not sure why - the amount of alcohol I had was ridiculous. Maybe I'm just getting really good at it?
Winery Stop #6 - Belle Pente
This last appointment was another recommendation from Bergstrom. It's a working farm (70 acres), with cows, sheep, wine. Brian is the owner with his wife, and we had a very laid back, no frills, stand outside by a barrel and taste about eight wines.
They were ALL good. I mean all. I said to Chris, "My god! When is the last time they were ALL good??" And he said, "Um...this morning." Not true! I wasn't wowed by all of them in the morning.
It was such a fantastic way to end our day. I would love to come back here again.
They were ALL good. I mean all. I said to Chris, "My god! When is the last time they were ALL good??" And he said, "Um...this morning." Not true! I wasn't wowed by all of them in the morning.
It was such a fantastic way to end our day. I would love to come back here again.
Winery Stop #5 - Bergstrom
Well this was speed tasting at it's finest. I think we were there for 11 minutes. Literally.
Rebecca helped us, and knew we were in a hurry to get to our appointment - she was awesome! She helped us in April when we went too.
Had a quick tasting...wow, wow, wow their wines are excellent.
There just isn't time to do six tastings in a day. We'll have to eliminate one next time and only do five.
Rebecca helped us, and knew we were in a hurry to get to our appointment - she was awesome! She helped us in April when we went too.
Had a quick tasting...wow, wow, wow their wines are excellent.
There just isn't time to do six tastings in a day. We'll have to eliminate one next time and only do five.
Winery Stop #4 - Sokol Blosser
Given the back up in the morning at Brooks, we were only able to spend about 20 minutes at Sokol Blosser. Now THOSE folks know how to treat a wine club member! Which is weird, because I feel like last time I said that about Argyle, and now it is reversed.
In any case, they have two tasting options - one with a smaller number of wines, and one with their reserves. I just said - how about you charge me the points for the reserve tasting and I just pick out what I want to drink? Ah...young Cameron. I think he might have been too stunned and a little afraid to say no. So that is what we did. Tried some whites, a bunch of Pinots,
And it again was pretty great. They, too, have an absolutely wonderful tasting room. It's on a beautiful spot, and next time we need to hand out here a little longer.
In any case, they have two tasting options - one with a smaller number of wines, and one with their reserves. I just said - how about you charge me the points for the reserve tasting and I just pick out what I want to drink? Ah...young Cameron. I think he might have been too stunned and a little afraid to say no. So that is what we did. Tried some whites, a bunch of Pinots,
And it again was pretty great. They, too, have an absolutely wonderful tasting room. It's on a beautiful spot, and next time we need to hand out here a little longer.
Winery Stop #3 - Argyle
Did I mention Argyle is right across the street from Red Hills Market? Yes. Literally. So we just walked over.
We have been wine club members since 2009, the first time we came to Oregon. Argyle has a new, absolutely beautiful tasting room, and aside from some logistical things that don't seem to work well, it was a nice little tasting.
Had the Pinot flight, and then asked for extras (hey, I'm in the wine club!) which they seemed not to know how to handle. There was a lot of "ah...let me check, I'm not sure...be right back" involved. And then I got my little glass of Riesling. I mean come on. Just do it.
But all in all - it's a gorgeous tasting space and next time, we need to spend a little more time here.
We have been wine club members since 2009, the first time we came to Oregon. Argyle has a new, absolutely beautiful tasting room, and aside from some logistical things that don't seem to work well, it was a nice little tasting.
Had the Pinot flight, and then asked for extras (hey, I'm in the wine club!) which they seemed not to know how to handle. There was a lot of "ah...let me check, I'm not sure...be right back" involved. And then I got my little glass of Riesling. I mean come on. Just do it.
But all in all - it's a gorgeous tasting space and next time, we need to spend a little more time here.
Winery Lunch Stop - Red Hills Market
So if you recall...we LOVE Red Hills Market. So much so, we sent K/E/C here in September when they were on vacation - it's a must visit.
This time we deviated from the normal lunch of the ham/butter/Gruyere sandwich and the coppa pizza, and went back to the original...ham/butter/Gruyere sandwich and roast beef/blue cheese/caramelized onion sandwich. And ooooooh baby. They were soooooooooo good.
We even talked about coming back for dinner to get the coppa pizza - it's THAT good. But we didn't (see dinner pizza pictures later!).
If you come to the Willamette Valley, definitely stop here.
This time we deviated from the normal lunch of the ham/butter/Gruyere sandwich and the coppa pizza, and went back to the original...ham/butter/Gruyere sandwich and roast beef/blue cheese/caramelized onion sandwich. And ooooooh baby. They were soooooooooo good.
We even talked about coming back for dinner to get the coppa pizza - it's THAT good. But we didn't (see dinner pizza pictures later!).
If you come to the Willamette Valley, definitely stop here.
Winery Stop #2 - Brooks
We left a little late from Walter Scott and then headed to Brooks. Super sad story - the guy that started it died at 38 of an aortic aneurysm. So about 12 years ago a bunch of wineries came together and managed the first harvest for the family in his honor. Talk about a tear jerker.
The wines were OK - bought a couple bottles - but they were sooooooooooooooo slow. It was very European. We were like "speed it up people!!" and then we would look around and there would be no one around to signal the "get the hell over here" signal.
So this pushed us back about 30 minutes from the schedule. GRRRR. You know how I like a schedule! In hindsight, we should have skipped this one, and then we wouldn't have been pressed later in the day after lunch when it was like speed tasting.
The wines were OK - bought a couple bottles - but they were sooooooooooooooo slow. It was very European. We were like "speed it up people!!" and then we would look around and there would be no one around to signal the "get the hell over here" signal.
So this pushed us back about 30 minutes from the schedule. GRRRR. You know how I like a schedule! In hindsight, we should have skipped this one, and then we wouldn't have been pressed later in the day after lunch when it was like speed tasting.
Winery Stop #1 - Walter Scott
We got the recommendation for Walter Scott from Bergstrom, where we went last April for the first time. We got to take the cool little car ferry across the river! And it was great.
Ken (owner) did the tasting for us, and there were a few other people there. (Actually, that was the only draw back. The two couples from Kentucky were very nice, but their friend that was in the wine business was kind of a douche. Kept cutting Ken off and finishing his sentences for him. It was painful.)
They are a small producer, and were sold out of all of their 2014 vintage. So our tasting consisted of 10 barrel tastings of their 2015 vintage - all futures. 7 Pinot Noirs and 3 Chardonnays. They were really good - especially three of the Pinots that were frankly outstanding. So we've got a nice little gift coming in March when our case ships out!
OH! And Ken was nice enough to make me a list of wineries and a restaurant to visit when we are in Burgundy, France next year! Such a nice guy. Very happy we started here!
Ken (owner) did the tasting for us, and there were a few other people there. (Actually, that was the only draw back. The two couples from Kentucky were very nice, but their friend that was in the wine business was kind of a douche. Kept cutting Ken off and finishing his sentences for him. It was painful.)
They are a small producer, and were sold out of all of their 2014 vintage. So our tasting consisted of 10 barrel tastings of their 2015 vintage - all futures. 7 Pinot Noirs and 3 Chardonnays. They were really good - especially three of the Pinots that were frankly outstanding. So we've got a nice little gift coming in March when our case ships out!
OH! And Ken was nice enough to make me a list of wineries and a restaurant to visit when we are in Burgundy, France next year! Such a nice guy. Very happy we started here!
Friday Winery Preview...
Yesterday, this was our plan:
10:00am - appointment at Walter Scott
11:45am - tasting at Brooks
1:00 pm - lunch at Red Hills Market
1:30 pm - tastings at Argyle and Sokol Blosser
3:00 pm - tasting at Bergstrom
4:00 pm - appointment at Belle Pente
And by God we did it!!
10:00am - appointment at Walter Scott
11:45am - tasting at Brooks
1:00 pm - lunch at Red Hills Market
1:30 pm - tastings at Argyle and Sokol Blosser
3:00 pm - tasting at Bergstrom
4:00 pm - appointment at Belle Pente
And by God we did it!!
Friday, October 7, 2016
Catching up...
Well we have had quite a day!
Started at Thirteen Virtues, then on to Wayfinder for lunch, then Cascade Barrel House, the The Commons (love!!), then Culmination, then Migration.
I can't wait to be in sleep-mode-ation.
Tomorrow: wineries!!!
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Thirteen Virtues Brewing
A very tasty sampler of Thirteen Virtues beer. Hefe, Cream Ale, Pale Ale, Red, IPA, and Weizenbock. Only the Weizenbock was ... eh.
Next stop is Wayfinder for lunch! And beer. It's a brewery after all.
Thursday!!!
On the docket for today:
- Thirteen Virtues Brewery
- Wayfinder (including lunch!)
- Cascade Barrel House
- The Commons
We're also going to have a beer with Owen (friend, beer guy), and then we'll see where else the day takes us!
NEW ELECTRONICS!
I thimk we are coming home with a new laptop. This one has been nothing but a pain in the ass. It has been doing this since last night and a few forced shut downs.
So blogging on the tablet or my phone is another big giant pain in my ass.
So blogging on the tablet or my phone is another big giant pain in my ass.
Pulling mussels from a shell...
Last night for our anniversary dinner, we went to La Moule, this great little bistro that serves...you guessed it...mussels.
We've been there before and ordered the exact same meal: chicken liver mousse, frites, and diavola mussels (tomato, salami, peppers, basil, and garlic). Oh and did I mention bread? And Belgian beers?
Super tasty, and a great way to end the day. Then we came back to the VRBO and I effectively passed out.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
The Commons
This has consistently been our favorite brewery since we started coming to Portland. We went to the brewery the first time when it was this tiny little hole in the wall, and now it's a huge facility with a great tap room and cheese shop built in.
Consistently good, and makes me smile.
Off to PDX!!
These are terrible airport beers at 9:17 am. The Surly in first class will be way better.
Off to PDX for a break from chimneys, stucco, roofs, plumbing, and work stress.
And for our 20th anniversary!
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