Portland, Ore. — Valentine’s Day weekend marks the beginning of a lengthy season of Willamette Valley wine country happenings.
Weekend gatherings are part of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association’s (WVWA) “Willamette Valley by the Glass” series wherein scores of producers from the state’s most famous wine-growing region share their way of life with wine country visitors.
Most Valentine’s events take place February 15-17th.
Enjoy a meticulously crafted wine pairing dinner or a long weekend getaway package fit with flowers, food, and cooking classes. Take in live music from a cozy hillside tasting room while munching on Pinot Noir cupcakes. Or, engage in a Valentine’s themed passport tour, affording tasters roses and sweets as they meander from one winery to the next. While each winery’s take on the holiday will be different, tasters can count on the region’s flagship wine, Pinot Noir, to be front and center, sharing the table with chocolate or accompanying a candle-lit dinner.
“Valentine’s Day weekend sets the tone for a season of wine country appreciation” said Sue Horstmann, Executive Director of the WVWA. “The romantic events of the weekend give visitors a glimpse of the Willamette Valley’s own romance, the love between winemakers and their craft.”
The unofficial pronouncement of Spring, Valentine’s Day in wine country paves the way for AVA-specific tastings, equinox celebrations, and Oregon Wine Month (May), home to Memorial Day Weekend festivities, one of the largest events of the year
Upcoming WVWA Events:
Valentine’s Weekend in Wine Country
Feb 15-17, 2013 www.willamettewines.com
Romantic tastings, pairings, dinners and getaway packages fit to match the intimate spirit of the holiday.
McMinnville AVA Tasting
Feb 23 (11-3 pm) www.mcminnvilleava.org
The beautifully-set Youngberg Hill winery hosts the best the AVA has to offer, from estate wines to locally produced bites. Attendees can enjoy live music and stay the night in one of the winery’s stunning rooms.
Equinox In The Eola-Amity Hills
March 23, 2013 www.eolaamityhills.com
Zenith Vineyards is the backdrop for an evening where area wines are showcased and howling at the moon is encouraged. Some thirty producers will pour their work, alongside bites from local eateries like Joel Palmer House and Subterra Restaurant.
North Willamette Vintners Wine Trail Weekend
April 13-14, 2013 (11-4 pm) www.northwillamettevintners.org
Winery tours, reserve tastings, barrel samples and more available at all member wineries. A Wine Trail Kit including a keepsake tasting glass will greet all attendees.
Dundee Hills Passport Tour
April 2013 www.dundeehills.org
An entire month devoted to the oldest and most famous viticultural area in the state. Discounted tastings at Dundee Hills Wineries Association affiliated wineries, special deals at local inns and restaurants, and a special prize drawing at the end of the month.
Vintage Oregon
April 28, 2013 (3-6 pm) www.oregonwine.org
More than 100 wineries descend upon Portland’s Left Bank Annex to celebrate the beginning of Oregon Wine Month. Food, educational seminars and expansive tastings bring wine country splendor to the heart of the city.
Yamhill Carlton AVA Spring Tasting
May 4, 2013 (11-4 pm) www.yamhillcarlton.org
Anne Amie Vineyards provides the pedestal for the much-lauded Yamhill Carlton AVA. Regional producers and local restaurants team up to show that some of the most promising food and wine culture is based in this special environment.
Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country
May 25-27, 2013 www.willamettewines.com
An event about as old as wine country itself, Memorial Weekend greets the approaching summer season with open houses, special tastings, music, and much more. More than 150 wineries from the famed Willamette Valley share in the festivities, from household names to tiny mom-and-pop producers that only open a few times a year.
About Willamette Valley Wineries Association
The WVWA is a non-profit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregon’s acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premier Pinot Noir producing region. The WVWA also publishes an annual guide to wineries with a touring map. For more information or to request a wine touring map, please visit www.willamettewines.com, call 503-646-2985, or follow on Twitter: @wvwines and on Facebook.
