Okanagan Valley

Work and travel have kept me busy for the past couple of months, but the past week really was the cherry-topper! So what have I been up to?

I just returned from a five-day trip from the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. We went up for a wedding that took place right on Lake Okanagan in Lake Country. The next day, I was there to celebrate Canada Day too. Canada Day is July 1, so it was a super long weekend celebration that moved right into the Fourth of July.

The Okanagan really is an amazing place. It is the heart of BC's wine and fruit industry. It is lake and cottage country. Most of BC’s wineries and orchards surround Lake Okanagan, a spectacular 82-mile long lake.

Canadians take great pride in protecting their environment. The small towns we drove through dotted along the lake were pristine. Free of trash and graffiti, with main streets featuring well-kept storefronts, cafés, and long-time businesses. It was really refreshing to see and I am already ready and looking forward to going back for another restful vacation!

All dressed up for Sarah and Jason’s wedding in Lake Country

Property at Lock + Worth Winery and Poplar Grove Cheese overlooking Lake Okanagan

Sunset at Nichol Vineyard on the Naramata Bench

Gobble Gobble

Wow. Can you believe it's that time of the year again? Turkey time!

We're all ready for company. Shopping is done. Pies are baking. House is tidy. Tables are clothed. I would have to say Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the tradition and the meaning. It's all about getting the family together and celebrating for what we are grateful with food and wine. And there really is so much to be grateful for in our lives.

We always do a big bird with mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce. The vegetables may vary from year to year. The sweet Hawaiian rolls never do. We always have pie - lots and lots of pie. There are five kinds on the menu this year. This year we're also having Oregon roses from Bergstrom and Winderlea with our meal. It'll be the last of the bottles that we brought back from the Willamette Valley, when we were there earlier this fall.

So whatever you celebrate and however you celebrate with your families, I hope that you enjoy happiness and good health this holiday season. Safe travels and full stomachs to all! Gobble gobble!

Fall Fundraising

Fall fundraising season is already right around the corner.

Even as kids are getting back into the classroom, fundraising season preparations have already been underway. This year, I have auctions booked from September that continue into December. Despite twenty-five years in the business, this is a first for me.

I have always felt that there were more advantages of having your auction in the fall, as opposed to waiting till spring to hold your traditional auction. One of the main advantages is that there is less competition with other non-profits who are trying to attract the same patrons. I also prefer fall auctions, as the fundraisers tend to have a more relaxed feel to them. It's a nice escape from the wind and rain outside, where you can enjoy warm conversation with some friends over a couple glasses of your favorite Oregon Pinot. All of that, while raising your bid card in support of a worthy cause.

Just as the days get shorter in the fall, so do the auctions. The trend of having only a few select items for auction followed by a special appeal is fast becoming the norm. While not technically the fall, I auctioneered at a late summer fundraising event. We auctioned off three items and then we did a special appeal. With just over a hundred people in attendance, the organization netted close to $40K. Not bad for a 30-minute gig.

See you next at the Big Green Benefit or the Governors' Gold Awards.

Think Pink

For years, all I drank were California Cabs. Then I met Al.

She couldn't believe with the variety and quality of Pinots readily accessible to me, how I didn't drink or like Oregon Pinot. I would tell her that I just prefer big, ripe, juicy, oaked Cabernets. Plus my biweekly trips to California afforded me the opportunity to get my fill of these powerful red wines.

So one bottle at a time, she gave me a lesson in Pinot. Every month for about a year, we would pick up a case of Pinot. The rules were simple - only wines from the Pacific Northwest, only good value bottles, and only Pinot Noir. We mostly ended up with Oregon Pinots; though Al would introduce me to a bottle or two of BC wines each month. Occasionally, we would pick up something from Walla Walla or Woodinville; sometimes even breaking the rules and buying an interesting Californian.

To remember and to keep track of what we liked, we downloaded the Vivino app. It's really simple and works great. We especially like that we can take a picture of the label. Then we rate and comment. We have yet to rate a wine 5-stars, but it's been great fun and an adventure so far. I am finally becoming a true Oregonian through wine after 20-plus years of living here; and I must say, am loving it every sip of the way.

The highest joint ranking we've given to-date, ironically, was for the Beringer Knights Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. We really enjoyed this bottle. It was an elegant, ready-to-drink Cab. We gave it 4.5 stars.

The Oregon Pinot that we seem to go back to most often is the Del Rio Vineyards Pinot Noir. Our first taste of it was the 2010 vintage. So far, subsequent vintages seem to be consistent. We still like it. It's great with food. It has a 4-star ranking in our books.

As you all know, it has been an incredibly hot summer here in Portland. So though I now love my Pinot Noirs, I have graduated to Rosés with Al's prompting. When it comes to wine, she has never steered me wrong. We've been drinking nothing but Rosés for nearly the last two months. Oregon produces some outstanding Rosés. It makes a lot of sense, since they're using the same great grape varietals with which they produce their red wines. Our summer favorite so far is Guild Winemaker's Willamette Valley 2014 Rosé. It's light and refreshing with enough depth to pair well with food. We think it's caseworthy at 4-stars. You can pick it up at Whole Foods.

Thanks to Ali for co-writing this piece. You can find our Vivino profile under Steve Ali.

Graphic by morii.ca.