Sokol Blosser

Granted, wine tasting is an afternoon/evening activity, and I’m not sure we can really call it nightlife. However, because it involves so much drinking, eating and good times, I’m going to list it here as a fun drinking day-trip from Portland!

There are many organic and bio-dynamic vineyards in the Willamette Valley, known for its Pinot noir and fertile soil (which is not, surprisingly, why Oregon Pinots are so good). Three to make sure to visit are as follows, in no particular order.

Winderlea-

A new, bio-dynamic vineyard, Winderlea is a very cutting-edge spot.In the main vineyard building, a sleek, almost-LEED certified structure that looks out onto the rolling red hills of Dundee, guests sip the Estate Reserve Pinot noir from 2007 and chat about what merits a good glass of Pinot. For $15.00, visitors to the vineyard can sample five Winderlea wines, including the Estate Reserve Pinot noir from 2007,a 2008 Chardonnay, the 2009 Dundee Hills Pinot noir, the Estate Pinot noir from 2007 and the Winderlea Pinot noir from 2008 (one of the top years for the area). All the proceeds from tastings are donated to charity, which is pretty amazing.

Winderlea Vineyards in Dundee

Rex Hill -

This is one of the older vineyards in the area, opened in 1982. Rex Hill specializes in fine Pinot noir wines, and asking for a tour around their ample, maze-like cellar is recommendable. A family-run vineyard, the guys at Rex Hill are doing their part to keep wine making ‘green’. They are LIVE certified and use bio-dynamic and organic wine making practices in their production. Try their 2009 Rex Hill Jacob Hart Pinot Gris for something distinctive from the many Pinot noir wines available.

Sokol Blosser -

Rex Hill

Another vineyard that goes way back. Sokol Blosser was one of the first to establish in the area and start to try and grow a few grapes in the 70s. Today they are one of the larger organic producers in the area, with LEED silver certification on their cellar, a green-roof building covered in four feet of cooling earth. I tested a few of their wines, and was impressed by their inexpensive white, Evolution 14, which goes for about $15.oo. Other Sokol Blosser Pinots are double or triple this price.

The problem is, if you go for a day of wine drinking, who’s going to drive? Let Evergreen Escapes take care of the directions so you can enjoy the Chardonnay. The all ‘green’ tour company arranges day tours to the Willamette Valley wine region, as well as to many other must-see spots in Oregon.

MORE:

Sokol Blosser – http://sokolblosser.com/

Rex Hills – http://www.rexhill.com/index.php

Winderlea: http://www.winderlea.com/

Evergreen Escapes: http://www.evergreenescapes.com/

post & photo by Regina Winkle-Bryan. see more at:http://www.thespainscoop.com/

Wine Tasting Stations

People come to Bordeaux, France, for the wine. Upon arrival they find, as I did, a wonderful city by a lazy, brown river. They walk along the riverbank and take snapshots of each other in front of it. They explore the medieval center and many its dashing plazas. They sample French dishes in bistros and munch croissants in its many cafes. They shop Bordeaux’s abundant boutiques and lick ice cream cones while wandering cobblestone streets. They say to each other, ‘Who knew Bordeaux was so much more than wine?’

It’s true. Bordeaux has lots to offer besides fermented grapes, but one cannot come to Bordeaux and not partake in the wine culture – that would be a sin of great proportions! There are many tours taking visitors out of Bordeaux to the vineyards surrounding it, and this may be the best way to get to know its wines. If you don’t feel like the tour, stay in town and sample wines at the many chic wine bars all over the city.

Bordeaux

I tried quite a few glasses of Bordeaux wines in a number of bars, but the best glass I had was at Aux Quatre Coins Du Vin in Bordeaux old quarter. The concept at Aux Quatre Coins Du Vin is different than anything I’ve seen before. You get a sort of credit card with credit on it, say $15.00. With this card you can go around the bar sampling wines. There are wine stations set up throughout the bar and you simply swipe your card and sip as much of that wine as you want. You can get doses of $2.00/$5.00/$10.00 depending on how much of the wine you want and the price of it.

Bordeaux is Wine.

At that moment I was overwhelmed and asked the bartender to choose her favorite wine for me, seeing as I know little about French wines. She did, and it was a rich, woody, fabulously strong Bordeaux. It went well with the plate of French cheeses I ordered with baguette.

More:

http://aux4coinsduvin.com/

Post and Photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her travel tips at The Spain Scoop.

Try Some of Spain's Best Wines at D.O.

The Barcelona neighborhood Gracia doesn’t get many tourists. This is probably because you have to take the Metro several stops to get to Gracia, catching trains on the yellow or green line. It’s not difficult to get to Gracia if you have a Metro map, and the trip is well worth it.

Gracia is teeming with arty cafes, darling boutiques, restaurants, and bars that range from spendy to bohemian. The barrio is probably most famous for its plazas, which are especially full in the summer time when bars and restaurants offer outdoor seating.

From Grape to Glass at D.O.

I usually go to Gracia to catch a movie at Verdi Cinemas in English (they show all their films in original version), and then go for a drink at D.O. Bar, about two doors down from the theater. D.O. is a label used on wines to show that they are certifiably from a specific wine region in Spain. You want your bottle of Priorat to have the D.O mark on it.  D.O., therefore, is associated with fine wines and that is exactly what the chic  D.O. bar  serves by the glass or bottle.

I must admit I was surprised looking over the wine menu at D.O. There was not one glass of wine offered for less that $6.00! This is uncommon in Spain, where the average price for a glass of red is $4.00. At D.O., however, they only serve the best of the best. I ordered something from Ribera del Duero and it knocked my socks off for $5.00.

Accompany your glass or bottle of Rioja with a cheese platter for $10.00 which includes about six Spanish cheeses served with green tomato jam and bread.  D.O. also does dinner and has a fine selection of high-end tapas (Spanish appetizers). If you sit at the tables you will be expected to eat dinner, if you sit at the bar you can try their wine and plump, green, pepper-stuffed olives. Hands down one of my favorite wine bars in Barcelona!

More:

Verdi 36, Barcelona, Spain (Gracia – Metro stop Fontana)

Tel: 93-218-96-73

Post and Photo by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more on Spain at The Spain Scoop.com!

Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California

If you haven’t had the chance to visit a bar that offers an enomatic self-serve wine system, there’s no better time!  And if you live around Santa Monica, you have excuse not to check out Pourtal Wine Bar, which offers wine lovers the chance to try 40 different wines in one sitting (though this is not recommended). You purchase a card, insert it into the machine with the wine of your choice and out comes a one ounce tasting. So easy and fun! Systems like this allow wine drinkers, no matter how novice or experienced they are, to enjoy a wide variety of wines in one visit.

If you have a case of the nibbles while at Pourtal, peruse the cheese and food menu which is designed to accompany many of the wines you taste.

One of the best parts about Pourtal is its location in downtown Santa Monica. You’re super close to all of the shops and restaurants at the Third Street Promenade, and of course the beach! And don’t forget the pooch — the patio is doggie friendly!

Also, don’t forget about the wonderful Angel Shares Happy Hours on Mondays from 4-closing and Tuesday-Friday from 4-7. Glasses of wines and apps are $5 and %15 of all tasting sales go to a charity. Get wine happy and feel good about it! Who cares if it’s not Napa?

Photo: thelastminute