PORTLAND, Ore. – Several hundred wineries are throwing a party in May, and they hope you’ll join them.
May is Oregon Wine Month, and dozens of events are planned.
“Oregon is a special place, and Oregon wines have a special reputation for excellence,” said Ellen Brittan, who is chairwoman of the Oregon Wine Board. “And while there’s a lot to love about Oregon wine at any time of the year, celebrating Oregon Wine Month is a great way to focus attention on the diverse and high-quality wines for which Oregon is now globally recognized.”
Many of the more than 500 Oregon wineries have special events planned throughout the month, and May will conclude with the annual Memorial Weekend in Wine Country, when most of the wineries fling their doors open during Memorial Day Weekend. This year, the big weekend is May 23-25.
This marks a special year for the Oregon wine industry, as it is the 50th anniversary of the first Pinot Noir planted in the Willamette Valley. David Lett, founder of The Eyrie Vineyards, planted those grapes in Dundee Hills in 1965. Lett died in 2008.
Not surprisingly, the region that will kick off Oregon Wine Month will be ground zero for Willamette Pinot Noir with the Taste Dundee Block Party, which takes place from noon to 3 p.m. May 2. The $20 event will take place in downtown Dundee as 14 wineries take part in this terrific tasting.
This will be the first of dozens of events through the month. Portland residents and visitors will want to consider the PDX Urban Wine Experience, which will take place May 3. This will involve a dozen wineries pouring two to three different wines each that afternoon.
But events are not limited to the Willamette Valley. On May 23, Roam the Rogue will focus on wineries of the upper Rogue Valley. That same day, Troon Vineyard will kick off its summer concert series with Val Blah. The next day, Weisinger’s Family Winery in Ashland will hold its grand release weekend.
To keep up on upcoming events and special throughout Oregon Wine Month, the Oregon Wine Board is maintaining a special section on its website that can easily be accessed via www.oregonwinemonth.org.
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