CANNON BEACH, Ore. – One of the most enjoyable winter wine festivals takes place March 10-13 in this seaside village.
Cannon Beach, which is about 90 minutes west of Portland on the rugged Oregon coast, plays host to the annual Savor Cannon Beach Wine & Culinary Festival. It is organized by Gary Hayes, president and founder of Coast Explorer Magazine, which is based in Cannon Beach.
Savor Cannon Beach helps fill this community in late winter, and its popularity has grown to capacity in recent years.
Savor Cannon Beach schedule
Savor Cannon Beach kicks off March 10 with the Thursday Night Throwdown. Participants will taste a dozen wines – six different varieties – and decide which reign supreme. The event includes light appetizers made by local chefs. It takes place at the Tolovana Inn and runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $40.
On Friday, March 11, 24 participants will be able to enjoy The Winemaker’s Table: Morning Edition. Patrons will be able to sit down with winemakers and taste with them in an intimate setting. This takes place at the Cannon Beach Community Hall from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.
From 1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday is a seminar on Rhône whites and Italian reds. Participants will taste Northwest examples of wines made from classic Italian reds and Southern Rhône whites. This seminar is led by Hank and Nancy Sauer, longtime Northwest wine educators. This takes place at the Tolovana Inn. Tickets are $40.
From 3 to 4:30 p.m. is the afternoon edition of The Winemaker’s Table. Similar to the morning session, this is an opportunity for 24 participants to enjoy an intimate tasting with select Northwest winemakers. It takes place at the Cannon Beach Community Hall and costs $40 per person.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. is the Wine, Art & Cheese Walk, which takes place in downtown Cannon Beach. Participating galleries will play host to a Northwest winery and feature a regional cheesemaker. The price is $40 per ticket and includes a souvenir Savor Cannon Beach glass.
Saturday kicks off with a comparison tasting of Syrahs from France and the Pacific Northwest. This session is led by Andy Perdue, editor and publisher of Great Northwest Wine and wine columnist for The Seattle Times. This takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Tolovana Inn. Tickets are $40.
From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday is the Savor Cannon Beach Wine Walk, which takes place throughout downtown Cannon Beach. More than 40 Northwest wineries will be pouring award-winning wines at galleries, retail shops, restaurants and hotels. The wineries come from throughout Oregon and Washington. Tickets are $40.
On Sunday, March 13, Savor Cannon Beach concludes with the Gold Medal Wine Brunch. It takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and features eight gold medal winners from the 2016 Savor NW Wine Awards along with brunch provided by Cannon Beach restaurants and bakeries. It takes place at the Tolovana Inn. Tickets are $40.
It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance, as many of the events sell out quickly.
Sponsors of Savor Cannon Beach include Hallmark Inns and Resorts, Surfsand Resort, Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals, Stephanie Inn, The Ocean Lodge, the Inn at Cannon Beach, The Wine Shack, the Tolovana Inn and Coast Explorer Magazine.
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