
McMINNVILLE, Ore. — This year, the International Pinot Noir Celebration enters its fourth decade, and the delicious IPNC weekend July 28-30 in Oregon with more than 70 winemakers and 60 Northwest chefs is on the verge of being a complete sellout.
Amy Wesselman, executive director for IPNC, said there is a small number of Full Weekend 2017 Tickets available at $1,295 each. However, individual tickets to the Salmon Bake ($225) and the Sunday Passport to Pinot ($125) are sold out.
“We have sold out every year since 2011,” Wesselman told Great Northwest Wine via email. “In 2009 and 2010, we experienced a dip in sales because of the recession, but we were selling out before that as well.”
The annual weekend festival on the campus of Linfield College allows patrons to learn more about Pinot Noir and meet some of the world’s most acclaimed producers, including nearly 40 of Oregon’s top winemakers.
“The wineries are selected by a panel of sommeliers, winemakers, and retailers,” Wesselman said.
In every case, the winery – domestic or international – will be represented by a principal. In most cases, it is the winemaker sitting on the panel and/or pouring their wine.
Star-studded lineup of Oregon winemakers

This year’s featured wineries from Oregon include Amity Vineyards (JP Caldcleugh), Anderson Family Vineyard (Cliff and Allison Anderson), Angela Estate (Antony and Angela Beck), Antica Terra (Maggie Harrison), Argyle (Nate Klostermann), Beckham Estate Vineyard (Andrew and Annedria Beckham), Belle Pente (Brian O’Donnell), Bethel Heights Vineyard (Ben Casteel and Pat Dudley), Big Table Farm (Clare Carver and Brian Marcy), Brick House Wine Co. (Doug Tunnell), Brooks (Chris Williams), Cameron (John Paul), Dobbes Family Estate (Joe Dobbes), Domaine Drouhin Oregon (Véronique Drouhin-Boss and David Millman), Dusky Goose (Natalie Sigafoos), Evening Land Vineyards (Rajat Parr), Fairsing Vineyard (Mary Ann McNally and Mike McNally), The Four Graces (Marc Myers), Fox Farm Vineyards (David Fish and Thomas Ratcliff), Hawks View Cellars (Shannon Gustafson), Holloran Vineyard Wines (Bill Holloran), Hyland Estates (Laurent Montalieu), Iris Vineyards (Aaron Liberman and Pamela Frye), Lenné Estate (Stephen Lutz), Lingua Franca (Larry Stone and Dominique Lafon), Maysara Winery (Tahmiene Momtazi and Moe Momtazi), Montinore Estate (Rudy Marchesi), Domaine Nicolas-Jay (Jean-Nicolas Méo and Jay Boberg), Penner-Ash Wine Cellars (Lynn Penner-Ash), Phelps Creek Vineyards (Robert Morus), Résonance (Jacques Lardière), Domaine Roy Et Fils (Jared Etzel), Saffron Fields Vineyard (Sanjeev Lahoti and Angela Summers), Seven of Hearts (Byron Dooley), Stoller Family Estate (Melissa Burr), Van Duzer Vineyards (Florent-Pierre Merlier) and Westrey Wine Co. (David Autrey).
Those who purchase the Full Weekend package gain entry into both the Salmon Bake and the Sunday Passport to Pinot as well as the Grand Seminar, which is titled The French Adventurers – Burgundians Making Pinot Noir in Oregon. Its list of panelists include Véronique Boss-Drouhin of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Dominique Lafon of Lingua Franca, Jacques Lardière of Résonance, Jean-Nicolas Méo of Domaine Nicolas-Jay and Alexandrine Roy of Phelps Creek Vineyards. Moderating this year’s Grand Seminar is Eric Asimov, longtime wine critic for the New York Times.
IPNC offers 8 University of Pinot seminars

This year, Full Weekend 2017 patrons can choose to attend two of the eight University of Pinot seminars offered:
Alsatian Pinot Noir with Stuart Pigott. There’s more to Alsace than Gewürztraminer and Riesling, and one of the wine world’s biggest personalities promises to make this seminar educational and highly entertaining. Panelists include Maurice Barthelmé and Jacky Barthelmé of Domaine Albert Mann, Véronique Muré of Domaine Clos St. Landelin-Muré and Marie Zusslin of Domaine Valentin Zusslin. Pigott, a Brit who has lived Germany for three decades, contributes to JamesSuckling.com, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and StuartPigott.com.
The New Traditionalists. This is a tasting and discussion that will explore how winemakers are reviving older techniques. Panelists include Cyril Audoin of Domaine Charles Audoin in Burgundy, Byron Kosuge of B. Kosuge Wines in Sonoma, Doug Tunnell of Brick House Wine Co., in Newberg, Ross Cobb of Cobb Wines in Occidental, Calif., Martin Hofstätter of J. Hofstätter in Italy and Moe Momtazi of Maysara Winery in McMinnville. Moderating will be Patrick Comiskey of Wine & Spirits.
The Impact of Vintage in Burgundy. Winemakers provide bottlings from two vintages and show how vintage characteristics contributed to each wine. Panelists include Chisa Bize of Domaine Simon Bize Et Fils in Burgundy, Mathilde Grivot of Domaine Jean Grivot in Burgundy, and Etienne de Montille of Domaine de Montille. Moderating will be Allen Meadows of Burghound.com in Tarzana, Calif.
New Zealand Regional Study of Central Otago. Three winemakers will provide a total of six wines from five vintages in this sub-region of New Zealand. Panelists include Lucie Lawrence of Aurum Wines, Duncan Forsythe of Mount Edward and Paul Pujol of Prophet’s Rock. Moderating will be Sonoma-based Elaine Brown of JancisRobinson.com.
Sensory Evaluation of Pinot Noir. Josh Raynolds of Vinous and former editor of Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar offers insight and tips on wine evaluation.
Vegetables, Vinegar and Vino: How to Make Impossible Pairings Possible. Panelists include Chris Remy and Nick Doughty of Elephants Delicatessen in Portland.
Decoding Coffee. Rob Hoos of Nossa Familia Coffee in Portland discusses cultivar, terroir, processing, roasting and brewing methods.
Palate Cross-Training. Tony Tellin of Smith Teamakers in Portland leads side-by-side looks at floral sources, roots, barks, herbs, seeds, peels and tea leaves.
Seats available for Pre-IPNC dinners

Those who can’t make it to IPNC still can get a flavor for the celebration on Thursday, July 27 at one of the unofficial Pre-IPNC dinners.
Prices vary, and the list of venues includes Anne Amie Vineyards (with restaurants such as Bollywood Theater, The Country Cat, Ember & Vine, Laurelhurst Market, M.E.C., Olympia Provisions, Parasol, Party Downtown, Pizza Jerk, Pok Pok, Tusk), Archery Summit, Belle Pente (Le Pigeon), Brooks, Cristom Vineyards (Little Bird Bistro), Domaine Roy, Dusky Goose (Vitaly Paley), Lazy River Vineyard (Nick’s Italian Cafe), Merriman Vineyard (Tournant), Lenné Estate, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars (The Painted Lady), Ponzi Vineyards, Rex Hill (Jory at The Allison), Saffron Fields Vineyard (Recipe Part Deux) and restaurants such as Bistro Maison. The dinner at Soter Vineyards already is sold out.
Stoller Family Estate will play host to the fifth annual Summertime ¡Salud! fundraising dinner to help provide healthcare to Oregon vineyard workers and their families. More than a dozen wineries contribute to this evening at the base of the Dundee Hills.
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