Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Wine-tasting in Willamette Valley


One activity we like to do on a Saturday or Sunday, year-round, is spend a day going wine-tasting in the Willamette Valley. The best areas to go for a day trip is to the west and south of Portland. Around Dundee and Newberg area there are many wineries to visit.


You can plan out your entire day using a wine map before you head out, or just start driving and use serendipity to guide your way.


This particular day, we decided to focus on a small area in the hills between Newberg and Dundee and see what we would find. Love Winderlea's beautiful modern space. Very nice people too! Met the owner and his wife and chatted a bit.


Some of the wineries have fabulous views from their mountaintop locations.


While others have their tastings underground inside their wine caves where the barrels are stored and aged.


Some we like to visit for the location and tasting room facility on its own - like this one with a fabulous deck in back. While others are all about the wine itself (like Adelshiem where we are club members). 


We usually fit in about 4 to 5 wineries per day before we tire out; which includes time to drive, sip, sit, and relax. Sometimes you meet other people to visit with, or get to visit with the owner or winemaker. There are so many wineries in Oregon and Willamette Valley that there are always new areas to explore and great wineries to discover!






Thursday, January 23, 2014

Brunch at Irving Street Kitchen


I've been a fan of Irving Street Kitchen in the Pearl District since they opened, but I had only gone there for dinner and drinks (love their local wine on "tap"!). That changed recently when we went to Sunday Brunch. What a discovery! The Bloody Marys were great although a bit heavy on the horseradish for me.

The menu was great with so many INTERESTING choices it was difficult to decide. We took to looking around us at other people's plates and asking our waitress was that dish was. Crowded and buzzy, the atmosphere was fun.


I settled on the Chicken & Waffles served with an egg on top. The syrup below was maple with some spicy heat added. I didn't feel too guilty since the portion was actually quite small. Perfect!

Not a bad way to start a foggy Sunday in the city!