Top Wines of 2009

I visited my fabulous share of tasting rooms, wine bars, wine festivals, winemaker's dinners, and restaurants to be able to share with you my favorites of 2009.

The Wines:

It was exciting to have the list unfold and see the variety and value of the wines I adored.

10. Illahe Vineyards 2008 Viognier, Willamette Valley ($15)

9. Stoller 2007 SV Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($40)

8. Brickhouse N.V. Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($20)

7. Arcane Cellars 2007 Riesling, Willamette Valley ($16)

6. Griffin Creek 2005 Syrah, Rogue Valley ($45)

5. White Rose 2006 Soverae Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($75)

4. South Stage Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley ($26)

3. Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Elton Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($45)

2. Paradise Ridge 2004 Sparkling Syrah, Sonoma County ($45)

1. Piluso Vineyards 2007 Tempranillo, Willamette Valley ($24)

The Locations:

Where I am drinking wine is just as important to me than what I am drinking.

8. Sneaking the Stoller 2007 SV Pinot Noir into the movie theater

7. Savoring Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Quinta Reserva Pinot Noir Port at the Bentley's Winemaker's Dinner

6. Storytelling after hours in the Piluso Vineyards Tasting Room over Thanksgiving Weekend.

5. Sitting around my boyfriend's Mom's table doing our own wine tasting with 12 wines at 1 o'clock in the morning.

4. Eating a delicious lunch with Grenache at La Boca in Santa Fe, NM.

3. Salsa dancing and tasting Cubanisimo Wines in the sunshine on Memorial Day Weekend.

2. Thirst Wine Bar in Portland, OR. Although I had no clue at the time, it was my boyfriend and I's first date.

1. Enjoying a plastic cup of wine in Zion National Park where we paired the Brickhouse N.V. Pinot Noir with hot dogs roasted over a campfire.

2009 was full of great wines and fun times. But, I see 2010 as topping it!

Comings (2010) and Goings (2009)

I will never forget 2009, ever.

2009

So many wonderful things happened to me. I loved hard. I got back to being a real working girl. I hiked, and hiked, and hiked. I got a camera and starting building a relationship with it. I had my hair bleached and vowed never to do it again. I fell madly in love with wine, visited over 30 tasting rooms, and spent more money on my wine collection than on my education. I jetted to Florida. I went on a two week road trip that was unforgettable. I got an awesome business opportunity brewing. I didn't have one kidney stone. I became one of the most frequent visitors to the local library. I experienced life changing music. I started liking parmesan cheese. I made my first pie and everyone loved it. I popped more than a few bottles of champagne. I found friendship in the oddest places, including this blog. I laughed until my stomach hurt more times than I can count. I postponed learning to drive a stick because although I say I want to learn, I really don't. I pushed my limits and it was worth it. So long 2009!

2010

I am looking forward with copious amounts of optimism for 2010. It will be a year of finishing one life and beginning another. I will graduate college in June. Move more than an hour away from my hometown for the first time ever. Once I move I will go into a crazy hectic, wild ride of business, that will be worth every moment. My boyfriend is finally going to entrust me to take care of my very own cat. I am going to remember to feed it and change the litter box. I will, I promise future kitty. Many deep, long conversations that last into the wee hours over bottles of wine will occur in the new year. I will learn so much about myself and of the outside world. It will be a year of gaining confidence. I will climb many strenuous mountains and enjoy breathtaking lookouts. I am going to be more aware of my tone of voice and work on being less critical. 2010 will be a year of adventure, love, and devoting all of my energy into giving my best. Hello 2010!

Wishing you complete happiness in 2010!

Cheers.

Oh yeah, in 2009 I did a photo shoot with my favorite wines. :)

The Southern Oregon Wine Blog

We all know by now I am a huge wino. Check out the new blog focusing on Southern Oregon wine- what i believe to be the next big wine region.

The Southern Oregon Wine Blog

The Staple to my Holiday Diet

Peppermint Patties:

1 packet hot chocolate mix

1 shot peppermint schnapps (brand of choice, Rumplemintz)

Serve graciously.

Or forget the hot chocolate all together and gather the family for a holiday shot of schnapps!

Fashion Foul: Socks and Sandals

I may have to violate one of the greatest fashion rules of all times to show off my new socks to the world... socks with sandals! Gasp... never! Instead, I will show them to you all now.

My boyfriend's mom knitted me yellow socks for Christmas. My favorite things combined- the color yellow and comfy socks.

I am so unbelievably spoiled.

I am hand-washing these beauties to preserve them forever.

Triple Axels at the Ashland Ice Rink

Prior to this weekend I have never been ice skating. When I heard Ashland had an outdoor rink in Lithia Park my eyes lit up!

When I first got to the rink I was so excited to see the handicapped children enjoying ice skating. It was so heart-warming to see them skating around the ice with their walkers and huge smiles on their faces. I was so touched I even took pictures of them. Then Chris informed me that those walkers were ice skating training tools and they were not disabled children. My idealized dream died, especially when this kid started ramming his sister with his walker causing her to fall.

Here we are- Joe, Bonnie, Chris and I! No one fell, technically, although the wall did run into Bonnie. :)

The boys were getting pretty daring with their "jumps." If that is what you can call lifting your skate 3 inches off the ground. Not quite a triple salchow or lutz, but mighty close!

After hitting the ice for an hour we were ready to warm up at a local pub with peppermint patties (hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps=the staple of my holiday diet) .

The Ashland ice rink is open daily through the winter. They even have night skating on the weekends. I had a fantastic time and I want to make it a yearly tradition!

One Frazzled Female

I thought Christmas break would be a time for me to cross the big players off my to-do list, enjoy shopping for gifts, finish reading all the books I started, organize my house, get back to a regular workout schedule and spend time with friends and family.

So far this break has been nothing short of early mornings, later evenings, constant work, errands that take way longer to get done because of the holiday traffic, highflying emotions, a room I can barely walk in to due to laundry piles, a purse I can't even find my wallet in, and a to-do list that doubled in size. My real break will be going back to school in January. At least then I get a 10 minute break between classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The True Way to My Heart...

Is to buy me bubbles! A big thanks to my fabulous boss for being so thoughtful. I love the little family we have created in our office.

The color of this sparkler is so beautiful. I am so excited to crack it open!

My clothing needs shelter

My clothes really want to call this their home (instead of the heaping piles they are in now).

I think I could even recreate this on my own... someday when I have time.

My Inspiration as of Late.

Hopefully it strikes with you as well.

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the roublemakers, the round pegs in a square hole, the ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them, because they change things. They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who'll do it. - Apple, Inc. 9/27/1997

Snuggle Wuggle

I have proudly owned my snuggie for two weeks now. I saw this commercial tonight and the corniness of it was off-the-charts. I had to share! I know when I put on my snuggie I want to 'raise the roof' just like the family in the commercial!

Here is my 92 year-old Grandpa modeling my snuggie on Thanksgiving. Hehehe. He is such a good sport.

Dandelion dreams

All I can say is... today might have been the best day of my life. I feel so empowered and GIDDY! I remember as a young girl walking in a field, picking up a dandelion, closing my eyes, and making a BIG wish. I think all those wishes are coming true.

My First Photography Print!

LOOK! It is my first photograph to be printed (and on such a large scale)!! This photograph of Willamette Valley Vineyards is hanging in the new Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center in McMinnville. It is massive, as in 6 ft. wide! Sorry this photo of the photo isn't great, I blame it on some shaky cam I had going on from all my excitement. Go check it out for yourself... pretty please. :)

One Perfect Autumn Day

A few Sundays ago we went out to Piluso Vineyards, a beautifully quaint setting, and this is what happened. This is also a tribute to my boyfriends favorite jeans that just ripped and are deemed unfixable after hours of me trying. :)

I am a little concerned over the picture quality. I think I need to stop using blogger to upload my photos.

Pumpkins After Halloween?! Oh my.

I have this theory that my mom feels so bad for gifting to me the curse of bad skin that she insists on having me try any type of skin treatment she hears of (I can recall the last one using apple cider vinegar...). The latest one consists of pumpkin pulp and sour cream. You mix up the concoction and apply it to your skin for 20 minutes. The sour cream works to open your pours if I remember right and the pumpkin is the astringent. Apparently it was the rave of some doctors on the news. Crazy combination if you ask me, but after day two it either works or I am fully fooled into the placebo effect. The first two nights I noticed it drew up a whole bunch of grossness to the surface and now it is reducing blotchiness and minimizing my pores.

But, what happens when pumpkins aren't in season anymore?

A picture is worth a thousand frustrations

This is me right now. Thanks to A Beautiful Revolution.

Being Crafty with Corks!

Two girls at work found this lovely cork wreath online. I am going to put my craftiness to work and recreate it soon. Soon as in, as soon as I can drink enough wine to have a hefty supply of corks!

You could also go to the original website and buy one, but that wouldn't be as fun now would it?

http://www.sterlingwineonline.com/catalog/item/wreaths/everyday-cork-wreath.htm

Drum Roll Please...

A few weeks ago I confessed that I had a "huge work project going on." And finally I am allowed to tell you what it is all about! I don't even know how I was able to keep it under wraps for this long. My record in keeping secrets is not-so-great, just ask my brother who knew every gift he was getting for Christmas and his birthday. Anyways, I have so much excitement for this project. It has been a blast to work on and I have full confidence that everyone who visits will be just as impressed.

Drum roll please....

McMinnville’s Downtown Historic District will soon be the home to a brand new business! It’s the brainchild of Jim Bernau, the founder and CEO of Willamette Valley Vineyards, and one of his employees, Meg Murray.

Always a man brimming over with innovative ideas, Bernau put together the state’s only stockholder-owned and financed winery operation in 1988. He then built it into the third largest winery in Oregon with distribution in all 50 states and seven foreign countries.

His latest venture, The Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center, combines elements that could only have been conceived by someone wearing the hats of both entrepreneur and industry booster.

Scheduled to open on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 300 N.E. Third St., the center is designed around “sustainability” — a commitment that runs deep in the Oregon wine industry.

Murray said they decided to locate in McMinnville because it is the perfect place to begin a wine adventure. She will manage a staff of eight, offering tasting, sales, interpretive displays and detailed information about North Willamette Valley wine country touring, lodging and dining.

Visitors will be able to take advantage of a concierge-style service wherein employees suggest possible touring alternatives, assist in planning itineraries, help make reservations and arrange appointments.

The center’s interpretive element sets it apart from other retail outlets. Visitors will be able to view displays explaining the region’s geology, complete with samples of actual soil types.

Enlargements of American Viticultural Area maps will give them a comprehensive perspective of key growing areas, as well as the extent and specific locations of vineyard development within them.

Bernau said they intend to explore the long-term potential of the Willamette Valley’s wine future. Within the super-AVA’s 3.3-milllion-acre boundaries, more than 100,000 still unplanted acres have been identified as well-suited to winegrapes.

That fact, along with all the attributes that brought Oregon’s wine pioneers here in the late 1960s and early 1970s, will be conveyed within the Center’s 2,800 square feet of floor space. Fittingly reflecting the fundamental “green” theme, the flooring itself is made from recycled cork.

On the left, as you walk through the front entrance, a large wall will feature a 9-by-5-foot area upon which will be projected ever-changing, wine country images, including photographs by Carolyn Wells-Kramer and award-winning photographer and author Janis Miglavs.

One particularly impressive feature is a 19-foot-long table designed to seat 20 people for formal tastings.
The massive wooden piece was custom made for the space out of reclaimed poplar.

The central focus, of course, will be on the local industry’s ecologically sensitive practices, including LIVE and Salmon Safe, as well as the values and benefits of organics and biodynamics. Though primarily concentrating on the North Willamette Valley, staff members will also be prepared to provide information on the industry statewide.

At any given time, as many as a dozen tastes of selected wines will be available from Willamette Valley Vineyards’ current portfolio. Tasting options will be divided into three categories- complimentary tasting, reserve tasting and comparative flight tasting.

Isn't it great? From 19' reclaimed wood table to 126" screen projecting incredible Oregon wine photography, it will surely display the Oregon wine industry impeccably. I am putting together the photography show next week and the pictures are so much more than your regular vineyard landscapes. Carolyn Wells-Kramer of CWK Photography put together a collection of emotionally stimulating images that feature winemakers, vineyard workers, and Harvest activities. It will amaze you! Oh, and make sure to check out the window display I created today (then tell me how much you love it-haha).

Okay, no more details! You will just have to check it out yourself! The Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center will be open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm with the GRAND OPENING taking place on November 21st & 22nd. Come enjoy complimentary tastings. I hope to see you there!

http://www.newsregister.com/blogentry/41998-wine+center+opening+downtown+mcminnville

Is it Odd...

That I:

* Didn't sneeze for over two years? Then asked the Doctor if I can a health condition?

* Can shop for hours, try everything on in each store, yet come home with nothing?

* Can remember every phone number or date ever told to me?

* I twitch my feet until I fall asleep at night?

* Hate video games, but can't come up with strong arguments over why?

* Wake up early to take a bath then crawl back into bed to read my daily news and blogs?

* Hate washing my hair?

* Bought a Diabetes testing supply kit when I heard I had some of the symptoms?

* Can't read more than 6 pages out of my textbooks in one sitting?

* Am addicted to looking at wedding blogs even though I am not ansy to have one?

* Would rather spend the night writing business plans than go out?

* Love working out, but absolutely despise running outside?

* Get deathly hungry right after I eat breakfast?

* My closest is organized by color and style, but my dresser is just a hot mess?

* Still hum the Rihanna song Disturbia at least once a week?

* Will not eat unmelted cheese? Ever. Ever. Ever.

Still think I am normal?

What makes you normal?

Thank you Kelly of Just A Girl in the City for this fabulous idea!

Halloween Candy and Wine Pairing!

I hardly ever cross-pollinate between my personal and work blog, but I think the blog I posted on Halloween candy and wine pairing is worthy of a repost. It was such a fun project to think back on all the Halloween candy I loved getting as a trick-or-treater and match it up with all the yummy wine I enjoy now that I am too old to get free candy! It would be a fun Halloween party activity too!

Here is the link to my list of pairings:

http://willamettevalleyvineyards.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-candy-and-wine-pairing.html

On one of my searches for pictures of Halloween candy I came across this picture and it reminded me of my brother and I. My brother and I have always had entrepreneurship on our brains. We would go trick-or-treating for hours then race home to sort, count, and trade our candy amongst ourselves. We weren't worried about consuming it like other kids, we were more into the competition and economics around it. My mom would have to hide one our bags of candy from each other so the other one wouldn't raid the others resources. We would somehow make our stashes last until Easter where we would get showered in candy again- starting the cycle all over. We were aware of the laws of supply and demand at a very young age. Isn't it funny to think back and laugh about how powerful candy was as a kid?

Where Do Kids Come Up With This Stuff?

Quote from the 6-year old I am spending my night with after opening him a can of 7UP: MMMmmm.... tastes like Bud Light!

Uhh ohh... who would he have got that from?! :)

I want to kiss in a giant bird nest!

While perusing my daily blogs, I stumbled upon this lovely picture on Snippet & Ink. This art installation stands at Nine Mountain Retreat in Massachusetts. Oh how I wish I had it in my backyard. It would serve as the perfect afternoon getaway. This couple was so lucky to have it as a backdrop on their special day- whimsical bliss!

The Sky Was the Limit

I am a wild dreamer. Everything I think about is at least 6 months out. At times this can be very disappointing because that means there is an awful lot of lag time for dreams to be squashed, altered, or easily letdown. However, I have a BIG dream that is consuming all my thoughts lately, as in I can't sleep at all because I am constantly brainstorming, and I really truly in my heart of hearts think it will work out.

It will require copious amounts of work, along with overcoming a steep learning curve and relocating to a place very far from my city-ish ways, but if someone can do it, I can do it. Besides, I will have a great partner by my side enjoying the realization of a dream come true.

For five years now, I have battled with the unavoidable question of what I will become once I leave the formal educational world, I think I got it. Not "got it" as in figured out, because I will never say I have my passions "figured out," but "got it" as in something I believe in enough to dedicate years to pursuing. It is a settling of one anxiety and a open floodgate to many more.

I am currently in the process of writing up a very detailed business plan. I am also going to submit my business plan to the Oregon State University Enterprise Challenge, which is an annual competition. I will be presenting my plan to a board of faculty and investors. The top three plans are granted money to help start the venture. Free money would be really nice.

I think these lyrics of the classic Tom Petty song "Into the Great Wide Open," describe me perfectly :) I love how there is a lyric for EVERY occasion.

Into the great wide open,
Under them skies of blue
Out in the great wide open,
A rebel without a clue

Oh yeah, and that is me, a photo taken by my "man of many talents" boyfriend.

The Wine Tasting Saga

Six wineries + the three of us = a whole day of crazy fun!

Our winery stops consisted of Sokol Blosser, White Rose, Stoller, Argyle, Torii Mor, and Lange. We came home with so many great bottles of delicious wine. Poor Jon can't travel with wine bottles, so we are going to have to "store" it for him. Haha, doubt that will last. Out of all the places we visited my favorite wine of the day goes to White Rose, the 2006 Soverae Pinot Noir made my heart skip a beat.

Here we are at Argyle. I love me some bubbles! I will mention that although Argyle is really known for their Sparkling wines, there normal wines are good too. I especially enjoyed the Cowhouse Pinot Noir.

Photo Op in front of the bins.

Straddling barrels proved to be harder work than I thought. Especially when they toppled over right after this picture was taken.

Then there was our brilliant idea to climb on this old piece of farm equipment. Although the picture makes it look like I fell, I did not fall, I was dropped face first into a pile of gravel. I have a beautiful little raspberry on my temple to show for it.

This is me picking myself back up with all the dramatic emotion I could muster. The wine definitely helped my acting skills.



But, we finally did make it up there!


I don't know who got the insane idea we needed more booze in our systems, but I do know who got the idea for Mexican food and you just can't eat Mexican without a yummy margarita... or two!

I am so sad Jon can't join our adventures more often. But, the ones we do get to have are UNFORGETTABLE!

Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia- Is this for real?

I just saw this commercial on TV for the CHIA Proud to Be an American (as in the same slogan from Drop Dead Gorgeous!!) edition. The commemorative four piece collection is perfect as a gift. Don't you think? haha.

My Best Friend is Back in Town!

Okay, so I hate to say "best friend," because I have two and even three if I get to count my boyfriend. But, I was so excited to reunite with Jon today for lunch. Jon is visiting from L.A. for two weeks (eeeeeek) before he leaves to perform on a cruise ship for 9 months. I can't believe the commitment of living on a boat for 9 months! I can't even sign a one-year lease on an apartment! However, a life in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas wouldn't be too bad and the pay is amazing.

So, today we went and grabbed lunch at Lifesource then drinks at a nearby bar. Seriously, drinking at 2:30 p.m. in the middle of the week in Salem, Oregon is hilarious. All the people in the bar were listen intently to our obscure conversations. It doesn't help that I talk insanely loud and Jon talks even louder and gayer. Overall, we could be the same souls stuck in different bodies.

Browsing through my iPhoto I have found so many funny memories of Jon and I. Our friendship really started back in middle school when we were in Student Council together and we developed fake Southern accents when we had to call vendors to use for the dances.

Here is a picture of us way back in high school when Jon and I caused great havoc on the tiny town we are from. This is us when we got caught:

Last time Jon was in town was last spring when we went out with his family for a night of karaoke. I think Jon put Salem in awe when he busted out renditions of Backstreet Boy songs and "I Will Always Love You," by Whitney Houston. Here is me being a groupie.

On Monday, my boyfriend, Jon and I are going on a whole day of wine tasting. It will be unforgettable.

I Fell In Love at the Apple Store

You might not think of the Apple Store as a romantic place, but listen to this song and it will totally change your outlook! I was already convinced long before the video was made because I met my boyfriend at the Apple Store when we were both working there. Nothing like flirting over a little CPU knowledge :) I think this song will have you hooked from the start with the mac boot-up sound (listen for it- pretty clever). I applaud the dude, apparently he actually filmed this in the 5th Avenue Apple Store! I for sure thought he green screened it!

My new Fall Fetish

Hot and steamy tomato soup! I gobbled up two bowls today. Mmm.... The perfect Fall meal.

Since I am not the best cook around, I prefer the Pacific Natural Foods Creamy Tomato.

Color-coding life

Do you use a planner? I have always admired people that were that organized, but I have also always loved my ability to remember dates and times correctly. But, after today's work meeting and my very extensive to-do list (new mega-huge work project in the works that is top secret but will share soon, I promise), my school schedule, and personal errands my brain hit overload in the memory department. And viola! iCal to the rescue! Creating my color-coded schedule really tickled my fancy, but it also caused a mini-anxiety attack while looking at the big picture. But, it will be so worth it to get it all accomplished!

The Halfway Point

First day of classes:

8 a.m. - Arrive on time to my first class. I haven't taken a class this early for a long time, let alone actually attend, so I was very proud of myself! Halfway through class my brain with spinning from a caffeine high. I just recently took on a pretty heavy coffee addiction. Even now that it is 2:33 p.m. my head is still in a haze from the Sumatra blend.

10 a.m. - Paid the house bills for the month BEFORE I got the reminder email. Even more proud of myself for remembering.

12 p.m. - Walk to Venture Management class. Even more proud of myself for remembering an umbrella because it started POURING rain so hard I could hardly see in front of me.

2 p.m. - Buy 2 additional books for classes at the bookstore. No pride here.

2:15 p.m.- Forgot my headphones at home, so now I am sitting in the library writing this and reading the first chapter of The Endangered Species Act at Thirty, when I want to be watching last nights episode of Gossip Girl. Really not proud of myself.

Right Now - Closing my laptop to go to Power Step Aerobics class. Proud of myself for working out when all I really want is a nap. Go me.

Just My Type of Movie

I don't mind cleaning up other people's messes, but I think I would have to draw the line at cleaning up a dead guys brains. However, watching Rose and Norah (Emily Blunt and Amy Adams) do it in Sunshine Cleaning was definitely worth my while.

The people who created Little Miss Sunshine came back with another signature quirky movie about two sisters who start a cleaning business cleaning up messes other people won't touch. They even went as far as to bring back the obnoxious Grandpa, Alan Arkin, to play another unconventional Grandpa.

I love movies of transformation. This movie has two great ones as the sisters forge through life seeking a semblance of meaning in their lives.

Happy Belated Birthday!

I feel so terrible that I missed a birthday, but to my credit I didn't know her birthday was on September 21st. So, I want to wish Christine (my name twin) a Happy Belated Birthday! I am sure she will be surprised to see this! And I know she will laugh at this cheesy kitty cat video.

New Hair

I have the best hairstylist. I love that I can trust his vision when I have none of my own. I went in with no idea other than I want to chop my hair off and came out with a fun cut and color.

I wanted to show you right away the new hair, so I don't even mind that it is a crappy Photo Booth picture!