Another new home: ChristineCollier.com

Dear readers,

You're probably not shocked at this point that I have a new project! But, I am excited to bring it on... and I do enjoy a full plate!  

I have a new site http://christinecollier.com focusing on my life of wine. Right now since all my free time is consumed in studying for my upcoming Sommelier exam, most of the posts will be sharing my newly gained wine knowledge with you.

The new site is definitely in its infancy, so bare with me on design and learning wordpress.org.

Thanks for following me around the interwebs!

Christine

Love Pinot Noir? Win a Trip to Oregon Wine Country!

My work is hosting this contest and I wanted to make sure everyone knew about it!

Back by popular demand, Willamette Valley Vineyards is giving you the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Oregon! We’re asking Pinot Noir lovers from around the country to tell us, in about 100 words, what they love about Oregon Pinot Noir. Our staff at the winery, from all departments, will choose their favorite entry and the winner will enjoy 4 days and 3 nights in the heart of Oregon wine country. Your trip will include great meals, great adventures, and of course, great wine.

To participate, just send your entry to contest@wvv.com or visit http://www.wvv.com/contest.

The winner will be announced July 6, 2010. I hope to see you in Oregon!

The New Wine Nook

Our Saturday project was to "de-ghettofy" our wine collection. Our original idea was to buy a standard metal rack, but they all seemed so sterile (our bottles deserved more). We came across these simple pine wine racks at Cost Plus World Market and figured a little "do-it-yourself" wouldn't hurt us. 

We chose a Mediterranean Olive colored stain. 

BEFORE (sickening, huh?)

AFTER (Ahh... Much Better!) 

We might need a third rack soon...

Wine "School" Here I Come!

Pencils and paper are packed! Wish me luck as I am traveling up to Seattle this weekend for my first Court of Master Sommelier exam. I will be spending two full days (8 a.m.- 5 p.m.) learning about wine and wine service and then take a 70-question exam on Monday.


About the Court of Master Sommeliers: Established in 1977 to promote excellence in hotel and restaurant beverage service. Though its members worldwide come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, they share a proven mastery of the art, science, and history that informs a sommelier's work.

I am very eager to formalize my wine knowledge!

Pampered Wine Vacation + Me

I got home this evening welcomed by a nice sized package on the kitchen counter addressed to me! When does that ever happen? I gracefully opened it to find the goodies for my upcoming wine country getaway! If you recall I was awarded this $2,000 trip by winning the Oregon Wine Board's Photography Contest back in September. I got to choose how to spend my winnings and this is what the weekend will look like:

2 Nights at The Allison Inn & Spa

1 Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Dinner at The Joel Palmer House

Dinner at The Painted Lady

Additional money for wine

My boyfriend and I are going on March 19th during our Spring Breaks! I am the luckiest girl in all the land :)

Another new adventure for me!

I am the newest Portland Wine Examiner! I will be writing about a variety of wine topics, including events, reviews, and recommendations of Oregon wine. Of course, a lot of my articles will be focusing on spreading the love of Southern Oregon wine, as it is my personal mission. :) I have five articles currently posted along with my bio. If you become a subscriber, you will be notified when I post new articles and you will be contributing to my bank account (or wine buying account)!

Thanks for all your support!

I can't believe I am posting this picture, but if you can't laugh at yourself...

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 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 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.

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

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!

Finishing Off Our Trip in Wine Country!

The last time I was in Califonia's wine country I was 12. I complained about touring wineries and tasting grape juice. Now, it is a completely different story. Chris and I raced from Albuquerque to Sonoma to spend the end of our vacation exploring wine country. The first day was walked around the plaza in Sonoma and then went out to a few wineries off Highway 12. Our stops included Imagery Estate, Kunde, Chateau St. Jean, St. Francis and Paradise Ridge. I was not a fan of any of the Imagery Estate wines, in fact I tasted tire rubber in all the reds. But, the art they showcase on the labels is so creative that I wanted to buy the bottles just for decor.

On the first day I was so much more of a fan of the atmosphere and design of the wineries than the wines (I am just a biased Oregon varietal girl)! Kunde had a beautiful patio and water feature in front of the tasting room (think garden party).

But, my favorite winery look was Chateau St. Jean. I am the biggest fan of Mediterriean inspired design, but they winery went over the top with its French villa infusion. This would be the most perfect wedding location ever.

We went back to the Sonoma plaza for dinner. The next day we hit the wine scene early by visiting Artesa and Chateau Carnernos. Both are beautiful, showy wineries that feature many sparkling wine varietals (I love bubbles)!

Chateau Carneros:

Then we made our way to Ledson. Ledson was over the top for me. A little gaudy, don't you think?

Once we made our way out of Sonoma and into the Russian River Valley and Healdsburg, I was much more in my element. I enjoyed the more laid back feel after visiting all these more pretentious places. We checked out Foppiano, Merriam and Sapphire Hill. We ate lunch outside at the Healdsburg Grill, which I would 100% recommend. Healdsburg has great shops and tasting rooms to check out in the downtown area.

We left that evening and made our way up the 101 in the fog. We were so closed in, I never even saw the ocean. We got back to Grants Pass that night and our road trip was officially over. It was such an eventful and unforgettable trip. Chris is the best travel companion I could ever ask for. I loved spending all my moments with him! What a great close to summer!

Launched! Winopreneurs.blogspot.com

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs. They seem to be a main theme of my life right now. My boyfriend and I launched our blog last week called Winopreneurs. It is a blog about the two of us starting out in the wine business and our journey to our first vintage in our *someday* winery. We are beyond excited about the reviews and encouragement filtering in about Winoprenuers. Check it out at:

www.winopreneurs.blogspot.com

also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/winopreneurs

Memorial Day Weekend Wine Tasting

First stop- Zenith Vineyards where Chris was pouring.  St. Innocent wine was also available to taste.  

I saw this wall art and figured I could make one too.  But, I want to dye my corks and make it more colorful.  Guess I better start opening the bottles- darn!

Next stop, Cubanismo.  I have always been curious of this winery.  My parent's visit it frequently and rave.  I loved how fun the "party" was.  People were salsa dancing all over the place.  
Oh, and I would gladly live in the owner's house.  Just my style.
I thought it was funny he was drinking a Hef at a winery, but then he sported his purchase of the Pinot Rosada.
My dad and I out on the patio.
Then, my mom and I.
I even tried out the salsa lessons!  So fun, until they said I needed to fine a partner and I was dateless.
Wonderful band playing.
My favorite wine tasting guests.  These dogs made me smile.

What a wonderful weekend.  Once Chris was off work for the day we took our cameras out.  The results of my meager efforts are the ones below.

What Happens After a Glass (or 4) of Wine...

We also made a video that I'm considering putting up.  It would take thick skin though, but I'm willing!