Oregon Wine and ART Project: Cubanisimo wine

Showing posts with label Cubanisimo wine. Show all posts

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Cubanisimo's Holiday Party

You are invited to share holiday cheer with friends old and new at Cubanisimo's wine club holiday party as they enjoy wine, hors’d'oeuvres and Christmas carolers at the Cubanisimo Estate House. Friday, December 10th, 6pm-10pm
Reservations are $30 per person | $25 wine club member price
Reservation includes wine, hors’d'oeuvres, and a special performance by Willamette Master Chorus. Dress will be semi-formal.
RSVP by email Vino@CubanisimoVineyards.com or call 503.588.1763. Reservations are required by all guests. Reservations can be purchased online on our order page.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Eola Hills on a Beautiful Day

My first stop on Wednesday was at Cubanisimo Vineyards where I met Christina Collada, the daughter of the owner. She was working in the office when I came to the tasting room and hurried down the stairs no doubt hoping for a real customer. Instead she got me, begging for "one bottle". She was very gracious and gave me not one but two! The first is an '07 Rosado de Pinot Noir, an exciting blend of taste: citrus and vanilla, with peach and red berry. Nice finish with a hint of flowers. The second is the '07 Pinot Noir. The tastes just kept unfolding as I sipped. Current, cassis, chocolate and tobacco, with sharp, bright notes of black cherry.
I love the '07s because of the complexity and the changes that happen as you drink them. The '06 Pinot Noirs were very good but most lacked the follow through that gives such pleasure after the first taste.

Next stop: Orchard Heights Winery, where Linda and Carol greeted me with a bottle of the '06 Pinot Gris. They are always very grasious and friendly, and they sell VERY good chocolates, and nuts. A very dangerous place. Here is Linda holding their donation.

I drove past Cherry Hill, and a few more of the wineries that I plan on visiting later and headed for Bethel Height Vineyard.Founded in 1977 and actively producing salmon safe wines since then, they are a true part of Oregon Wine making history. Maggie let me taste several of the wines including the '07 Estate Grown Pinot Noir, a lively, complex wine with earth and cane fruit. Should last a long time and drink well at about 6-8 years. Again, the '07's are just such great wines and keep unfolding as you taste.
I had to be in McMinnville to help with a pump over at Ghost Hill so I will come back in a few weeks and try to get the ones I missed.

About the "One Bottle" Project

A number of years ago I was tasked with finding a way to raise money to help with operation costs fora local chamber orchestra. I have many friends in the wine business and know that they are continually ask for cases, half cases, bottles, tastings, etc, and that it gets old fast. They are all very giving and caring people but they can't give away all their wine to help other people.
With that in mind, I decided that if I were going to ask anyone for wine, I would do it in person and just ask for one bottle. I drove my Subaru Legacy Wagon all over the state, putting on 180,000 miles.
The first year I gathered over 150 and last year I ended up with 259 bottles of Oregon wines for our auction. This year I gathered less because I knew that too much wine would be a problem for a "mixed" auction. This year I plan to create an auction for just the wine, separate from any other event.I was given wines from every wine region we have. I drove from Cave Junction (Foris) to Milton Freewater (Zerba) and to Bend (Volcano) Bonanza (12 Ranch) and the coast(Flying Dutchman). I traveled all over the Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon on my quest, met hundreds of wonderful wine people, made new friends, and tasted the bounty of Oregon.
I look forward to this years journey in my brand new Subaru Legacy and the support of all who helped last year and the year before, and of my wonderful wife, who puts up with this crazy idea!