A Pre-Harvest Dinner at the New Alexana

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One of the joys of the newsletter every week is the fact I have a record of what I was rambling about in previous years. This morning while I was walking Globgor, it was almost to the point of being too cold for shorts and short sleeve shirt. I refused to give in to the chilly weather this early, but I wondered what I was rambling about this time last year. I know you’re not wondering, but here it is anyway.

I remember that summer was slipping away, and I refused to let it go, but I couldn’t remember when I started to whine. For some reason, I don’t feel like complaining this year. It has been a killer of a summer busting out of the seams with friends, wine, food, and adventures. To everyone I spent time with over the summer, I can’t thank you enough. It has been a blast in the pants.

I am looking forward to the Fall this year for whatever crazy reason. Maybe it has been the crazy heat, or perhaps it is simply contentment.

Speaking of contentment, two weeks ago, I left the Wine Media Conference in Eugene early to attend a Pre-Harvest Dinner at Alexana. To leave the conference early was a tough decision. The Wine Media Conference was on the books way before the dinner, but when it has been forever since I have been to a winery dinner. On top of that, I haven’t been to an event like this at Alexana yet. Another contributing factor was the experience of an Alexana dinner with their newly remodeled tasting room and covered deck. On the one hand, there was an Oregon Sparkling panel occurring Saturday afternoon for the conference or drive back home in time enough for dinner. Geez, why can’t I have a clone already to experience both! At this point, it isn’t a surprise Alexana won!

Before I dive in too much this week, know a couple of things. First, I suck! I have zero pictures of the remodeled tasting room and the deck. Secondly, you will be happy to know this week’s newsletter will be decently short. I am seriously running up against my deadline for the Sparkling report. I would tell you the date I set for myself in September, but I am not committing to a set date. I might need the extra time to finish up. If you want to know the date, hit the reply button, and we can become accountability partners!

Back on track and the Dinner at Alexana.

If you have been to Alexana since the remodel, feel free to skip ahead a bit. If you haven’t been since the remodel, oh my goodness, you have to stop reading right this minute and make a reservation stat!

The tasting room inside is at least three times the size it was with the addition of moving glass walls. I am sure you could throw a little party in one of those rooms, but I am all about the deck! It is huge! Before, there was room for a handful of couples. Now there is easily room for 25-ish parties!

The deck, maybe there is a better term to use, but I can’t think of anything at the moment, is perfect for summer and winter. It is covered, so those of us who love the sun but can’t handle being out in the sun are perfectly shaded. There are ceiling fans to circulate the air while tasting wine and enjoying the company of friends and family! During the rainy season, there is no reason why you couldn’t curl up with your favorite fuzzy blankie looking over the vineyards with a glass of wine in your hand. I have a feeling this is going to be a popular place over the winter.

Again, I have zero pictures of the renovations. I shouldn’t even be talking about them without at least a picture or twenty. I have some photos to share, though, of the dinner to make up for my slacker-type mentality.

As you can see, we are looking at a full six-course meal, and thank goodness because I left Eugene at lunchtime without eating lunch. I ate a massive breakfast around 8:00, and I needed some food! Not to mention I was looking forward to Pinot since my Pinot Blood Level was getting seriously low from visiting Southern Oregon.

Walking into the tasting room, I saw Jazminia and hugged her. I absolutely adore the Oregon Wine family. We all look out for one another and do what we can to help.

Getting situated at the table, I tried the Grenache Rose from Corazon del Sol, the property in Argentina, to start things off. I enjoyed it and a slight tangent about Grenache. I might be a Grenache fan. There were some tasty selections in Southern Oregon! Sitting there overlooking the vineyard, taking a deep breath, feeling the breeze, it was nice to sit back and relax from the hustle of the previous week.

My attempt to take a decent picture of the Rose and the vineyard sucked. It gives a little perspective, though, on the view.

I have no idea what Tuna Tiradito, orange Leche de Tigre is, but this was a great start to the evening paired with Rose.

I have consumed octopus twice in my life. The first was during a dinner in the vineyard at Brooks, where I was highly skeptical I would enjoy. Tonight's dinner is the second. Both times I appreciated it, and of course, it tasted like "chicken." I will say a sucker or two from the chilled Octopus Potato Salad might have separated, and it was a unique sensation. The Pinot Gris is the same one that got great exposure during Decanter’s World Wine Awards. I am not the biggest fan of Pinot Gris, but I didn’t dislike it one bit.

Do you remember the commercials for Cocoa Puffs, where the bird goes cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs? Well, this is me with Burrata! For me, this course was like eating peach ice cream. It has been two weeks since I ate it, and my mouth is still watering! The 2013 Signature Chardonnay went down way too easy with this course.

Diving into the Brisket, Fontina Empanada was glorious! There is no way you can mess up brisket wrapped up in an Empanada. I feel the 2012 Black Label Pinot was the winner for this course. I am sure it had nothing to do with my desire to taste a fantastic Pinot after a week of Rhone Style wines....... I devoured the brisket and savored the Pinot for as long as possible.

When the Peruvian Chicken Anticucho came out, I felt full, but I couldn’t let it go to waste, especially with the pineapple salsa! I ate half a skewer and couldn’t eat anymore. It was so good, and the 2018 Grenache again from the sister winery Corazon del Sol in Argentina was delightful! It would have been super easy only to have Oregon wines all night, but Alexana took us on a trip to Argentina.

Speaking of other wineries, Alexana has another sister winery in California, named Revana. I was delighted when there was a surprise pour of a California Cab. I don’t remember any of the details, and I didn’t take my journal to write everything down. I do remember enjoying the extra pour and soaking up the evening.

What would dinner be without dessert? Finishing up the night was an Olive Oil cake with sour whip cream, lemon curd, berries, and dulce de leche. On my, I am so glad they had a two-wheeler valet service to my car. I couldn’t let this scrumptious delight drift into the evening all by its lonesome. Paired with the 2013 Late Harvest Riesling, I was a happy camper and would have been pleased with a sleeping bag and pillow to camp out on the deck all night. Unfortunately, I didn’t even ask if this was a possibility. I think there is an unspoken rule not to ask such crazy questions.

As the night was closing out, I revisited the 2012 Black Label Pinot. It was so good! I needed to take a couple of bottles home and asked how many points/credits I have in the system. I got a funny look, and I explained a little. The person helping us went off to ask, and while she is away, let me explain to you. Alexana now has a new type of membership where you pay a set amount every month. The money you pay in goes into an “Alexana Bank” where you can buy anything you want whenever you want. When Spring, Summer, or Fall shipments come around, you are still notified and can choose to purchase, or you can choose to wait. You can select from Oregon, California, or Argentina wines. The choice is yours! When I first heard about the program, I immediately signed up. It’s a great program and deal, giving you the ability to explore the vast selection available.

With a couple of bottles of Black Label in my hand and the hand truck taking me to my car, I looked back on the vineyard, the sunset, and reflected on what a fantastic evening it was. I was also laughing a little inside. I was fortunate to get the two-wheeler hand truck service compared to rolling you out to your car like a wine barrel service. Asking early always helps!!

You know what I am going to say next, but just in case you don’t. When you make your reservation or when you visit Alexana, let them know “A.J. sent me!”

Before you leave this week, I have to plug myself. Thank you to everyone who bought a shirt last week! I have another discount code along with a link this time. Be sure to use ALEXANA and get $2.00 off with free shipping!

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With Gratitude,

A.J.

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PS - I shouldn’t have to say this, but just in case. The two-wheeler-hand truck valet service is sarcasm.

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PPS -

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