Dispatch · Saturday, December 3, 2022
Lenné Sells, and a New Events Newsletter
Steve Lutz sells Lenné to Jory, LLC, and a sneak peek of the new twice-monthly Weinnotes events newsletter, with December's lineup.
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I can't get my head around the fact that it is December, and two more emails are left for me to write this year. It's been one heck of a year filled with so many smiles, great times, and of course, exceptional wines! I am trying to give myself some end-of-year advice, and I hope you will do the same. I know a lot is going on with work and life. Spend as much time as possible with friends and family smiling, hugging, and having a fabulous time! Soak up the memories and cherish every single second.
Do you know who makes Trader Joe's Two Buck Chuck?
Margaret Buckhorn passed away at the age of 83.
The Hospice de Beaune Charity Auction set a $32 million record!
KOIN has a nice piece on Rich Schmidt from the Oregon Wine Archive. There is also an open house on Wednesday, Dec 7th, at 3:00 (Wine and Snacks available)
Before we get to the meat and potatoes this week, I have dive a little into the rabbit hole of "Steve Lutz Of Lenne' Sells Willamette Valley Vineyard Estate." After 22 years, Steve is selling his estate to Jory, LLC. Jory is a venture with Eugene Labunsky and Jared Etzel. Eugene is the president of West Coast Homes Solutions, LLC, and is a brother-in-law to Jared. I am going to assume you know Jared. If you don't, email me, and I will fill you in.
It sounds like Jory will start renovating the tasting room and property in late December or Early January, but there are other ventures between Eugene and Jared. In 2020, they started the process of building a winery and tasting room off Worden Hill Road. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the other venture's name, and some neighbors weren't happy about the new winery.
The Worden Hill venture will produce under 5,000 cases of wine annually and is geared toward the higher-end consumer. So how does the Lenne property fit into the picture of the two wineries?
Steve, will still be around. He is holding an event on December 17th at Distaff Wine in Newberg (https://www.distaffwine.com/). Distaff was created by David O'Reilly's wife, Angelica, and their daughters. David was the owner of Owen Roe and a mentor to Steve. If you want to read more about Lenne, I did a little piece back in 2020.
I have hinted about the possibility of starting an Events Only newsletter. Well, today, there are no more hints. I am giving you a behind-the-scenes preview of the events newsletter.
January 1, 2023, will be the official launch. Emails will be sent out on the 1st and 15th of every month, and I wouldn't expect too much rambling. It will be all about the events giving you an upper hand on where to go in Wine Country.
If you have been reading the newsletter from the start, you might remember I had a longer list of events, but something happened in the world. Then, events were next to nothing, now we are full steam ahead, and I noticed it would be way too easy to fill an entire email with just events.
I know you want to sign up, so be sure to click this link, and you are good to go! I know you won't do this, but consider hitting that reply button on this email and let me know your thoughts about the sneak peek. Do you like it? Do you wanna like it, but it needs more rambling? Do you not dislike it negatively? Or do you not like it? Don't be bashful. Let me know.
December 2022 Events
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Cho Wines Dave and Lois Cho are the winemaker & founders of CHO Wines. Their winemaking journey began while playing music at wineries. CHO Wines has taken the wine industry by storm, having received 90+ scores by Wine Enthusiast and James Suckling in their first release. They were nominated in USA Today’s Reader’s Choice 10Best New Winery category in 2022. Dave Cho is also Oregon’s first Korean-American winemaker. They are developing 77 acres in the Willamette Valley into a sustainable vineyard, oak savanna, and projected winery and tasting room build for 2023. Event Website |
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Iterum We’re celebrating new beginnings with a Winemaker's Dinner showcasing our inaugural vintage. Joe and Patricia Dobbes have worked to curate a paired menu with the chefs of Tournant to feature each wine in the current vintage portfolio. Join us at the table for Joe’s winemaking tales, past and present, as he takes us through the journey to Iterum Wines for the first time. Event Website |
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Bryn Mawr Love cheese? Love charcuterie? Love Bryn Mawr wine? Event Website |
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Youngberg Hill Please join us for the 9th annual Grapevine Wreath Making Party on Saturday, December 3, Sunday, December 4, or Saturday, December 10, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. We’ll give you a short instruction on how to bend the vines into a wreath, and then provide you with grapevines to make the wreath your own. Please bring your own decorations; we will supply the grapevine canes. Wine tastings and wine will be available for purchase in the tasting room following the event. Reservations are required. This is a popular event and sells out quickly, so book your tickets early. Event Website |
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Abbey Road Farm Join us for an evening on the farm with spectacular holiday lights. Check in to our tasting room and grab a glass of wine then head out for the farm loop tour with holiday lights galore. Walk through our Goat Barn, Vineyard Overlook, Poultry Pasture, Tool Shed, Silo Garden and Pig Pasture that will all be decked out with holiday lights. Event Website |
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Abbey Road Farm Join us for an evening on the farm with spectacular holiday lights. Check in to our tasting room and grab a glass of wine then head out for the farm loop tour with holiday lights galore. Walk through our Goat Barn, Vineyard Overlook, Poultry Pasture, Tool Shed, Silo Garden and Pig Pasture that will all be decked out with holiday lights. Event Website |
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Bryn Mawr Love cheese? Love charcuterie? Love Bryn Mawr wine? Event Website |
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Dundee Hills Association Dobbes Family Estate / Erath Winery / Knudsen Vineyards / Native Flora / Nysa Vineyards / Sokol Blosser Winery / The Four Graces Winery Event Website |
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Chris James Cellars Connect with nature and learn from a native Oregonian floral designer while you sip wine! Stacy from Skinnie Rose Designs will guide you through creating a festive holiday arrangement to take home while teaching you techniques to create your own centerpieces this Holiday season. The arrangement will feature an autumnal color palette mixed with hints of bright colors, and will be a combination of the old classics with a modern flair of fun flowers that you may not have heard of before. All guests will leave the workshop with a beautiful centerpiece filled with holidays greens and local flowers that will be sure to impress your friends and family! Event Website |
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Rue Cler Wine Join Rue Cler + Fancy That for another fun and interactive workshop! Come sip on a flight by Rue Cler Wine while crafting your very own candle from Fancy That! Lisa Komer will provide everything you need to create a festive mason jar candle. Customized with the scent of your choice! While you pour your candle, prepare to sip on a hand selected flight from Rue Cler Wine paired with light snacks. Additional wines by the glass will be available for purchase as well as bottles to share or take home. Fancy That will have curated gifts to peruse as well so you can get a jump on that holiday shopping. We can hardly wait! Space is limited so get your tickets now. Event Website |
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Natalie's Estate Looking for something fun to do with your friends and family? Try any of our unique menus for your next night out. Event Website |
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Dobbs Family Estate With two decades in the books, we’re raising a toast to our 20th Anniversary! Join us for a celebratory night in downtown Portland at the EcoTrust Building for exclusive new and library wines, bubbles, hors d’oeuvres, a local live jazz band, hot cocoa bar, and special wine offers! We’re also releasing the *NEW* inaugural Dichotomie Pinot Noir & Syrah Blend, where you’ll be able to purchase futures of this limited-edition. To the next 20 years! Early Bird Pricing:$95 per person Event Website |
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Ten Oaks Gallery We are hosting TWO guest winemakers - Arabilis Wine and SchöneTal Cellars! Several of our artists will be available to talk to, and we are offering specials on several pieces of art. It's the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon during the holiday season. Shop for art AND wine to give as unique gifts! Event Website |
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Youngberg Hill Please join us for the 9th annual Grapevine Wreath Making Party on Saturday, December 3, Sunday, December 4, or Saturday, December 10, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. We’ll give you a short instruction on how to bend the vines into a wreath, and then provide you with grapevines to make the wreath your own. Please bring your own decorations; we will supply the grapevine canes. Wine tastings and wine will be available for purchase in the tasting room following the event. Reservations are required. This is a popular event and sells out quickly, so book your tickets early. Event Website |
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Ponzi Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list at the Ponzi Vineyards Holiday Market. Come celebrate the season with us and get access to carefully curated goods from local businesses and producers. Don't forget to reserve a table in the tasting room after your visit! All guests must be over 21 years of age Event Website |
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Dobbs Family Estate Come and celebrate the holiday spirit in our festive Hideaway. Enjoy a wine flight plus a special pour selected by winemaker Derek Einberger and pulled from the barrel just for this day. Shop our holiday bundles, and if you purchase the Dobbes Family Estate AVA trio, 5% of the proceeds go to support the Yamhill Community Action Partnership. Event Website |
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Sokol Blosser Sokol Blosser is happy to announce a Chef's Winter Dining Series, an exciting monthly event that brings together wine, food, and place. Each themed event will showcase Sokol Blosser Wines paired with the bounty that the pacific northwest has to offer. Enjoy creations from Chef Travis Bird and his team as they draw inspiration from the vineyard utilizing local fisherman, farmers, ranchers and our own Sokol Blosser Estate garden. Join us on the second Saturday of each month, from November to March, as we explore the wines and flavors that are truly Sokol Blosser and the Pacific Northwest with a 5-course paired dinner from 5:30 to 8:30pm. *We kindly ask for no substitutions. The bites you will sample are carefully crafted to bring out the best in our wines. Because we aren’t a restaurant, we don’t have the ingredients on hand to make substitutions. (*dietary requests may be made for full party buy-outs) Event Website |
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Carlton Winemakers Studio Meet the Studio’s Winemakers at 2022’s Holiday Open House! Sip and savor as you taste with each winemaker stationed throughout the winery. Design and create wine cork ornaments, sample holiday cookies, and check out the incredible chocolates from Sweet Masterpiece of Oregon City. $30 per person, complimentary for club members and their guests (up to 4 waived flights). Event Website |
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Chosen Family Wines The party will be going from noon to 5 p.m. with Chosen Family wines flowing, delicious wood-fired pizza, and an awesome DJ to keep the festivities lively. We'll have special flights to choose from, showcasing both our Collaborations as well as the newest vintages of our Willamette Valley wines. This is the perfect opportunity to pick up any prior orders — as well as add to your collection. And of course, Channing and the gang will be on hand for some excellent conversation and good times. See you there! Send RSVP to cheers@chosenfamilywines.com Event Website |
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Ponzi Put on your party clothes, raise a glass of Bollinger Champagne and join us in celebrating the holiday season in style. Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Nathan and dance to the throwback tunes of Portland swing trio Boy and Bean. You don't want to miss what is sure to be a party for the ages! All guests must be over 21 years of age. Cocktail attire requested. Event Website |
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Dundee Hills Association Durant Vineyards / Erath Winery / Elevèe Winegrowers / Fox Farm Vineyards / Furioso Vineyards / Great Oregon Wine Company / Winters Hill Estate Event Website |
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Vincent For Portland locals, I'm doing a wine event at Dame in NE Portland on Thursday, December 15. It's not a formal wine dinner but I'll be there all evening and Dame will feature Vincent wines and have a pairing menu if you like. Contact the restaurant directly to make a reservation, hope to see you! tel:(503) 227-2669 Event Website |
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Hyland For any special occasion, or any occasion you want to make special, bubbly is a must have. The options for which sparkler to pop though, are endless. But this class will make finding that right wine easy. A traditional method sparkling wine from classic regions in France, Crémant is perfect for those looking to throw a Champagne party on a Prosecco budget. Taste through a wide ranging selection of these wines and discover why Crémant is the perfect sparkler for your holiday celebrations. Event Website |
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Marshall Davis Join us for our annual December Wild Game Winemaker Dinner! Five unique and fun courses focused on Wild Game created by the team at The Horse Radish in Carlton. This event is filling up fast so call or email to reserve your table soon. Event Website |
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Leftcoast Wine Santa Claus is coming to Left Coast! Bring your non-perishable food donations to benefit the Dallas Food Bank and meet Santa! Guests with donations may pose with Santa and take pictures. Kids and leashed pets are also welcome. $1 for every bottle purchased will be donated to the food bank. Event Website |
Just in case you didn't see the link earlier to sign up for the Events Newsletter, here it is again!
With Gratitude,
A.J.
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A.J. Weinzettel
Wine journalist & podcaster covering Oregon wine country