/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/advancelocal/SS2PHLWRY5C5TEEIKMMSAOJ67M.jpg "6 hot wine tips to cure the August doldrums")
6 hot wine tips to cure the August doldrums
Forget the poets who wax nostalgic about “summer’s Sunday.” Henry Rollins has it right: “August, the summer’s last messenger of misery, is a hollow actor.”
I grew up in Kansas, where August is a sticky, unrelenting enemy. As I sit here in 100-degree heat with 70{dd3cf16dc48cbccde1cb5083e00e749fe70e501950bc2e0dea1feff25a82382f} humidity, Portland feels like it is catching up. Short of moving to the beach, the best defense to a case of dog days malaise is to chill your wines and chill with friends. Here are six ideas to get you started.
Domaine de Broglie is home to the annual Uncommon Wine Festival.Photo by Michael Alberty
Uncommon Wine Festival at Domaine de Broglie
The folks at Francis Ford Coppola’s Oregon winery would like you to know there’s more to Oregon’s wine scene than pinot noir and chardonnay. They are assembling a top-notch group of local producers to pour wines made with unusual and uncommon grape varieties to prove it.
The festival will also have a food truck, ice cream, a photo bus, lawn games, music, and take-home commemorative wine glasses. Tickets are available through Tock for $40 each.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 6, Domaine de Broglie, 6475 N.E. Hilltop Lane, Newberg, domainedebroglie.com or 503-376-1619.
2021 Cho Wines Laurel Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé ($35)
This is easily one of my favorite summer pinks. It smells like a cherry snow cone touched by a bit of fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice. Or is it the watermelon layer of an icy Jolly Rancher Bomb Pop? Either way, if the flavors of raspberries and peach cobbler don’t make your mouth water, the acidity sure will.
getchowines.com or [email protected].
AHIVOY co-founder Miguel Lopez, winemaker Deven Morgenstern and chef Ricardo Antnez at AHIVOY’s first annual golf tournament.Photo by Heidi Moore
Second Annual AHIVOY Golf Tournament
AHIVOY is a non-profit organization that provides educational and professional opportunities to the Willamette Valley’s Latino and Hispanic vineyard stewards. All proceeds from their annual golf tournament benefit these programs.
It’s a “shotgun start” at 1 p.m., with a $20,000 hole-in-one award and prizes for first, second and third place finishes.
Tickets for the tournament are $150 for an individual golfer and $600 for a four-person team. Tickets for the post-tournament dinner only are $75. All tickets are available through Eventbrite. For more information, call Sofia Torres McKay at 503-583-1536.
1 p.m. Aug. 11, Chehalem Glenn Golf Course, 4501 East Fernwood Road, Newberg, ahivoyoregon.org.
2021 J.C. Somers Columbia Gorge Rosé ($22.97)
Meet the palest rosé ever made. While winemaker Jay Somers always makes a great rosé, this blend of grenache and syrah that he made exclusively for Zupan’s Markets is particularly brilliant. Don’t let the pale “color” fool you, as it is packed with white peach, saline and tart citrus flavors.
Zupan’s has this homage to Mediterranean beaches on sale for $19.97, with the Burnside location in particular having an excellent supply. This is a lot of wine for 20 dollars, so don’t miss out.
zupans.com or 503-497-1088.
Co-owner David Anderson is in training for Syndicate Wine Bar’s anniversary block party celebration.Photo by Diego G Diaz Photography
Syndicate Wine Bar Third Annual Anniversary Block Party
Downtown historic Beaverton is where you want to be in late August for the wine party of the year. Angela and David Anderson will be pulling out all the stops this year to celebrate the third anniversary of their Beaverton location. Numerous wine vendors will be accompanied by live music as they pour more than 75 wines from around the world. Food will be available for purchase from local vendors.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite for $30 each. The ticket price for this 21-only event includes a commemorative glass and 10 one-ounce tasting coupons. Additional purchases will be available.
Noon-7 p.m. Aug. 20, Syndicate Wine Bar, 12620 S.W. 1st Street, Beaverton, syndicatewines.com or 971-979-4637.
Cristina Gonzales with the “must try” 2020 Gonzales Wine Co. Gold Vineyard Malbec. (Photo by Michael Alberty)Photo by Michael Alberty
2021 Gonzales Wine Co. Rogue Valley White Malbec ($28)
A white version of malbec is a rare thing. This is only the second one I know of made in the United States, and winemaker Cristina Gonzales only made 71 cases. In other words, contact the winery ASAP if you want to have any hope of snagging a few bottles.
The wine’s aromatics include rose petals, lemon-scented French laundry powder, thyme and not-quite-ripe apricots. Then, as if a white malbec wasn’t unusual enough, things get really weird.
With the first sip, I swear you will hear the clanging bell of an oncoming ice cream truck. The first impression is the flavor of the creamy orange and vanilla Dreamsicle I would covet as a kid. A few more sips, and you might pick out traces of strawberries and saline, but you will be focusing on that dreamy orange quality.
Don’t get me wrong, the white Malbec is dry, but the creamy texture and orange highlights will have you reminiscing about a sweet summer treat.
gonzaleswineco.com or [email protected].
— Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at [email protected]. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine.