Cellar 503, an Oregon-focused wine club that helps wine lovers discover the state’s many cutting-edge producers, holds the annual Pour Oregon tasting event, which is one of wine’s most compelling explorations of a single state. This year, the event is moving to an online format for the first time, which is sad for those of us who might be able to show up in person but great news for those who want to participate from far-flung locales.
The organizers of Pour Oregon, which will be held on April 29 through May 2, 2021, have creatively pulled together, by way of interactive Zoom sessions and immersive tasting experiences, a way for attendees to dive deep into Oregon wine — and food — with “Pour Packs” that will be delivered right to your door, along with instructions for how to get the most out of the event.
Attendees can pick and choose the events that interest them most during the four-day event — from wine cocktails to cheese and wine pairings to a live cooking demo with star chef Vitaly Paley. Wineries represented include Brick House, Troon, Maysara, Day, Varnum and others.
“We look forward to this festival every year,” says Carrie Wynkoop, CEO and founder of Cellar 503. “And while we were disappointed to cancel in 2020, we’ve spent the last year adopting new technologies and new ways of life. More and more people have embraced virtual wine tastings and digitally connecting with others — we’re excited to harness that energy, bringing Pour Oregon and the magic of Oregon wines to even more households across the country.”
Carrie Wynkoop, founder and CEO of Cellar 503, which hosts the annual Pour Oregon tasting event.
Cellar 503
Pour Packs for the events are available for purchase now at pouroregon.com and ship nationwide to every that allows direct shipping. Pour Packs will include all items necessary to participate in the virtual events, including wine and food, and will be shipped to participants the week of April 19.
Pricing varies depending on the sessions you choose; the range is$85-$150. For a detailed schedule of events and to purchase Pour Packs, visit www.pouroregon.com.
This online event is a great way to get to know Wynkoop’s taste in wine, as she personally curates each selection that appears in the Cellar 503 lineup. When I attended the in-person event in 2019, I was impressed by the range of styles, the number of small wineries represented that I might not otherwise have heard about, and the ways in which each vintner I spoke with regarded the program highly.
On that trip, I was able to visit one of Cellar 503’s partners, Mayasara Winery in McMinnville, a gorgeous, sustainability-minded property that Iranian immigrants Moe and Flora Momtazi built into a world-class biodynamic operation from an abandoned wheat field.
Moe Momtazi, cofounder of Mayasara Winery in McMinnville, Oregon.
Kim Westerman
Even more interesting was my anecdotal observation that many of the wineries that participate in the Cellar 503 program have minimal-intervention winemaking philosophies, and a fair number are certified biodynamic. So, this is not your usual walk-around tasting of big producers and known quantities. This is a genuine opportunity to learn about one of the most innovative, meticulous wine-producing areas in the world.
Order your Pour Packs before April 19 at pouroregon.com.