One of the classiest and most well known wine bars in Portland is Noble Rot, on SE Ankeny Street at 27th Avenue. Some of you may remember that they featured a flight of our wines in January, and we have received great feedback. So it’s no surprise that we are extremely excited to announce our upcoming winemaker’s dinner at Noble Rot on Thursday, May 29th.

For those of you who haven’t been to Noble Rot yet, they feature 5 wine flights every day and a variety of local, seasonal small plates prepared by Chef Gregory Smith. They’ve been written up by the NY Times, Wine Spectator and Gourmet, and Willamette Week named them “Restaurant of the Year” in 2003.

Chef Greg Smith does some amazing things in the kitchen. Hailing from the Chicago suburbs, he has cooked with Charlie Trotter, has worked on a farm outside of White Salmon (just across the river from our winery), and has been at Noble Rot since 2003, assuming the role of Executive Chef in 2006. With a résumé like that, it’s no wonder his food is so great.

We just received a sneak-peak at the menu for the winemaker’s dinner, and we thought we should share…

Reception (6:30 pm):
Olive & goat cheese “coins”
Onion tart
Paired with 2006 Cathedral Ridge Pinot Gris
 
First course:
Smoked mussels Caesar salad
Paired with 2006 Cathedral Ridge Gewurztraminer

Second course:
Poached chicken with arugula, cherries & pancetta
Paired with 2006 Cathedral Ridge Pinot Noir

Third course:
BBQ pork shoulder with snap pea & potato salad
Paired with 2005 Cathedral Ridge Syrah

Fourth course:
Chocolate ginger tart
Coffee or a little more Syrah
 
Our very own Robb Bell, Owner and Chief Cellar Rat of Cathedral Ridge winery will be on hand to talk more about our wines, our grape-growing climates and anything else you may have questions about. This dinner promises to be an evening to remember!

The dinner will be held in Noble Rot’s intimate party room, and seating is very limited. Cost per person is $75 (gratuity included). Reserve your spot soon via email: noblerotgirls@aol.com. Please include “Cathedral Ridge Dinner” in the subject line of the email.

We hope to see you there!

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Our Annual Barrel Tasting Party was held this past Saturday April 12, 2008 and what an event to remember!

We could not have asked for a more perfect day.  It was truly the best weather on record for the year so far.  Sunshine during the day rose to close to 80 degrees, cooling down to the most ideal temperature for the evening event.

Guests were greeted with a taste of some of our newest releases as they awaited their barrel tastings presented by winemaker Michael Sebastiani, who came in from Sonoma for the evening, and owner/chief cellar rat Robb Bell.  As they entered the barrel room guests listened to Michael and Robb explain the ‘06 vintage and our anticipated wines and had  the chance to chat with the guys.  They were then given the opportunity to taste and purchase futures of their favorite barrel samples of our ’06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Reserve, Syrah Reserve, and our Rock Star Red.
As they exited the barrel room they entered the patio greeted by the amazing sounds of Peabody ’s Daughter, a fabulous local band who entertained us all night with their talented band and vocal skills!  

The weather maintained its perfection throughout the evening as guests sampled our wine and food pairings, with hors d’oeuvres catered by the always delicious Cork & Bottle Catering!   We worked together with Cork & Bottle to create the perfect food and wine pairings for our featured wines.  Some of the guests favorites were the newly released ‘06 Pinot Noir Reserve paired with the Fig Chocolate Cake topped with a dollop of Black Cherry Jam. Equally popular was the barrel sample of our ‘06 Cabernet paired with the Sirloin Steak Bites Wrapped in Crispy Bacon and Gorgonzola.
Owners Talia and Dave Hammond did an amazing job on the food!
 
As the evening progressed guests mingled about on our freshly landscaped lawn with spring flowers blooming while sipping on their favorite wines.  
 
It was great to have the chance to get to know some of our wine club members and fans.

Wine Club members, such as the Getz’s, traveled as far as North Carolina to make it to the party (picture to the left).  They were particular fans of the ‘06 Rock Star Red, as were many other guests throughout the evening!

The great part for many of our Rock Star Red fans was that not only was our winemaker on hand to discuss how he makes that particular wine, but also in attendance was John Bangsund (pictured to the right)  who owns the famed Bangsund vineyard, where all the fantastic fruit for that very wine comes from!  So guests were able to meet the entire team of people who work to create our esteemed Rock Star Red, among many other of our guest’s favorites!  
Also on hand were the Zieglers, where our bright and crisp Pinot Gris originates. 
 
All in all, it was truly a night to remember. From all of the people who came out for the event, our entire CRW team, the wines, the food, the music, and of course the perfect weather!
 
Thank you first and foremost to all of our guests who attended, to Cork & Bottle Catering, to Peabodys Daughter, Michael and Robb for making such beautiful wines, to our skilled and hard working vineyard managers, and everyone who made the event possible.

We can’t wait to see you all next year!
Cheers,
The Cathedral Ridge Winery Team

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Here in Hood River, we are fortunate to have a wide array of great local restaurants. But being just an hour away from Portland gives us even more choices. And now a few of those great Portland restaurants are carrying Cathedral Ridge Wines.

Fife Restaurant, headed by Chef Marco Shaw in the Beaumont Village area of NE Portland, has made quite a name for itself as a conscientious restaurant with great food.  Its almost exclusively local ingredients, all coming from small farmers within 100 miles of the restaurant, allow Chef Shaw to change the menu daily, so there’s always variety. On the Fife web site, Chef Shaw tells us how they work with the local farmers: “We pick most of the seeds for the produce that is grown for us and we are able to specify the diets of most of the animals that we use. This relationship that we have with our farmers and ranchers allows us to bring to you the best of each season and of each day.” This philosophy also applies to their wines. Wine Steward Arin Hassell is often drawn to local wines to compliment the local flavors of the restaurant. That’s why they’ve recently brought in our Cathedral Ridge 2006 Zinfandel.

Dubbed “Portland’s most exciting new restaurant” by Gourmet Magazine in 2002, Bluehour in the Pearl has also added our wines to their list. Gourmet said, “It is clear that chef Kenny Giambalvo is cooking the most sophisticated contemporary food in town.” And we have to agree. Bluehour’s Mediterranean menu changes daily with seasonal availabilities and at the Chef’s whim. Sophisticated and modern, don’t be surprised if you see a visiting screen star in the dining room. Our 2005 Bordheauxd Red joined the Bluehour menu at the beginning of this month. Check it out soon before we sell out!

And one of our favorite restaurants, Navarre, on NE 28th at Burnside, has just started carrying our 2006 Gewurtztraminer. We’re happy to join the other 50 some wines on Navarre’s wine list. Having been favorably reviewed by the likes of Food & Wine, Sunset, and Wine Spectator since its opening in 2004, Chef John Taboada has made Navarre one of the top restaurants in Portland. Known for its small plates with a Spanish/Italian/French flair and local ingredients, Navarre’s casual atmosphere and ample selections of wine by the glass, ½ carafe, carafe and bottle allow you to choose whatever strikes your fancy. We hope our Gewürztraminer will make one of your decisions a little bit easier.

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Spring is officially here, bringing fresh blossoms, rays of sun and or course our annual barrel tasting party. We’re dusting off the wine thief, cracking open a few barrels and tasting some great wine accompanied by delicious food and live music. We will also be celebrating the release of two of our highly anticipated wines that evening!

The festivities will begin at 6 pm on Saturday April 12 with local band Peabody’s Daughter. There will be some delicious hors d’oeuvres to pair with the wine (bacon and gorgonzola wrapped sirloin steak bites with Cabernet Sauvignon- mmm mmm good!), which will be cooked up by Cork & Bottle Catering.

This year Winemaker Michael Sebastiani and Owner/Cellar Rat Robb Bell will be presenting our barrel tastings and offering the opportunity to purchase futures of our newly blended:

• ‘06 Rock Star Red
• ‘06 Cabernet Sauvignon & Cab Reserve
• ‘06 Syrah Reserve

For one night only, you can pre-purchase futures of these wines with a 5% case discount (10% for wine club members), and 10% on the regular Cabernet Sauvignon. Once bottled these wines will not be discounted (except to wine club members).

We will also be celebrating the release of our

• ’06 Pinot Noir Reserve
• ’07 Chardonnay

Tickets are available in advance or at the door.

• $10/person ($15 at the door), wine club members
• $25/person ($30 at the door), non-club members

As always the price also includes a souvenir logo glass filled with your favorite Cathedral Ridge wine!

These are beautiful wines and this will indeed be a party to remember!

Space is limited this year.
Call or email us to get your tickets before we run out!
Call 800-516-8710 or Email: crw@cathedralridgewinery.com

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I’m a St. Patrick’s Day baby. Though I’m not into the green beer (yes, I’m even a snob with my beers!), I do love a good celebration. So when Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro told me that they wanted to do a winemaker’s dinner the day before my birthday, I thought it was a great idea. I could get fueled up with some great food paired with five of our great wines the night before, then hit the town to celebrate the next day!

Owners Gary Kneski and Leslie Palmer have a great thing going with Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro. Their wine selection is fantastic (especially now, since they’re carrying some Cathedral Ridge!), their food selection will please any palate (from cheese fondue to butternut squash risotto to hanger steak – how can you go wrong?), and their view, right on the Willamette River, is to die for. This location, situated in the South Waterfront neighborhood on the RiverPlace Esplanade, opened about two years ago to great reviews, and has developed quite a following. Plus, their outdoor tables on the Esplanade are quite the spot to relax with a glass of wine on a nice day.

Since we’re so into wine and food pairings here at Cathedral Ridge, we are anxious to see what Thirst Chef Jon Sodini comes up with to match our wines. Their usual menu focuses on what they call “Pacific Northwest Tapas”, or small plates made from fresh, local and organic ingredients. And, with a rotating menu of entrees at the RiverPlace location, my mouth waters every time I walk into the wine bar.

The winemaker’s dinner starts with a wine and cheese reception at 7pm on March 16th, and is followed by four delectable courses paired with Cathedral Ridge wines (menu below).  It’s $95/person (plus gratuity), and our very own Robb Bell (Owner/Asst. Wine Maker/Cellar Rat Extraordinaire) will be on hand to tell you all you ever wondered about Cathedral Ridge wines. Space is very limited, so reserve a space at this intimate dinner by calling 503-295-2747. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro
0315 SW Montgomery Street
Portland, OR 97239

Heres a sneak peek at the menu:

6:45 - 7 pm: Wine & Cheese Reception

Baked Sea Scallops
marinated fennel, and roasted sweet chili peppers
finished with sweet muscatel reduction
Cathedral Ridge Winery ‘06 Gewürztraminer

Braised Carlton Farms Pork Belly
zinfandel braised cioppolini onions, baby garlic,
peppercorns and fennel, goat cheese polenta
Cathedral Ridge Winery ‘06 Zinfandel

 Slow Roasted Prime Rib Eye
red wine and shallot jus, crispy potato gnocchi,
roasted brussel sprouts
Cathedral Ridge Winery ‘05 Cabernet Sauvignon

 Goat Cheese and Chocolate beingnettes
and Chocolate Syrah Truffles
Cathedral Ridge Winery ‘05 Syrah

Posting by Ryane Doty, Cathedral Ridge Winery

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Today was one of those days that make me proud to be in the Gorge.  While often throughout the state of OR it can be cloudy and dreary this time of year, yet this day reminded me of summer (well, of course without the 80 degree temperatures… although it did reach close to 50).  It was one of those perfectly clear days where both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams were in clear view from the winery.  The sun was shining, warming me through my office window.  It was hard to focus on work when all I wanted to do was be outside, in the sun, and take pictures of the beautiful mountains standing tall in the distance.  And if weather predictions are correct it will be just as amazing, and also warmer, this weekend for our Presidents Day Weekend Open House!  It is forecasted to be close to 60 degrees and sunny this weekend.  Can you think of a better reason not to join us as we taste through our highly anticipated 2006 Merlot and nibble on chocolates by our local chocolatiere?   
Bring a romantic post-Valentines day picnic or just take a bottle of wine outside with you and relax on our beautiful grounds.  
We will be open all weekend 11-5pm . 

Come visit us in the Gorge this weekend and stock up on your wines for the rest of the winter.   Bring your camera… this will be a picturesque weekend!

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