Here we are. It’s officially August. The light is at the end of the tunnel for Summer. Have you done everything you wanted to do these past couple of months? I would be shocked if you have. I know there are still many activities and events I plan to check off before Pumpkin Spice Latte goes into full effect.

On the brighter side of life, signs of veraison are popping up everywhere. I would love to talk about the growing season and how it is going, but there is no way I will jink anything. We have over a solid month before Harvest, and then I will start mentioning the growing season.

Are you a Tool or Maynard James Keenan Fan? If you are, he is opening a new winery in Arizona!​

If I say Prisoner Wine Company or Orin Swift, do you know the winemaker I am referring to? Well, Dave Phinney is getting into whiskey now with Second Glance Whiskey.

Cody Wright and Purple Hands are doing a minimalistic rebrand on their labels.

Yahoo is talking about Sparkling in Oregon. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have hit the big top! Here’s another mention of Oregon Sparkling. I am telling ya, something spectacular is happening here!

And to end the links on a sad note. Nicks in McMinnville has closed.

IPNC is quite the Oregon summer tradition! I had the luxury of attending this past weekend, and wow, what a spectacular event! Events kicked the weekend off on Thursday. Friday was filled with a winery tour, discussion, tastings, food, and connections with out-of-this-world humans!

Last year was the first back in-person event since COVID. I have all of the details here. I also interviewed Philippe Andre, Master of Ceremonies, on the podcast. In 2021, IPNC was virtual with an “unofficial” Salmon Bake.

Before diving deeper into this past weekend, I want to provide some context. It is currently 1:20 on Friday. I am sitting on the back deck, pondering how I can highlight a fantastic weekend from a different perspective compared to the previous two years. In the other posts, I highlighted all the fun and less about the connections. IPNC 2023 boils down to my new relationships and growing existing connections. Of course, there was a ton of fun, and I will call it out, but be aware I am focusing more on human stories. Also, I know I will leave people out, and I am sorry. It is not intentional one bit.

Getting right into the thick of it, this year’s IPNC journey starts at none other than Hazelfern for their Chardy Party celebration. Walking into “The Barn,” Sara from Domaine Divio was there helping out for the evening. Hugs were immediately given out; this is how you start an epic weekend! We talked several times throughout the night, but Sara wasn’t alone. Izzy was also there, who I first spoke with back on February 8th, 2019, for the first time. I will never forget her answer, “Why don’t you have a wine certification?” “I want wine to continue being fun!” Katy was also there, who I had seen several times over the past year, early in the mornings at Starbucks. She also started Scissortail Wine Tours recently.

Remembering the heat from last year made me appreciate the table being set up outside, and the menu for the evening was darling! Fresh oysters as everyone talked in prep for dinner, along with a lettuce wrap with Panzanella, anchovy, Worcestershire cured yolk, and a cucumber almond soup. During this time, I had the opportunity to talk with Alanna and Ray. They share the Instagram account terroir_twosome. We have been following one another for years and finally met face to face!

Dinner time came with fresh burrata, BUCKETS of fried chicken, biscuits, Mac & cheese, slaw, and bbq beans. If I were to have looked at this list, I would have sworn it was a down-home Southern meal through and through. I sure hope Laura and Bryan do this same menu next year!!

Before I move onto Friday, Laura sabered a bottle of Sparkling at the night's end, and supposedly it was her first time…….. Maybe it was her first time with a machete!!

Friday morning breakfast is accompanied by speakers introducing all of the featured wineries. We were asked to applaud at the very end. Otherwise, it would take forever to get through all of the wineries. Please note they didn’t say anything about giving out a lovely holler….. Yes, if you were at IPNC and heard someone holler at random Oregon wineries, that was me. Seeing Greywing Wines, CHO Wines, Hundred Suns, Hazlefern, Chosen Family, Brooks, Bryn Mawr, David Paige, Hope Well, and many others was beyond freaking amazing!

Getting on the bus to visit a winery, our tour guide was Matt Vuylsteke, the winemaker for Amaterra. I mention Matt because we could ask a question towards the end of our tasting. If you listen to the podcast, you know I enjoy my level best to ask off-the-wall questions. My question to Matt was, “I know in 2014 you did Cycle Oregon. My question is, Are you still doing Cycle Oregon, and how can you fit in the week-long ride since it happens the second week of September?” To say he was shocked is an understatement, but he also had the biggest smile on his face! His answer was he only does the weekend rides, and yes, he still enjoys getting on the bike.

Matt wasn’t the only person caught off guard. Before the Q&A, Tomas Savre was the moderator. While talking, he said, “Oh, hi, A.J. I didn’t know you were here.” I am sure I blushed this time and wasn’t sure he was even talking to me at first. I guess getting caught off guard is a two-way street.

The biggest treat for me during the vineyard trip was seeing Ken Wright for the first time and hearing him speak. I was thinking about stories surrounding Alan Holstein, his son Cody, Jackson Holstein, Rollin, and Corby. Trying to formulate a question on the spot about was too much, but what some spectacular stories he told. I also wrote a quote from Ken, “Smash mouth wine, that’s when a wine has too much alcohol, and it’s stupid!”

Dinner that night was calm and peaceful. We got super lucky to sit at the Champagne Laurent-Perrier table. Naomi and Erin represent the brand. I remember Naomi from previous years (IPNC and OCC), but this was my first speaking with Erin. It is pretty darn cool how a Champagne house consistently comes to our Oregon events. In talking with Erin, they are rather particular about which events they attend. I also got the chance to taste Greywing Wines Pinot and let me tell you, it was pretty darn good! Somehow at the end of the evening, I ended up with an almost full bottle of 2021 McCollum Heritage Pinot Noir.

Saturday morning was Grand Seminar time with a focus on Climate Change. Before the seminar, I noticed Rachel Zasadni. She used to be in charge of the Sparkling program at Domaine Serene, and after hugging her, I told her, “It made me sad you left Domaine Serene, but also understand focusing on your kids is important.” We talked briefly and had a couple more beautiful conversations throughout the weekend. She is on the board for IPNC and was helping out with the Grand Seminar to ensure everything stayed on track.

I could write about the Grand Seminar for a whole newsletter, but let me shed light on a few highlights. The low-hanging fruit for the wine industry regarding climate change is: consumers need to recycle their bottles (there is no need to have pallets of bottles shipped from China), reduce bottle weight, and foil is it required.

My highlight for the Grand seminar was the second panel. Carlo Mondavi was on the panel representing his brand Raen Winery and Monarch Tractors. Hearing Monarch tractors ignited an immediate spark. I dug out my phone to verify this was the autonomous tractor company. Sure enough, it was, and I knew a question needed to be asked. I brainstormed for all of 1.3 seconds when the question hit me. In my journal, I wrote, “In general, wineries don’t embrace technology easily in the tasting room, POS, and many other areas. Is there some plan to change that mentality in the vineyard using electric tractors?” Throughout the session, my heart was beating crazy wild, but I was ready. When the panel asked, “Does anyone have questions?” my hand was up before the last syllable of questions was pronounced.

I don’t remember the exact question I asked, but I got the point across. I hit the nail on the head! After the seminar, as Carlo exited the room, he passed by my seat and said, “Great question. This is the number one issue we are facing.”

I ran into Carlo again at the Alfresco tasting, and of course, I had to ask to see if he was interested in talking more on the podcast. He took a picture of my card to text his PR agency, and we casually talked again at Salmon Bake. Currently, I am emailing the PR firm to see about getting him on the podcast. Fingers crossed!!

Also, I had to get a picture of Ari and Brandy of Greywing Wines at the Alfresco tasting on Saturday. There were having an incredible weekend!

Another person on the Grand Seminar panel was Mimi Casteel. I had never met her face to face, either. During the Alfresco tasting, I got the opportunity to tell her how Drew Bledsoe was scared of meeting her for the first time. She chuckled. I also recited the story of her first encounter with Drew Bledsoe while volunteering at an event while he was still a quarterback. She agreed with how kind and genuine Drew was. I wanted to chat more, but other people behind me also wanted to try Mimi’s wine.

Salmon Bake was Saturday night. This is my favorite part of IPNC! I never know who I will run into or what wine will pop up. Some highlights for me was running into an owner of a restaurant downtown who brought a Champagne I was aware of but needed to learn about. I pitched a local winery to the owner and come to find out they had recently done an event together. This person also brought a 1988 Oregon Pinot Noir!!

Another local winery brought one bottle of their Champagne. I didn’t get a taste, but a friend did who thought it was spectacular!! Hazelfern brought out the big guns, and what an incredible night it was.

Champagne Brunch started at 10:00 on Sunday, and when you wake up at 6:00, it’s hard to wait four hours. Oysters, biscuits, sushi, and so much more, with a ton of Sparkling and Champagne, were on the menu.

Last night I was at an event in Downtown Portland. As I was leaving, a person recognized me, and we started talking. He asked me if I had fully recovered from IPNC. It took me a couple of days to get back on track after that much wine, not getting to bed at a regular time, and not hydrating enough. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, though. It’s a blast, and tickets for 2024 are already on sale. The theme for next year is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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With Heartfelt Gratitude,

A.J.

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Just in case you missed the latest podcast episodes, here they are 🥂

Creating Magic in Wine & Bridging Gaps in the Industry ​ ​YouTube​ ​Apple Podcasts​ ​Spotify​

Rooted in Legacy: A Journey with Greywing Wines ​ ​YouTube​ ​Apple Podcasts​ ​Spotify​​

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