A VIsual Tour of
the International Pinot noir Celebration July 24- 27, 2003
by Jean Yates, www.avalonwine.com
All images and content copyright 2003 Jean Yates Inc.

Danell Johnnes and
2002-2003 IPNC President Joni Weatherspoon

Since 1985, the International Pinot Noir Celebration has brought together an informal group of Oregon wine-lovers, winemakers, restauranteurs and retailers.

While the tastings and events have changed over the years, the original feel of the event remains constant: an intimate gathering of Pinot noir lovers enjoying a weekend of wine, food and conviviality.

The IPNC began with Opening Ceremonies on the lawn in front of the Student Union.

Participants sat on bleachers while all of the winemakers participating in the event were introduced by 2002-2003 IPNC President Joni Weatherspoon.

It was quite a sight,
all those great winemakers cheek to jowl on bleachers under a huge oak tree.

10:30 am-Noon, You say Noir, I say Nero

The sitdown tasting featured great Riedel glasses

Moderator Fritz Hatton introduces speakers

Centuries ago, when the Greeks first came to Italy, they named the region Oenotria, the land of wine. Over the past 150 years, Pinot noir has found its way into Italy, from the alpine-influenced valleys of Alto Adige to the warmer climes of Tuscany. Fritz Hatton will introduce you to a panel of Italy’s best Pinot producers, exploring how Italians are unlocking the secrets of Pinot nero with their own regional style.

Moderator was Daniel Johnnes. Daniel Johnnes is wine director for Myriad Restaurant Group which includes Montrachet, Nobu, The Tribeca Grill, Layla, Rubicon and Earth & Ocean. The James Beard Foundation honor- ed him as the nation’s top sommelier in 1995. Daniel has contributed to numerous pub- lications from Food & Wine to Gourmet and in 1996 published Daniel Johnnes’s Top 200 Wines, An Expert’s Guide to Maximum Enjoyment for your Dollar.

Formal sit down tasting of Italian Pinot noir

Featured wineries were:
Jermann
Pojer & Sandri
Ca del Bosco
Tenuta Mazzolino
Marchesi Pancrazi

Perfect peaches and wonderful wines

Keith Tabor, Sundance Wine Cellars., and David O'Reilly, Owen Roe Winery

James Cahill and Tony Soter, Soter Vineyards

Noon-2:00 pm,
The Opening Luncheon

Continuing the theme of the morning tasting, the luncheon had a distinctly Italian flavor.

Italians have long recognized the kitchen table as the heart of culture, pleasure and camaraderie. The advent of the international Slow Food movement, which originated in Italy, has revived the fundamental concept that the enjoyment of food is essential to the pursuit of happiness and well-being.

Chefs John Gorham, David Machado and Cathy Whims prepared a multi-course culinary illustration of the Slow Food philosophy.

The Friday lunch under the oaks featured luscious local peaches in baskets of straw, picked that moring at a local farm. A huge variety of white wines and Oregon and Italian Pinot noir were available as bottles were passed from table to table.

Check out Avalon's
New Wine Releases
and Best Buys

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Abeja-
John Abbott's New winery
Kiona
New release of Cabernet
Stag Hollow
90 point classic Pinot
Belle Pente
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Wine tasting under picnic umbrellas and oak trees

Cheryl Francis (Chehalem) and Sam Tannahill (former winemaker at Archery Summit) under the trees at the alfresco tasting,
show off their latest collaboration, eight month old Theo.
They also have a new winery, Francis Tannahill.

Lazy Afternoons and
"Alfresco Tastings

Every afternoon there were "alfresco" tastings of Italian, French, California, and Oregon Pinot noirs

Oregon wineries included:

Amity Antica Terra Archery Summit Beaux Freres Belle Pente Beran Bethel Heights Broadley Brooks Carabella Carlo & Julian Chateau Bianca Chehalem Edgefield Elk Cove Evesham Wood Henry Estate King Estate Lemelson Panther Creek Patricia Green Penner-Ash Ponzi Raptor Ridge Shea Wine Cellars Sineann Soter WillaKenzie

California wineries included:

Ancien Au Bon Climat Baileyana Buena Vista Hartman Lane (DeLoach)
Hitching Post Mt. Eden Murphy-Goode Saintsbury Wildhorse

Highest Rated Wines

Check out the highest rated
Oregon wines as reviewed by
Wine Spectator,
Robert Parker,
Wine Press NW,
and the Oregon Wine Report

Furious preparations for the Friday night dinner,
the green shirted volunteers are local high school and college students.

Anne Nisbet, IPNC Culinary Coordinator, and Joni Wetherspoon, owner and proprietor,
Seven Springs Vineyard. At the Friday night dinner. Joni served as the President of
IPNC for the 2002-2003 term, and introduced the winemakers and
the keynote speaker at the opening ceremonies on Friday morning.

Friday evening dinner preparations. Food was prepared
under tents and at huge outdoor grills.

Chefs grilling giant sea scallops on super hot coals at sunset.
Friday night dinner.

Friday night chef Cory Schreiber of Wildwood Restaurant
showing the first course, a salad of wild greens, thinly sliced
yellow beans, roasted corn, and wild mushrooms.

Chefs plating out the first course Friday night.

The volunteers and the sommeliers for the Friday night dinner.

Friday Night-
The Grand Dinner

Each year, the keepers of the IPNC wine library squirrel away some of the most sought-after wine treasures brought from around the world by our Featured Winemakers. A dazzling array of wonderful French Burgundies and Oregon Pinots were poured, and many of the winemakers walked among the tables pouring tastes from giant double magnums.

Featured Northwest Chefs Paul Lemieux (Lucere), Cory Schreiber (Wildwood) and Charles Ramseyer (Ray’s Boathouse) were joined by Guest Chef Chris Gesualdi of New York’s legendary Montrachet.

Watch Avalon's Recipe Page for recipes from the 2003 IPNC!

Check it out here

You Can Host
a Wine Tasting

Here's Avalon's Guide
To Hosting a Wine Tasting
at your House

Saturday night
Traditional Northwest Salmon Bake

Salmon was prepared native Northwest style: on alder stakes over a huge fire pit, accompanied by an outdoor buffet designed by Kevin Kennedy (Rivers), Frank Ostini (The Hitching Post), and Roger Sprague (Depoe Bay) and desserts by Nancy Lindaas and Emily Moore (E.C.C. and Emily’s Kitchen). After dinner, there was a great band and lots of dancing.

Saturday night Salmon Feast, before the crowd.

Salmon grilling Indian style on the front lawn of Linfield College's Milrose Hall.
The salmon are pegged onto alder branches and grilled near sweet scented flames of cedar and fruit wood.