Top these 3 events in one day…
We start the morning off with 200 people and 4 charter buses loading up and heading north to the Seattle Mariners game vs. the Boston Red Sox. Wine tasting all the way up, catered lunch in the bullpen during batting practice, great seats, snacks and more wine on the way home.
Just when the buses leave the winery, 250 bike riders of all levels from all over Oregon will begin riding the southern route of our Bike Oregon Wine Country. Tasting wines from several other wineries and returning to Eola Hills for an amazing catered lunch, dessert bar, and great wine all prepared by our very own winemakers
Also our traditional Sunday Brunch will be taking place complements of Simply Delish Catering. Buffet style service with pan fried oysters, omelet bar, eggs benedict, crêpe station, dessert bar, great wine and mimosas of course, and much more.
Quite the Sunday we have planned, but that is what makes Eola Hills Wine Cellars so unique and special. We hope everyone enjoys their adventure here no matter which one you choose. Our staff works hard to provide the best wine, food, and entertainment possible.
Over 500 people for Easter Brunch…..over 600 people for Mothers Day Brunch… The numbers don’t lie folks. This is great stuff!!!!
There is a reason Eola Hills Wine Cellars Sunday Brunch recieved “Best in the Northwest” by the StatesmanJournal.com and voted “2009 Top Choice for Brunch” by Mid-Valley residents with over 400,000 votes cast. Click on the brunch link for details.
Where to begin? Price? Varietal? Region? Vintage? Pretty Label?
I will tell you how I pick a bottle of wine.
I start with the varietal that goes best with dinner or that I just want to stock up on. I prefer Cabernet Sauvignon.
Then I look at the price range I am willing to spend. Keep in mind you generally pay for quality, but not always. Often times you pay extra for a name or location. I believe there are plenty of high quality wines out there for $10-$20. The trick is to get the quality for the price.
Once I have narrowed it down thus far I look for a particular vintage I know was good. Each year brings out different flavors and characteristics in wine. Cooler years cause grapes to have higher acid levels and lower sugar levels. This equates to lower alcohol levels and lighter styles. Hot years produce higher sugars and lower acid levels creating bigger more robust wines with more alcohol and color. There are many other factors that occur, but these are the basics.
Last, when I have it narrowed down to just a few wines I look for region. With cabs I know everyone thinks California is king, but not the case. Maybe king in price, with many bottles priced over $50. Each region will certainly have their own distinct qualities, but with these simple guidelines I feel confident going into any store and walking out with a winner.
The last thing anyone wants is to bring a bottle of wine to dinner on a leap of faith. Trust me, the label has nothing to do with how the wine will taste. Keep in mind to open certain wines well in advance of drinking to allow them to breathe. Also what kind of wine glass you use will affect the overall taste, but I will go in depth on this next time.
Ever wonder how many grapes it takes to produce 1 bottle of wine? Let’s start in the vineyard with an average of 3 tons per acre, or 6000 pounds. This will yield 495 gallons of juice which will be fermented and fill about 8 barrels. Each 60 gallon barrel will fill about 285 bottles or 24 cases. This equates to 2.4 pounds of grapes needed to fill 1 bottle.
Eola Hills produces approximately 125,000 gallons of wine a year, and is the fifth largest producer in the state among approximately 400 wineries. Oregon ranks 3rd in the U.S. for number of wineries, 5th for production output, and have the highest per ton value of grapes.
Feb-Mar 2011 Events:
Sunday Brunch -9am-2pm. Voted “Top Choice for Best Brunch” by StatesmanJournal.com.
Romance in the Cellar -February 12th & 14th – Very Romantic & Live Music
Winemakers Dinner- March 12th – Steve A. & Steve R. will prepare a 6 course dinner and discuss wine pairings.
Wines of the Month
Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Sangiovese
6 Pack $60
Important News An event is on the horizon. For some of you the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival is a time to put on your wild seafood costumes and let loose. For others, it is a golden opportunity to sample the best Oregon has to offer under one roof. Either way, Eola Hills Wine Cellars is going to be there serving up a storm February 25th – 27th. Come join us!
We provide free wine tastings 7 days a week from 10am-5pm and winery tours upon request.
