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The vacation not so much from hell, maybe!

I say maybe, because we still have at least a 2 day drive home, and anything can happen, but even though nothing could be worth me wrecking the car and almost killing Edie and me, the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) is an event not to be missed, even if Pinot Noir isn't your wine of choice.

I don't plan on reporting on the IPNC, because Alder Yarrow at Vinography.com, Dennis Schaefer of AppellationAmerica.com and a host of other reporters and bloggers were also at the event, and I'm sure all will do a much better job than I could ever expect to do.

I will just say that the quality and the quantity of food, as well as the service, not even taking into consideration they were cooking for and serving about 700 people, was just fantastic.

And the wines! There just seemed to be an endless supply of wine, young and old, and from every corner of the world, including the US, France, New Zealand, Chile, and even a pinot from Italy. (NOTE: You do have to learn to spit and dump at an event like this, or you'll never make it through the first day.)

And everyone we met from Allen Meadows, the many winemakers from all over the world, and just your ordinary Pinot lovers, like ourselves, were very friendly.

We even met an attorney from Missouri at dinner Saturday night, who opened a 2003 Domaine Moillard Pommard Epenots, which he shared with everyone at the table. It wasn't the best wine we had all week (that was the 2002 Domaine Serene "Monogram" we had at our Thursday night dinner), but it was still very good, and it was just great sharing, and enjoying together.

Unfortunately Edie could not enjoy the event as much as I did, because it seems the Revlimid is starting to have an effect on her taste buds, but I believe she was able to enjoy the food. Hopefully that will change when it's time to go to New Zealand next March.

My only real regret is that we drove. We should have flown there, and rented a car. But you know what they say,
"What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger",

and I won't make that mistake again.
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Comments

Becky said…
You know I know nothing about wine, but I takt it you taste it and spit it out? Doesn't everything start to taste alike? I can't believe someone went to the trouble to grow the grapes, etc., just to have someone spit it out.

It just seems rude.
8:02 AM
Marc said…
You have to remember there were over 100 different wines to taste + what we had for dinners and lunches, and you don't spit at lunch and dinner, unless you don't like the wines.

So if people didn't spit, what you would have is 700 falling down drunks in this very little town in Oregon. I don't think anyone would like that.
1:57 PM
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