Small World in Wine Country

We’ve a saying in Portland, “it’s a small place.”

You never know when you’ll run into some one you know. And as for six degrees  of separation, it’s small enough that we are really only about three degrees, maybe fewer, of separation. It’s not unusual to meet someone and during the initial conversation we discover one of us knows someone who knows someone to whom the other is connected.  And after almost 5 years in Portland, I’m not surprised when I run into someone I know when I’m out and about in town. But wine country? Forty miles southeast of the city?

Vineyards

Friends and I went down to Yamhill County today, one of Oregon’s fabulous wine regions.  There are over 200 wineries in the state, and we planed to check out just a few of them.  It was a beautiful fall day.  High sixties, clear skies, sunshine, and green and gold countryside. A day to truly appreciate, most likely one of the last we’ll have before the rains.

We stopped for lunch at the Dundee Bistro.

Dundee Bistro

Another car arrived at about the same time and I was waiting for them to pass so I could take a few photos. One of the men politely motioned me to go ahead, and as I said “no, that’s okay, I’m waiting to take a photo,” the woman in front turned around.  It was one of those moments.  Simultaneous recognition and loud voices! ”Alex/Renee!”  It was Renee Dobbes, a mortgage broker, also down from Portland  with friends for some wine tasting.  We hadn’t planned to go over to the Dobbes Family Estates, her family’s winery, so it’s on the list for next time.  They do have some great wines, and also produce Wines by Joe.

As I joined my friends inside, I laughed and said small world. I really  hadn’t expected to see anyone I knew.

If you go to Dundee, please don’t miss the Dundee Bistro.  The food is fantastic, they showcase regional wines including the wines of the Ponzi Vineyard and foods of the northwest. After a glass at lunch, couldn’t resist and bought a bottle of the Pinot Blanc to take home.

Domaine Drouhin

After lunch we drove a little further south on 99W and turned off at the Archery Summit Road toward Domaine Drouhin. A winding and rutted gravel road means a slowed down drive, but all the better to ooh and ah at the vineyards’ fall colors. Domaine Drouhin is at the top and you’ll pass several other wineries.  You’ll be tempted to stop – but catch them on the way back.  You definitely want to see the views from Domaine Drouhin.

Vineyard

We were on the deck, basking in the sunshine, watchng the light change on the hills and sipping our second taste, a 2006 Pinot Noir, when I heard my name called.  Paula Springer, a stager colleague, is walking toward me.   Paula, her husband, and her parents are down from Portland for wine tasting. Small world indeed!  By now my friends are giving me a teasing time, saying I know everyone, and can’t get away for a day. 

I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised to see people I know.  Yamhill County is not that far, and it’s one of the things Oregonians do — wine tasting.  I wonder though, if we had chosen to go to one of the other regions in the Willamette Valley, would we have run into others that I knew? Possibly, or it would have been another of our group’s small world day!

Hillside at De Ponte

After a leisurely tasting at De Ponte Cellars, just a little further down the ridge, we headed back to Portland.  And here’s the topper for a small world day, we stopped at Market of Choice on Terwilliger Blvd  on the way home, and I ran into Simone Meekins who works there, and used to work at Burdigala - a favorite wine shop in Portland!

I don’t have to wonder about this though — when you’re in Oregon, whether you are visiting, planning to move here, or already living here – you’ll be spending time in our wonderful wine regions.

I’ll meet you there, or take you – and I promise, it will be a day you won’t forget.

Domaine Views

Yard Art De Ponte Cellars