Anne Amie Vineyards, Carlton Oregon

Kent Fitzgerald visits Anne Amie

We were happy to have Kent Fitzgerald, a vice president of The Henry Wine Group and our brand manager visit the winery last week. Kent joined us for lunch and then tasted through the 2007 vintage in the cellar. Pictured here (left to right), winemaker Thomas Houseman and our viticulturist, Jason Tosch pour barrel samples of 2007 pinot noir for Kent. The Henry Wine Group represents Anne Amie Vineyards in Oregon, California, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland.

Snow at Anne Amie

It doesn't snow often at Anne Amie, but when it does it's beautiful.  However, the winter wonderland does not last long, with this snowfall disappearing by lunchtime.

Anne Amie at Zupan's

The tasting at Zupan's on Friday night went great thanks to Associate Winemaker Ron Shea.  Ron never ceases to amaze me with the amount of information he retains.  He's wonderful at giving analogies to help everyone understand wine and the winemaking process. 

Ron took guests through six of our wines and talked about the history of Oregon wine, Anne Amie's farming practices, clones, yeasts, processing wine and of course tasting it! 

Thanks again to those of you who made it out and to Zupan's for having us.  We hope to do it again soon. 

-Kim

Burnside Zupans Wine Cellar Tasting Tonight!

Join us this evening from 6-8pm at Zupan's Wine Cellar on Burnside in Portland where Associate Winemaker Ron Shea will take you through the wines of Anne Amie Vineyards.  Specialty gourmet food items from Zupan's will be paired with our 2006 Pinot Gris, 2006 Pinot Blanc, 2006 Riesling, 2006 Cuvée A Pinot Noir, 2004 Winemaker's Selection Pinot Noir & 2004 Deux Vert Vineyard Pinot Noir.   

Zupan’s Markets feature prepared gourmet foods, local and seasonal produce, artisan cheeses and an extensive wine collection.  For more information or to RSVP, contact Alaya Wyndham-Price at 503-487-1088 or alaya@zupans.com.

Tasting fee is $10
6-8pm
RSVP required

Zupans Burnside
2340 W Burnside - Portland, OR
www.zupans.com

We hope you'll join us!

Cheers,
Kim

New Toy

Microscopy

For Christmas I received a digital microscope from a site called thinkgeek.  Now, I know some people might think the word geek has negative connotations, but I feel it is a badge of honor.  I have to say there are quite a few things at the thinkgeek site I would love to have besides my digital microscope.   They have a ring that opens beer bottles!  That will save on new crowns!  Or, a titanium spork.  I don't know about you, but I have busted quite a few sporks in my time....

Anyhow, I have been playing with the microscope to get to know its limitations, and I can't wait to have some  wine-related use for it.  In the meantime, I thought I'd share some of the photos I have taken so far - all in  the name of science.

Click here or on the photo above to see things up close!

Anne Amie Sunset 1/15/08

View from the Top

An old friend and talented winemaker Nathan Kandler has jumped into the blogging world and his daily activities can be followed on his new blog  Thomas Fogarty Winery: A View From the Top. Nathan has a knack for putting his winemaking endeavors into layman's terms...somehow he makes chemistry sound interesting. I'm looking forward to following the 2008 growing season, as Fogarty's vineyards are planted in an assortment of microclimates. 

Nathan is the Associate Winemaker at Thomas Fogarty Winery, one of the most exciting producers in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA. Nathan received his B.S. in Enology from Fresno State's excellent winemaking program, and attended classes around the time our Winemaker Thomas Houseman was enrolled. After stints at Tesstarossa Vineyards and in the Barossa Valley of South Australia, Nathan was hired by Michael Martella and together they produce, among other things, small lots of expressive and distinctive pinot noir, something we appreciate here at Anne Amie.

The name of the blog is perfect...Thomas Fogarty Winery boasts one of the best views in the world( I kid you not) and on a clear day one can view from San Francisco to beyond San Jose. (at least that was the case when I ran around there years ago - pollution has made its presence felt in the Bay Area these days). I recommend adding this blog to your daily reading ritual and keep an eye out for Precedent Wines, Nathan's first independent effort using pinot noir grown in Marin County, CA.

-Tim

Packers, Badgers, and Anne Amie

Anne Amie Vineyards has landed in Wisconsin. I am pleased to announce that L'eft Bank Wine Company has brought us aboard and we are honored to be a part of their fine portfolio. 

"Founded in 1985 by Mark Johnston, his handy Ford Pinto and a few cases of Burgundy, L’eft Bank has grown to become the leading distributor of fine wines and spirits in the state of Wisconsin. The diversity of our producers and the knowledge of our salespeople are the foundations on which the success of L’eft Bank has been built." (taken from LBWC website).

We think it's pretty cool how L'eft Bank got started and think it's even cooler that the Pinto has now been replaced by a Toyota Prius.  L'eft Bank is committed to selling wines that are a result of organic, biodynamic, or sustainable methods in the vineyards and at the winery. The company itself also does its part to reduce the carbon footprint it leaves behind which all of us at Anne Amie appreciates. As for the name L'eft Bank...I'll let them tell that tale.

To find our wines in Wisconsin please call L'eft Bank at 608-838-8400 or call us at 503-864-2991..


 

Winter Hours at Anne Amie Vineyards

Who is tired of traveling?

Who's had too much food and drink over the holidays?

Not you.

Anne Amie Vineyards will be open for your tasting pleasure this winter *Monday - Thursday by appointment and Friday - Sunday from 10-5.  Our winter list has a wine for everyone.

    * 2006 Pinot Gris

    * 2006 Cuvée A Amrita

    * 2006 Viognier

    * 2006 Cuvée A Pinot Noir

    * 2004 Winemaker's Selection Pinot Noir

...and whatever surprises the tasting room staff might have up their sleeves.  All for a mere $5 which is refundable with the purchase of $50 or more. 

Come ease your way in to the New Year with us!

*Winter hours end February 29th at which time we’ll be open daily 10-5.