Extra-Special Events

Vietti Dinner @ Luce

John Taboda (of Navarre) and Giovanna Parolari have finally opened their casual East Burnside Italian restaurant and, no surprise, people are loving it. Come join us as we enjoy a fun evening with creative and tasty cuisine from Luce chef John Willis (antipasti, pasta, entrée and dessert) paired with wines from one of our favorite Piedmont producers-Vietti. We'll feature Arneis, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barolo Castiglione as well as a single-vineyard Barolo, and the Moscato to finish.

Wednesday, February 8 at 7:00pm
4 courses and 7 wines for $75 (all-inclusive)
Call Great Wine Buys for reservations at (503) 287-2897.

Special Tastings

Schoolin' the Palate!

Italian Wine 101 Class
With Small Vineyards' Tom Kelly
Wine importer Tom Kelly visits once again for an informative and fun-filled evening as we taste our way through Italy's major wine regions. Tom has hosted this class two years running and the feedback is all smiles. Whether you've been drinking Italian wine for years or are a novice, there's plenty for everyone, both wine and education. Based on the fun "students" have had, you're guaranteed to enjoy the coursework. Eight wines that capture the style of each region, food pairing ideas, and hors' d'oeuvres.

Thurday Feb. 23, 7:00 pm, $25.
Space is limited. Reservations and pre-payment required. Contact us for reservations.

Aged Guigal Côte Rôtie vs. Hermitage
1995, 1997, 1999 Vintages
Is it a vertical? A horizontal? It's both! The name Guigal looms large in the Rhône valley especially in the north, Syrah country. Although one of the biggest domaines, their commitment to quality is unwavering and their Côte Rôtie and Hermitage can last decades. Last summer we drank these appellations side by side, same vintage and it was illuminating. Years in the bottle had peeled back the curtain of tannins and raw power revealing the underlying terroir characteristics. It was such a cool experience that we've decided to share. Limited availability.

Friday, January 27, 5-7:30, 6 wines, $30

Sake 101 Tasting
While Champagne is lovely with sushi, there's nothing like matching a cuisine with the beverage it grew up with. Sake offers a world of drinking pleasure all its own with or without food. Sake pro Chris Kinney will pour a range of styles and explain terms such as nigori, namazake, junmai and daiginjo. With flavors ranging from clean bright "fruit" to earthy mushroom to a sweeter style, this will be a great introduction to this fascinating beverage.

Saturday February 4, 2-5 pm. Free.