Passport Vino

16/06/2023

Last day of wine tasting in the , so we made it a good one!

We started at Archery Summit in the Dundee Hills sub-AVA for a 2-hour+ guided small group tour through the vineyard, winery, and ended up in their striking wine cave (think more of a fine dining vibe than a cold, wet cave), where Barry continued pouring us wine until we signed up for the wine club 😂. The tour was educational and interesting, and the wines were spectacular. The tasting included their Dundee Hills Pinot Noir; which was just awarded Best in Show by Decanter magazine, giving it 97 points! The best part is it wasn’t even their most expensive (yes, we bought several!).

Next, we shot over to the town of Dundee and went to Red Hills Market; which had all sorts of gourmet foods, snacks, and wine in addition to their prepared food menu. This is cute, a well-oiled machine that does high volumes with ease. We sat out on the patio with the warm sun bringing us up to temp after our time in the cave! 🥶

Our last winery visit of the day and the trip was to another OG of the Willamette Valley, Domaine Drouhin Oregon of the famed Burgundy estate. It was stiff competition, but the view from their tasting patio may have made the top of this illustrious list! Sticking with the “experience” theme this Sunday, they offered a little twist as well. Each round had two wines to compare: one from their Dundee Vineyards & one from their newly acquired Eola-Amity Hills AVA. We also got some great restaurant tips for our trip back to Portland:)

We headed back to Portland for the night as we were flying out the next morning. This time we got a chance to check out the lively N Mississippi Ave part of town for some more food trucks, cocktails, and ice cream (in that order, don't judge). Eventually stumbled into a gem of a jazz bar The 1905 for the perfect ending to an amazing trip!

We hope you enjoyed hearing about this amazing , stay tuned for the full blog post. Also, we’ll be back soon, so let us know what we missed and have to check out next time!

15/06/2023

13/06/2023

Finally made it to Wine Country!

Drove to the southern end of the and kicked things off at Oregon Wine LAB in the city of Eugene where we tasted their William Rose wines as well as a few of their partners’ (our favorite was the 2014 Spire Mountain 2014 Tempranillo). Our tasting guide was also able to give helpful recommendations and context for the rest of our trip. Also worth noting, the food truck outside Yabai Nikkei was amazing (we had a torched mortadella , pork belly sandwich, and black sesame ice cream 🤤).

A 26-minute drive out to Silvan Ridge Winery transported us to heaven. Their view looks up and across a vast valley of vineyards and farms. It was a quiet afternoon and we got a lot of attention. They were out of the pinot flight; which was fine as we knew we were going to have plenty over the next few days. We went with the Rogue Red: a Cab, Malbec, Tempranillo, and 2 red blends (Elizabeth’s Red was our favorite of the bunch).

Sarver Winery was next and only a 12-min drive from Silvan. More incredible views, this time from on top of a ridge looking down into a valley. A charcuterie board and build-your-own wine flight helped us slow down and enjoy the moment. There was a band setting up for evening entertainment, but we had to drive up to the northern end of the Willamette.

McMinnville is an adorable town with a strip of restaurants, bars and shops, with lights in the tree leaning over the streets. We had dinner at Humble Spirit; which we absolutely loved. The service was friendly and attentive, the ambiance was contemporary but comfortable, and the food ranged from light and fresh to hearty and flavorful. All our dishes were winners, but we appreciated the freshness of the Albacore Confit dish the most. One thing I always love but rarely see - every one of their staff said goodbye and thanked us for coming as we left (great management too!)

We covered a lot of ground, drank a lot of wine, and ate a lot of great food. The rest of the trip will be concentrated in the north end of the valley. Follow us to get the details!

11/06/2023

Last day in Portland before heading to the Willamette Valley!

As we like to do on these trips when it’s an option, we started with an early morning hike (it helps offset the gluttony of food and wine coming later that day!). Angel’s Rest in the Columbia River Gorge is a 5-mile, 1500-ft elevation climb about a 30-minute drive from . A fairly steep and rocky assent through the forest with lovely views along the way, and a bird’s eye view over the Columbia River at the peak.

We rewarded ourselves with beer from Great Notion Brewing Alberta taproom (known for hazy IPAs, culinary sours, and slushies) and some of the best tacos ever from Mattsbbq!

We wanted to check out the downtown and some Portland coffee, and we found Never Coffee; which was open later than most. The Hunny latte was floral, complex, and with just a touch of sweetness.

Wine with some old and new friends at a cute neighborhood wine bar Bar Norman; which happened to be featuring a fun array of ciders from Carola Wines.

Dinner at Jacqueline was amazing! Fresh seafood, creative cuisine, and stellar service in a cute restaurant. Although we loved everything we ordered, the burrata toast (with “red asparagus and green strawberries”) was the fave.

We left stuffed but stumbled into Dot's Cafe for a nightcap on our walk back to the Airbnb.

09/06/2023

First day in Portland was buried in great food! Lunch at Hawthorne Asylum, as we needed to check out Portland's infamous "food cart pods" (areas where several food carts or trucks are gathered with shared seating space for customers). This one, in SE Portland, has 21 food & drink options. Our favorite was the sushi burrito at Rollin' Fresh- Madison!

Dinner at Canard PDX hit on all fronts - laid-back atmosphere, creative and flavorful food, and warm service. The winning dish was their Oeufs en Mayonnaise (a classic Parisian food, in the same ballpark as deviled eggs). What was even more impressive was the deep wine list for this smaller bistro.

07/06/2023

The agenda has been (mostly) set for our trip! Left a few openings for some last-minute recos/finds.

Wednesday (Portland): food trucks for lunch, Canard PDX for dinner

Thursday (Portland): open for lunch ideas, dinner at Jacqueline

Friday (Eugene, McMinnville): lunch and wine at Oregon Wine LAB, then Silvan Ridge Winery (📸 mltaylor on Tripadvisor), dinner at Humble Spirit

Saturday: lunch (open?), Trisaetum Winery, Adelsheim Vineyard, Chehalem Winery

Sunday: lunch (open?), Archery Summit, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, dinner (open?)

Monday: Portland until the flight (breakfast ideas?)

Let us know if you have any suggestions or wine/food to try at any of these!

16/05/2023

We hit up a couple of wineries in the beautiful of Wisconsin this weekend! Fortunately, both have dog-friendly patios as Passport Vino has expanded to a team of 3 🐶

First stop was Vernon Vineyards, Viroqua. The views from their patio were breathtaking, overlooking their vineyard and the sloping hills and valleys the region is known for. We also got to watch a wedding take place 25’ away (beautiful venue for a winery wedding!). Our favorite wine was actually their house white; which was a newer release and not on their printed menu yet. It had the best balance with solid acidity. Vernon produces several locally grown native grape varietals, most of which are at least semi-sweet/off-dry. Tastings are 3 for $5 or 6 for $10.

Next stop was Branches Winery - Westby where we were served by the winemaker’s wife and the last pour by the winemaker himself. They have a large patio overlooking their vineyard with plenty of sun and shade options. The reds were the standouts. Our favorites were the Marquette and Carmenere (they imported the juice from Chile to make the latter). The Marquette grape is related to the Frontenac and Pinot Noir. A cheese plate was a helpful bridge to dinner!

The southwest corner of Wisconsin is gorgeous, worth a trip to see on its own. Add a few dozen wineries and some midwestern charm, and it’s a must-visit!

29/06/2022

Okay, we have to rectify something. We neglected to talk about the amazing dining experience we had at FLX Table on our first day exploring the Finger Lakes wine region, and we had to rectify it.

The thought and planning that went into every moment were commendable. Somm & Restaurateur Christopher Bates and team deserve applause for helping to elevate this region into more than a wine destination, but a checklist place as well. This 14 to 16-seat restaurant with a seasonal five-course menu with several options is worth building your trip around. We didn't get a chance to check out their other concepts, but it looks like he is building quite the empire!

27/06/2022

Passport Vino was started as a passion project after completing my Level III Somm program at .college 's Wine Professional Program. As you can tell from the number of social media and blog posts I've done since then, life has kept me very busy. I have traveled to several wine regions during this time, but each trip always stalls with pages of notes and folders of pictures and videos.

The best "distraction" during this time was getting married to this beautiful, intelligent, and caring woman in June of 2021. Fortunately, she is a globe-trotting wine lover who has a passion for photography and the concept of Passport Vino. We decided that together we would make sure these trips result in published content that reflects the original vision of making wine travel more accessible, enjoyable, and educational.

Stay tuned for the publishing of new trips as well as the backlog of previous trips: Traverse City, MI; Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico; Oaxaca, Mexico ( ); and Chile. We look forward to exploring the world with you, one sip at a time!

Besides social media, you can read the full travel guides at https://passportvino.com/.

20/06/2022

Our last day in the Finger Lakes 😭
We had a shortened day due to having to drive to Rochester for an evening flight, but we got some exploring in!


We didn’t have time for a tasting but we still wanted to check out the castle and grounds after seeing their sign, “home to 3 hotels, 2 restaurants, winery & gift shop.” They have hundreds of feet of well-groomed lakefront property on Seneca Lake and a huge facility (really old castle + a newer building attached) that includes all of the aforementioned as well as a spa, salon, and a few banquet halls.

Sans Dumplings
We came to get lunch at this carryout restaurant at Kemmeter Wines because it was highly recommended and we were crossing our fingers that the tasting room would have a cancelation. They only offer a few slots a day and recommend booking 10-14 days in advance. Unfortunately, they didn't but we did talk to the winemaker/owner and he promised to “spoil us” next time (and we will take him up on that!). Either way, the dumplings, bao, and view were totally worth the stop! They have picnic tables so you can eat while overlooking the vineyard & Seneca Lake.


This is basically the Disneyland of Wineries - they have created an experience where you can spend hours at. Their “compound” consists of 3 wineries, microbrewery, cafe, and gift shop with plenty to look at and places to sit and relax (perhaps to space out your tastings). They cater to a wide audience as the wines are approachable and fun.

We were sorry to see the trip come to an end, but we have plenty of material to write our first blog post about the . Be sure to follow us to be notified of its release or check out other wine regions we've written about: https://passportvino.com/! Also, we will be back to check out some new spots and re-visit our favorites. What did we miss that we should check out next time👇? We would love your tips and recommendations!

18/06/2022

The Finger Lakes region continues to impress! More great food, vino, people, and scenic views! This time, we explored Keuka Lake and then back to Geneva for dinner and drinks.

Monaco's Coffee for coffee and pastries to get the day started ☕️

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
🤤 The 1886 Food & Wine Experience was educational and interactive (we went out into the vineyard and into the sparkling wine cellar). Highly recommend!
🍷High caliber wines all the way around, but if we had to choose a fave...we can't! Tie between the 2021 Sauv Blanc and 2020 Eugenia Dry Riesling (Saperavi was great too, but not technically part of the experience)
🦪 The food & wine pairings were spot on and were absolutely delicious!

Weis Vineyards
🙏 They squeezed us in just before closing time - thanks again!
🌅 Beautiful view from the tasting bar, with views of the lake
🏠 Newer, modern tasting room without outdoor area complete with bags/cornhole
🍷Our favorite was their 2021 Winzer Select Riesling K

Ports Cafe
👏 Liz took such great care of us!
🦪 Clam dish was flavorful and the rustic bread was perfect for soaking it up!
📣 Highly recommended by several locals

Microclimate Wine Bar
🍸Small but thoughtfully curated drink, wine, and beer list (+ some snacks)
2️⃣ Second time we were there this week (and we would have gone more but they were closed for two of the days!)
❤️ Ellie and Anthony are the new owners of this place. They are passionate, talented, and friendly, and we wish them all the luck!

16/06/2022

We explored the east side of Seneca Lake on day 3 of the Finger Lakes (" ") region and had more great wine and food! We visited:


🙋‍♀️ Very attentive, helpful staff (Ro)
🌳 Nice covered patio
🍷 Reds stole the show, we really liked the Lemberger and loved the Syrah (they're in the "banana belt" which gives them more warmth and sun for the reds to develop)
🎸 Live music on the weekends (we missed it)


👀 Amazing view of Seneca Lake!
🧐 Knowledgeable and friendly staff (Neal)
🍷 Same owner as (and it shows). Our favorites were the Teinturier Saperavi Brut Rose, Teinturier Saperavi, and County Line Pinot Noir (all 2020s)
*Our blog post will dive into the !

Lunch:
📍 Skaneateles, NY (cute, touristy town on Skaneateles Lake with lots of boutique shops)
🍩 Pastries and sandwiches

Dinner:
🌳 Great view overlooking the valley
🍗 Amazing fried catfish and "adult" corndog!

15/06/2022

Day 2 completed with two more wineries, exploration of the beautiful Geneva, New York, a great dinner at , and a nightcap at where we also got a lot of info about the region from our amazing bartender!


🥪 Cute cafe & bakery on-site (not a lot of wineries have food)
👋 Friendly & knowledgeable staff
🌍 South African-inspired design (one owner from )
🍷 Favorite wine: 2021 Dry Riesling


🏡 Beautiful winery and tasting room
🧐 Passionate and knowledgeable staff
🏆 Most award-winning winery in the region (some serious juice!)
🍷 Our favorites: 2020 Magdalena Cab Franc and 2020 Josef Vineyard Riesling (but ALL of their wines were really, really good!)

Stay tuned for the full post - be sure to follow the page to be notified!

13/06/2022

First winery of the Figner Lakes trip accomplished! on the west side of Cayuga Lake.
- Knowledgeable and friendly staff 👋🏼
- Scenic (and tented) outdoor seating area
- Our favorite was the Limited Release Cab Franc 🍷
Full post on the Finger Lakes wine region coming soon, be sure to follow our page to get notified!

https://hosmerwinery.com

08/03/2020

Passport Vino

02/03/2020

Passport Vino's cover photo