Willamette Valley’s wine experts know a lot about the perfect pairings and folks on wine-tasting tours occasionally bring cheese or chocolate. But for organizers of a particular annual event in Philomath, the pairings are all about bringing businesses and wineries together for the enjoyment of those strolling through the downtown area.
It’s time for Philomath Uncorked, an event sponsored by the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce as a way to showcase local businesses, promote participating wineries, breweries and distilleries and to just offer the community an opportunity to get out and have some fun.
The wine walk will operate from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 31.
“We didn’t have a whole lot of time not knowing if the state was going to reopen or not and so we had to start planning pretty late,” said Shelley Niemann, chamber director. “But once we made the commitment to do it, we received a lot of good feedback and a lot of inquiries already, so we’re excited that we’re able to make it happen.”
The wine walk dates back to 2011 and the concept hasn’t changed through the years although more businesses and wineries have participated. Now in its 10th year, the number of tasting stations is down just by a few this time around.
“We have lost a few businesses … that were normally on the walk but also we found that a few of our wine vendors were short on staffing and didn’t have enough staff members to pour at our event,” Niemann said.
There will be 18 tasting stations set up — 13 wineries, two brewers and three distilleries (although one will pour both spirits and speciality wines).
“We have some new ones this year,” Niemann said. “I looked at the variety and we have vendors from 10 different areas.”
Locally, there are participants from Philomath, Wren, Corvallis and Monroe, along with those coming in from Monmouth, Albany, Dallas, Cheshire, Tigard and Walla Walla, Washington.
By the way, the participant coming in from Walla Walla, Nocking Point Wines, partnered with the Corvallis Knights on a rosè called Going, Going, Gone. Nocking Point Wines co-founder Andrew Harding played for the Knights years ago.
So just how does the chamber decide to pair Calapooia Brewing with Figaro’s Pizza, for example?
“Some businesses do request locations — some like to request the same location, others like to request to be moved to a new location and try a different spot on the wine walk and we try to accommodate anybody’s request,” Niemann said. “And there’s other thoughts that go into some of them just in terms of like, beer oftentimes goes better with pizza, and things like that. … It just depends on what vendors we have available.”
For $15, participants of legal drinking age receive a wine glass, five tasting tickets, a map and a tote bag. Tickets can only be purchased on the day of the event at two locations — on the east end near Marys Peak True Value (1740 Main St.) and on the west end at Compton Family Wines (810 Applegate St.).
Extra tasting tickets can be purchased along the route at the Social Rebekah Lodge (148 N. 13th St.). A raffle has also been organized with those tickets available at Ark Animal Hospital (1100 Applegate St.) and Compton Family Wines.
Food will be available at each stop and live music will be featured at Eats & Treats (1644 Main St.) and Meet’n Place Tavern (1150 Main St.).
TASTING LOCATIONS ADDRESS VENDOR Marys Peak True Value 1740 Main St. Compton Family Wines Vinwood Taphouse 1736 Main St. Catman Cellars Marcotte Distilling Co. 1732 Main St. Marcotte Distilling Co. Creative Graphic 1714 Main St. Pheasant Court Winery Eats & Treats Café 1644 Main St. Cardwell Hill Cellars Maxtivity Creative Space 1604 Main St. Chateau Bianca Winery Timber Towne Coffee 1427 Main St. Bluebird Hill Cellars Farmers Insurance — Housley 1427 Main St. Gelardi Vineyards La Rockita 1413 Main St. Nocking Point Wines# Figaro’s Pizza 1411 Main St. Calapooia Brewing Anytime Fitness 1313 Main St. Emerson Vineyards Windsmith Music 1305 Main St. Lumos Wine Co. Dirt Road Brewing 1301 Main St. Dirt Road Brewing Sissi’s Bakery & Eatery 126 N. 13th St. Vivacity Spirits Social Rebekah Lodge 148 N. 13th St. Dragon’s Vineyard* Meet’n Place Tavern 1150 Main St. Spiritopia Ark Animal Hospital 1100 Applegate St. Airlie Winery** Compton Family Wines 810 Applegate St. Compton Wines** # Corvallis Knights will also be on site
* Extra tasting tickets available
** Raffle basket entry sites
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