Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Become a ?Connoisseur of Oregon Wines' with PCC

Photos and story by James Hill

PORTLAND, Ore. – Develop your wine palate and enjoy a morning in the country while you discover the wineries in Portland’s own backyard. This summer, Portland Community College’s Connoisseur of Oregon Wines Program will feature wine tasting and instruction with five top-producing vintners.The non-credit program will explore both art and science of viticulture as students talk to the people who actually make the wine at each winery. From "hedging"to "low-impact organic gardening"to marketing techniques, you will learn how each wine maker creates their own special blends, brands and tastes. After completing the program, participants will earn an Oregon Wine Connoisseur certificate – and be able to pick a local wine to accompany any dish with confidence."Every term we have a waiting list for this program,"says Gary Palmer, PCC Community Education manager. "If you want to get in on this terrific way to learn about great wines, you must sign up early."The program will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on the following Saturdays: June 21 and 28, July 12, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Cost is $79 for the complete program, or $19 per individual winery excursion.Featured wineries include the following: Walnut City Wineworks, 475 N.E. 17th St., McMinnville (June 21). Winemaker Rich Cushmann and Cellarmaster Zac Spence will give a tour and discuss unusual Oregon blends such as syrah, viognier and snagiovese.  Champoeg Wine Cellars, 10375 Champoeg Road, N.E., Aurora (June 28). Winemaker Ted Ottmar and Assistant Nate Armburst will give a lesson on hedging in the Champoeg State Park region – a vineyard with a wine-growing history from the time of the early settlers. Maysara Estate, 15765 S.W. Muddy Valley Road, McMinnville (July 12). Maysara uses low-impact organic gardening to grow Pinot Noir grapes. Winemaker Jimi Brooks and assistant Christopher Williams will share their vision of turning grapes from different rootstocks and clones into wines. Bishop Creek Vineyards, Russell Creek Road, Yamhill (Aug. 2). Owner Reul Fish and manager Jason Lett will discuss their marketing vision that offers customers the opportunity to become involved in decisions made during the harvest and production of their own case of wine. Stag Hollow Vineyards, 3330 S.E. Amity-Dayton Hwy., Amity (Aug. 9). Winemakers Mark Huff and Jill Zarnowitz will discuss the Pinot Noir clones that are available and how to choose the right ones for each soil and setting.For more information, contact PCC Community Education at 503-533-2708.