Today I volunteered at the Indie Wine Festival. I woke up at 5:30 AM and was out the door at 6:45. A cute guy bought me coffee at the Dutch Bros. drive through. Great start to my day!
I arrived at The Vintage Plaza Hotel at 7:15 AM pumped up for the day. My behind the scenes look at a real wine competition. What happens at a wine competition? Well there are lots of bottles to open, flights of glasses to setup, tables to clear, dump buckets to well...dump and racks of glasses to wash.
As the day proceeded, the cycle continued with Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah, Sparkling, Pinot Gris, Viognier...you get the picture. All of the volunteers and Indie Wine Festival staff were fantastic! The results will be announced to the winners by the end of the week.
The most important thing I learned today is it doesn't matter who you are or what you do, unless you inspire and appreciate others who want to be like you. I aspire to be a wine writer and leader in the wine industry. When that happens, I will make sure to motivate others, take the time to find out their story, their dreams and goals and share advice and guidance.
I was the captain of a five person panel today and not one of the judges took the time to ask me my name, what I do or thank me for helping out. At lunch all of the judge's sat together and all of us volunteers sat at the "kids table". Not one of them came over to introduce themselves or to say hello. Each volunteer today was passionate about wine, the industry and would have loved the opportunity to meet many or any of the judges. They were wine writers, chefs, winemakers, TV personalities, wine buyers. Basically the who's who of the wine industry.
That is the one thing I admire most about my boss. He is humble, down-to-earth, inspirational and most importantly takes the time to reach out to each guest and make a personal connection with them. Others should aspire to be more like him.
Make sure to check out the Indie Wine Festival. It is in May and will be a great opportunity to taste wines from many small, boutique wineries around Oregon. I posted some information and a link to the website below.
Join 40 craft producers that represent the heart and soul of Oregon’s world-class wine industry as they pour their wines during the 6th annual Portland Indie Wine & Food Festival. The festival is an exciting opportunity to meet rising star winemakers from emerging cellars across the state in a farmer’s market-style setting. Most of the wines being poured are very limited in production and not widely available to purchase. This is your chance to buy wine you like from the winemaker on the spot and take them home.
2010 marks the official launch of the Indie Wine Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to preserving and sustaining the art of craft winemaking.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Grand Tasting Event
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Bison Building
419 NE 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97232
This year’s Grand Tasting will showcase 40 jury-selected, Oregon craft wineries and 15 of Portland’s creative culinary talents in an intimate farmer’s market-style setting. General Admission tickets are $75/person and include one tasting glass, festival passport and access to pours from all wineries and food from all featured restaurants.
2010 Portland Indie Wine & Food Festival Judges included:
Michael Davies, Winemaker, A to Z Wineworks
Alice Feiring, Journalist and Author
John Grochau, Winemaker, GC Wines
Tim Kennedy, Winemaker, Don Carlo Vineyard
Toni Ketrenos, Wine Buyer, New Seasons Market
Ted Loos, Freelance wine writer, Town & Country, Sherman's
Claud Mann, Chef and host of TBS' Dinner & a Movie
Naomi Pomeroy, Chef/owner, Beast
Jason Smith, Director of Wine, Bellagio, Las Vegas
Bernie Sun, Corporate Beverage Director, Jean-Georges Management, LLC
Cathy Whims, Chef/owner, Nostrana
Summer Wolff, Wine Broker, Sokolin & Indie Wines
There is free parking nearby in lots as well as on-street parking. We’re arranging a wine pick-up zone at the Grand Tasting Event so you may load your car with wine directly following the event. There will be wine valet volunteers with handcarts to help deliver wine to your car.
Tickets can only be purchased online or at the door.
$75 for a general admission ticket into Saturday’s Grand Tasting
$125 for a VIP admission ticket into Saturday’s Grand tasting (gets you in an hour early)
Tickets are non-refundable, non transferable. Tickets are provided at WILL CALL only. Bring your final order page with you to claim your entry at the door.
Got to http://www.indiewinefestival.com/ for more information.
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