Not quite live from the IPNC, aka reunion weekend for pinot-philes
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Here I am in McMinnville, Oregon reporting live from the International Pinot Noir Celebration! This annual event, now in its 21st incarnation, attracts hundreds of pinot-philes from around the world to the Willamette Valley. They are treated to two-and-a-half days of vineyard visits, talks as well as tastings of the wines made from the grape hailing from not just Oregon but also France, California, New Zealand and beyond.
At breakfast this morning I was standing in line for some delicious local berries and assorted breakfast fare and fell into conversation with a group of six enthusiasts from North Carolina. Bob Crenshaw, who owns Health Habit, a retailer of “natural foods, fine wine” (as his business card states) with his wife Susan, was the most seasoned veteran of the group: he has attended the event an astonishing 19 times. What brings him back, I asked?
“The wine, the food, the people,” he replied. And there you have the IPNC in a nutshell!
* * * *
Well, if only that were this morning. It would be as if I were going back in time, back to the time before my hard drive crashed, leaving me without a functioning computer during the whole, wonderful trip to Oregon. But all is good with the computer now and, after getting a new hard drive, I did go back in time to the time of my most recent backup, thankfully not too long ago.
The IPNC was a very good event and I can see why Bob Crenshaw keeps going back. I have lots of material to post about the event and some related winery visits so I will get to those soon. To whet your whistle, there will be some producer Q&A, notes and photos from wineries, a visit to the biggest little town in the Willamette Valley, tasting notes from a legendary tasting that I attended and how my trip turned into a pinot-drenched trip–literally! Stay tuned!
As to the above photo, I snapped this little montage of all things Oregon–Pinot Gris, hazelnuts, and cherries–from the extremely scenic veranda at…. Well, now wait, you tell me–where exactly in the wine world was I?
One of the "seven best wine blogs." 
One of the three best wine blogs
On July 30th, 2008 at 10:01 pm ,wine lover wrote:
You are in the Eola Hills northwest of Salem, Oregon. I’ve been to INPC once and had a great time. It got me thinking what wine event is everyones favorite.
On July 31st, 2008 at 7:28 am ,Ian Davidson wrote:
I love Pinot Noir and had no idea this festival existed. I will certainly have to add this to my “to do” list…however, I don
t think I’ll make it 19 times in a row! (grin)
Keep up the great work!
Ian
On July 31st, 2008 at 9:01 am ,bill marsano wrote:
The scenic overlook above the Dundee Bottleneck.
On July 31st, 2008 at 9:50 am ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Ha, Bill, good one!
Ian, good call!
Wine lover, you’re right! This scene was on the veranda at Bethel Heights, in the Eola-Amity Hills.
Good thought about asking people their favorite festivals/ wine events! What’s yours?
On July 31st, 2008 at 3:41 pm ,wine lover wrote:
Without a doubt the Santa Fe wine and chile fiesta. This year it runs from Sept. 24th to the 28th. I believe the grand food and wine tasting is already sold out this year. I would love to hear about other great wine events. I can’t see how anyone would be disappointed with the SFWC!
On July 31st, 2008 at 3:44 pm ,wine lover wrote:
PS What’s my prize? A case of Bethel Heights Nysa vinyard Pinot Noir?
On August 1st, 2008 at 10:13 am ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Wine and chili? Sounds like an “impossible” food wine pairing to me!
Sorry, wine lover, no prize for this round.
On August 24th, 2008 at 12:05 pm ,Philippe Pacalet, a rule breaker making natural Burgundy | Dr Vino's wine blog wrote:
[...] breakfast the next day (IPNC is like a reunion weekend for pinotphiles), Pacalet told me that his 2005 Corton-Charlemagne was denied the appellation, which meant for him [...]