Vin48 is thrilled to host Steve Doerner of Cristom wines for an Oregon Pinot Noir tasting.

Cristom is renowed for utilizing Old World winemaking techniques – whole clusters, native yeast fermentation, and gentle and minimal handling – Cristom handcrafts wines that are smooth, elegant and subtle.

These characteristics have earned Cristom distinction among wine enthusiasts and industry leaders alike, including being named ‘Best New World Red’ by Decanter magazine.

Cristoms’ 65-acre estate in the Eola Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley offers a long growing season, mild climate, warm winds and ancient volcanic soils that make it ideally suited to grow Pinot Noir and other traditional French varietals.

The vines are closely spaced – 2300 per acre – and pruned back to about 50% of their fruit-bearing capacity. This high-density planting and low yield intensifies the flavor of the grapes. Dry farming further enhances the quality of  fruit.

Please call 970 748 9463 to reserve your glass |  price for the tasting is only $25

Tannin

Technically, a quality of a wine that comes from the skins, seeds and stems of the grapes as well as barrel aging. Tannin will give wine its firm structure, in addition to acting as a preservative, making a wine more age worthy. In real terms, tannin is felt more then tasted. It’s the quality in wine that dries out your mouth and curls your lips up around your gums. To really test the tannin in a wine, try swishing the wine up under your gums and see how much your lips stick to your gums. If you’re having a hard time pulling them back down over your teeth the tannin is medium to high. If it’s pretty easy to wrap those lips back around you teeth then the tannin is lower. At this point you can assess the tannins as low, medium or high. Nebbiolo grapes tend to be higher in tannin, while Pinot Nior tends to be lower in tannin. Come have a few half glasses of wine with your friends and practice assessing tannin in wine.

Vail Valley Wine Picks

2006 Monte Oton-Spain . Made by Borsao, this unoaked Spanish sipper, delivers baskets of clean, ripe berry fruit at an amazing price.

’07 Casalfarneto, verdicchio-Italy/Marche. This Italian white varietal showcases tropical fruit, creamy texture and enough acidity to pair nicely with a patio table on a summer evening.

Come into the bar and mention the Shout Out for 48% off your first glass of either of the featured wines.