Set along the rolling hills of The Reserve Vineyard and Golf Course, the second annual Best of Oregon Food and Wine Festival took place this Saturday in beautiful Willamette Valley, Oregon. Despite the high summer temperatures, guests convened on the golf course early in the afternoon for the festival’s first golf tournament before the setting sun gave way to the evening’s food and wine tasting. Manning their booths around the clubhouse’s exterior, nearly fifty local wineries and eateries participated in this year’s event, including Willamette Valley Vineyards, Wooldridge Creek Vineyards, 50 Plates, Silk, Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro, and Maialino Bacon.
The event, which benefited the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation, featured a number of stellar vendors this year. A few of my favorites – Brooks Vineyard’s delicious Amycas white wine (a fave from last year’s festival), yummy risotto balls from Aquariva, Koi Fusion’s fantastic pork lettuce wrap, delicious chocolate bits from Sweet Masterpiece, all of Duck Pond Cellar’s offerings, braised pork shoulder from Bethany’s Table, and the marvelous WillaKenzie Estate Pierre Leon Pinot Noir.
A big congrats to Claudia Bowers of Pravia Wine & Events for a sparkling second year event!
~Jennifer Heigl