Travel the world’s best wine regions without feeling the burn of high fuel prices and poor exchange rates. The International Wine Passport Series brings the wines, terroirs and stories of 12 unique and exciting wine regions to the classroom.
We invited 12 of our favorite Portland-based wine professionals to join us for this series and asked each to select the wine region they are most passionate about. Their interests spanned the globe from the slate-rich soils of the Mosel to the Bordeaux-similar climate of the Stellenbosh and from the terraced hillsides of the Danube River to the Pacific-influenced Sonoma Valley.
Whether you are new to wine or have been studying it for years, we invite you join us for this fun and informative series. Membership is available at all levels from Platinum Frequent Flyer to Daytripper.
| January - Greece | May - Willamette Valley | September - Rioja |
| February - Piedmont | June - Portugal | October - Chile |
| March - SW France | July - Stellenbosch | November - Sonoma |
| April - Austria | August - Mosel | December - Champagne |
Frequent Flyer - Platinum Member
Our Platinum Members are thirsty travelers eager to learn about any and all wine regions.
Frequent Flyer - Gold Member
Frequent Flyer - Silver Member
Daytripper
Daytrippers are also welcome. No commitment necessary. Just select the class of your choice and we'll see you there.
August: Mosel, Germany
- Thursday, August 13, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- 8 SPACES AVAILABLE
- $50
The slate-rich soils and cool climate of the Mosel produce many of Germany’s best wines, with bottles commanding upwards of $4000 at recent auctions. The Riesling-based wines traditional to this region are known for their delicate weight, residual sweetness, and pronounced aromas of white peach, citrus, and stony minerality. In this class we will sample a range of these wines, from graceful Kabinetts to richer and more concentrated Ausleses and Beerenausleses, but we will also sample more “modern,” dry styles that emphasize terroir expression over grape ripeness.
About the instructor: Ewald Moseler hails from the Mosel region of Germany and is the northwest’s foremost importer of German wines.
September: Rioja, Spain
- Thursday, September 10, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- 7 SPACES AVAILABLE
- $50
Spain’s most traditional wine region produces wine in a variety of styles. More “traditional-style” wines get their distinctive oxidized and vanilla-scented character from extended aging in old, American oak barrels, while more “modern” styles place greater emphasis on retaining fruitiness and show more new-French-oak character. In this class we will taste and discuss Rioja’s various styles as well as the impact of the areas different soil types and climatic influences on these wines. The unique white wines of this region – in both modern and traditional styles – will also be discussed.
About the instructor: Peter de Garmo is owner of Pastaworks and is founder of the Portland Slow Food Convivium.
October: Central Valley, Chile
- Thursday, October 8, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- 6 SPACES AVAILABLE
- $50
Chile is often described as a “winegrowers paradise.” Free of phylloxera and humidity-related diseases, with near perfect temperatures, ample irrigation water from the Andes, and cool breezes coming in from the Pacific, Chile is able to easily produce wines of exceptional quality – often at bargain basement prices. The country does particularly well with Bordeaux varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and the little-known Carmenère variety – a near extinct Bordeaux grape just recently discovered in Chile. If you’re looking for bargains in the wine market, this is the class for you!
About the instructor: Chris Poulos is the Pacific Northwest sales representative for North Berkeley Imports. He holds the WSET Advanced Certificate (AC) and is currently completing the WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits (DWS).
November: Sonoma Valley, U.S.A.
- Thursday, November 5, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- 6 SPACES AVAILABLE
- $50
Sonoma was the original source for fine wine production in California and continues this tradition today, producing many of the state’s finest and most elegant wines. Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the slightly-warmer Napa Valley, Sonoma sees a marked maritime influence with cool temperatures, frequent cloud cover, and coastal fogs – all which serve to produce slow-ripened, complex fruit with great acidity. Variations in microclimates means that while cool climate grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive in the cooler enclaves of Carneros and Russian River Valley, warmer regions like Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley are able to produce exceptional quality warmer-climate wines such as Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blends.
About the instructor: Dana Pickell is a territory manager for Triage Wines. She was formerly a wine steward at New Seasons Market and sommelier at 23Hoyt.
December: Champagne, France
- Thursday, December 3, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- 8 SPACES AVAILABLE
- $50
Considered by many to be the finest wines in the world, the wines of Champagne are imitated the world over and command higher prices than almost any other wine style. In this class we will explore how climate, soil and grape varieties impact style, the role of blending, the traditional method of making wine sparkle, and the role of autolysis in creating the distinctive Champagne character. This class offers a unique opportunity to compare and contrast several different Champagne styles.
About the instructor: Peter Gibson is owner of the wine-consulting firm Gibson Consulting.
January: Greece
- Thursday, January 29, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- Class Closed
- $50
Forget the resin-flavored Retsinas that you associate with ‘Greek Wine.’ The indigenous grape varieties of this wine producing country are capable of making wines with much more interest and complexity than something artificially flavored with pine resin. In this session, we will travel from the cool vineyard sites in Macedonia where the elegant Xinomavro grape makes complex and age-worthy wines, to Santorini to taste the intense and floral wines of the Assyrtiko grape, and then to the Peloponnese to sample the crisp, mineral-rich Rhoditis-based wines and the soft, plummy wines of Nemea.
About the instructor: Mimi Martin is co-owner of The Wine & Spirit Archive. She holds the WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits (DWS).
February: Piedmont, Italy
- Saturday, February 28, 2:00p.m.
- cork: a bottle shop
- 2901 NE Alberta Street
- Portland, Oregon
- Class Closed
- $50
Piedmont’s rolling hillsides, nestled at the base of the Alps, provide ideal growing conditions for some of the world’s most prestigious wines. The variations in slope, aspect and soil found in these hills support a broad range of grape varieties and wine styles. The most famous wines of Piedmont are certainly the elegant and age-worthy Nebbiolo-based wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, but the region supports other charming and distinctive varieties as well including Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, and Grignolino.
About the instructor: Darryl Joannides is owner of cork • a bottle shop and was formerly chef/owner of Assagio Restaurant.
March: SW France
- Thursday, March 19, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- Class Closed
- $50
Lying between France’s famed Bordeaux region and the French-Spanish border lies a collection of regionally-distinct wine districts, each producing wines unique to their particular region and little known outside SW France. These wines run the gamut from the rustic and tannin-heavy Tannat wines of Madiran to the dry and botrytised Manseng-based wines from Jurançon to the Auxerrois (Malbec) wines of Cahors.
About the instructor: David Holstrom is owner of Guy du Vin, a wine consulting business and online retail shop focused on unique and individualistic wines.
April: Austria
- Thursday, April 16, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- Class Closed
- $50
On the terraced hillsides above the Danube River, the regions of the Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal produce dry, mineral-rich Rieslings along with savory, complex Grüner Veltliners – a world class variety little known outside Austria. These terroir-driven wines easily reflect the broad variations in soil and climate found in this river valley. But a trip to Austria would be incomplete without also stopping in Burgenland where we find an entirely different range of wines: light-bodied, refined reds made from Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, and St. Laurent as well as the botrytized sweet wines from the fog-heavy banks of the Neusiedlersee.
About the instructor: Adam Rhynard is co-owner of The Wine & Spirit Archive. He holds the WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits (DWS).
May: The Willamette Valley, U.S.A.
- Thursday, May 28, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- Class Closed
- $50
For this session, we stay close at home for an exploration of the world class AVAs and vineyards of our own backyard: The Willamette Valley. Learn why the climate and soils of this region make it one of the few wine regions in the world capable of coaxing true elegance from the elusive Pinot Noir grape and taste the terroir of the region’s various AVAs as we sample several Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs. This session will also explore the cool climate white grapes that have found success here including Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.
About the instructor: Erica Landon is wine director and general manager of Ten-01 restaurant. She holds the Sommelier Diploma from both the International Sommelier Guild and the Court of Master Sommeliers.
June: Portugal
- Thursday, June 11, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- Class Closed
- $50
From the light-bodied, effervescent wines of the Vinho Verde to the intense, concentrated fortified wines of the Douro, Portugal offers an unparalleled range of wines styles. Reflecting the country’s unique history of winemaking, collection of indigenous grape varieties, and broad spectrum of climates, these wines represent some of the most exciting and underappreciated wines in the market today. Join us as we discover the wine gems of Portugal, from the country’s prestigious and long-living Ports to its wonderful and lesser-known wine oddities.
About the instructor: Katherine Cole is a wine writer and columnist for several publications including the Oregonian and Mix Magazine.
July: Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Thursday, July 16, 6:00p.m.
- Western Culinary Institute
- Galleria Mall, Suite 400
- Portland, Oregon
- Class Closed
- $50
Much of South Africa’s finest wines – particularly those based on Cabernet Sauvignon – hail from the Stellenbosch. Located just outside Capetown, this region benefits from the cooling breezes coming in from False Bay and has near perfect climate conditions for the production of high quality wine. The region is best known for elegant Bordeaux blends that straddle the difference between classic “old world” and “new world” styles, but is also capable of producing extraordinary Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc wines as well.
About the instructor: Lisa Shara Hall is senior editor of Wine Business Monthly and writes for a number of British wine publications. She is the first student from Oregon to sit for the prestigious Master of Wine qualification.