Normally I don’t ever quote press releases, much less reprint entire texts, but what Jess Pierce of Brooks Wines in Oregon has written about the impending Riesling Invasion that begins on Saturday, July 19th in Portland/Oregon is so good here it is in full:
HG Wells (or even Orson Welles) couldn’t have planned so stealthy an invasion, but after years of groundwork, Riesling has broken out of the Willamette Valley and is coming to claim Portland! As part of the annual Summer of Riesling celebration, Portland will be invaded by 39 wineries pouring 100 different Rieslings.
The Riesling Invasion takes place on Saturday, July 19th from 4-8 PM at the Olympic Mills Building, 107 SE Washington Street, Portland. Tickets for the public are $30 in advance (purchase them online at http://rieslinginvasion.com ) or $35 at the door. A complete list of the winery participants can be found on the same website.
“Riesling Invasion is great example of the sense of community shared by Riesling producers all over the world” says Jani Brooks, of Brooks Winery in Amity. “RI gives us an opportunity to gather and celebrate Riesling, to change stereotypes associated with Riesling, and to connect with other Riesling fanatics looking for the next level of acidity. What an extraordinary – and fun — event!”
Adding to the festivities, Vin Halen, an all-winemaker band from the Willamette Valley will be performing during the event. There will also be food available ( but not included in price of admission) via a cluster of food vendors: Olympic Provisions will be there with their hot/brat dog cart, Andrea Slonecker’s Pretzel stand (the go-to pairing for Riesling!), and Xico for Mexican style grilled corn. Legendary Portland cheesemonger Steve Jones is also slated to attend with a selection of cheese that will be perfect with the range of Rieslings being poured.
But wait, there’s more! Renowned author Stuart Pigott will be in attendance with his new book “Best White Wine on Earth: The Riesling Story” and he will be selling and signing the book for attendees. Pigott has traveled the world documenting its top riesling regions and producers and this book delves into the history of these people and places. Says Pigott, “Finally, the Riesling Invasion has arrived in Oregon and is clearing out all that Pinot Noir fog! This invasion is actually innovation, giving Oregon its first great dry white wines.” And if that’s not enough, the folks from Summer of Riesling (sponsored by Ambonnay Champagne Bar) will be there with plenty of swag!
Follow us on Twitter- @RieslingInvader and Instagram- #rieslinginvasion. For further information, images, photos, quotes, or interviews, contact: Jess Pierce, Brooks Winery Phone: 225.328.0706 jess@brookswine.com
PS Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten my promise! A text is in progress.
I tried, a number of years…maybe a decade, ago, to get David to let me show you his Rieslings. I had picked out 72, 73, 76, 80 and 82, and set them all aside to show you. But in the end he forbade it, saying he didn’t like the diesely nature of them, which is why he didn’t continue making it. I thought I should have brought a bottle of the 1970 to the Invasion in a shadowbox, you know…to point out Riesling, too, had gotten a start long ago at the same place as so many other things. As an aside, if you ever get a chance to taste the Erath 1976…it’s quite good too, or at least was 20 years ago, when it was about 20.