Wineries at 2022 IPNC

Rick_Allen · July 10, 2022, 6:07pm

Yet the last time they held the event, there were three - Gainey, Laetitia, Sanford.

larry_schaffer · July 10, 2022, 6:44pm

Rick,

John was giving me crap about rhe usage of ‘Central Coast’ to cover way too broad of a region. Of the wineries mentioned, 2 are from SB County and one is from SLO County.

Cheers

Mel_Knox · July 10, 2022, 6:52pm

A lot of California wineries wanted to participate because they saw it as a ticket to wine sales. Frankly, IPNC is a lot of fun, if your liver holds up, but the price is steep. The allocated wineries see no reason to sign up other than having a good time. For many others it’s expensive. There are a lot more pinot noir themed events now, like Pinot Forum and WOPN. I haven’t been to IPNC for a long time but it seems to me you end up tasting somebody’s Volnay in 95 F weather. The salmon BBQ can be great.

One of the best lines ever was at the brunch the next day, when Dave Lett asked how much blood people had lost through their eyeballs.

John_Glas · July 10, 2022, 10:45pm

If you mean that the highest bidders get in, Nope. There is a requirement that they supply a certain amount of wine and they may be asked to participate in the seminars. From what I understand, wineries apply to participate and a committee decides who is in. Wineries that haven’t participated recently are usually favored. In Oregon there are enough wineries that want to participate that they generally have a rotation (in one year, out the next one or two years). Selection may also depend on the focus of the year’s events. This year there’s a focus on sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir, so I suspect that wineries with a sparkling program are more likely to get invited.

I know it would not be highest bidder but I assume a small fee to cover expenses and some go to the charity. Pouring wine at these I would assume is not cheap either as there will be a lot of people attending. I would imagine putting this on costs a lot of money and it is not cheap to attend as a consumer.

I strongly suspect that the value of the wine that is contributed far exceeds any monetary payment, if there is one. Wineries need to contribute wine for the main event tasting and the Passport tasting - both have around 1,000 people. They also contribute a certain amount of wine to be put away for future events and the seminars, and other wines (primarily whites) to be served at the event. The way I understand things, all the wine served at all the events is contributed by the wineries or was contributed in past years.

I think the question of whether the event is “cheap” or not depends on your point of view. I think that a ticket to the entire event is a bargain, as is a ticket to Passport. The Salmon Bake is, IMO, overpriced, but it is a ticket to the biggest party in McMinnville all year (that, plus an opportunity to taste a ton of once-in-a-lifetime wines brought by other party-goers). I think it’s hard to understand the value of these events unless you attend them.

What is the price of the whole event? I know it is sold out so does not show.

Andy_Steinman · July 10, 2022, 11:28pm

I know it would not be highest bidder but I assume a small fee to cover expenses and some go to the charity. Pouring wine at these I would assume is not cheap either as there will be a lot of people attending. I would imagine putting this on costs a lot of money and it is not cheap to attend as a consumer.

I strongly suspect that the value of the wine that is contributed far exceeds any monetary payment, if there is one. Wineries need to contribute wine for the main event tasting and the Passport tasting - both have around 1,000 people. They also contribute a certain amount of wine to be put away for future events and the seminars, and other wines (primarily whites) to be served at the event. The way I understand things, all the wine served at all the events is contributed by the wineries or was contributed in past years.

I think the question of whether the event is “cheap” or not depends on your point of view. I think that a ticket to the entire event is a bargain, as is a ticket to Passport. The Salmon Bake is, IMO, overpriced, but it is a ticket to the biggest party in McMinnville all year (that, plus an opportunity to taste a ton of once-in-a-lifetime wines brought by other party-goers). I think it’s hard to understand the value of these events unless you attend them.

What is the price of the whole event? I know it is sold out so does not show.

It is about $1,400 and includes 2 days of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner plus Sunday Brunch and 2 full days of Seminars and Tasting Events held on campus plus an in-depth seminar at a winery location.

It’s solid value compared to other such events.

David_Patte · July 11, 2022, 3:36am

I strongly suspect that the value of the wine that is contributed far exceeds any monetary payment, if there is one. Wineries need to contribute wine for the main event tasting and the Passport tasting - both have around 1,000 people. They also contribute a certain amount of wine to be put away for future events and the seminars, and other wines (primarily whites) to be served at the event. The way I understand things, all the wine served at all the events is contributed by the wineries or was contributed in past years.

I think the question of whether the event is “cheap” or not depends on your point of view. I think that a ticket to the entire event is a bargain, as is a ticket to Passport. The Salmon Bake is, IMO, overpriced, but it is a ticket to the biggest party in McMinnville all year (that, plus an opportunity to taste a ton of once-in-a-lifetime wines brought by other party-goers). I think it’s hard to understand the value of these events unless you attend them.

The winery fee for the “Passport” event is $1750 and then on top of that, we provide 4 to 6 cases of wine for the event. Wineries that have never participated must submit samples along with the interest form to the selection committee (veterans to the event need not, which is interesting IMO). At any rate, that a pretty high cost for a small (<1,000 case) winery— the ROI is hard to gauge but likely worthwhile in the long run?

David, the information on the IPNC website makes it sound like the same wines are poured during the Alfresco tastings during the weekend and the Passport sessions on Sunday. Is it possible to only pour on Sunday? If what you describe is the cost to pour to both events, I don’t think that’s unreasonable, particularly since I would guess that it includes a ticket to the event.

Good point. It’s true that if one were to have wines that fit the various Alfresco themes, we could show at multiple events. But I’m pretty solidly a Pinot-only producer at this point. (I will be making Chardonnay in 2022, but it will likely take me a few vintages to lock it in : ). Still, I think it’s probably worthwhile given the cachet of being selected as a top Pinot wine maker.

Andy_Steinman · July 11, 2022, 4:15am

The winery fee for the “Passport” event is $1750 and then on top of that, we provide 4 to 6 cases of wine for the event. Wineries that have never participated must submit samples along with the interest form to the selection committee (veterans to the event need not, which is interesting IMO). At any rate, that a pretty high cost for a small (<1,000 case) winery— the ROI is hard to gauge but likely worthwhile in the long run?

David, the information on the IPNC website makes it sound like the same wines are poured during the Alfresco tastings during the weekend and the Passport sessions on Sunday. Is it possible to only pour on Sunday? If what you describe is the cost to pour to both events, I don’t think that’s unreasonable, particularly since I would guess that it includes a ticket to the event.

Good point. It’s true that if one were to have wines that fit the various Alfresco themes, we could show at multiple events. But I’m pretty solidly a Pinot-only producer at this point. (I will be making Chardonnay in 2022, but it will likely take me a few vintages to lock it in : ). Still, I think it’s probably worthwhile given the cachet of being selected as a top Pinot wine maker.

It’s alway been a “you’re or you’re not” situation at IPNC. A winery is a participant in everything, or nothing. Some try to “work it” by buying Salmon Bake tickets and spreading their wine around the event, but that’s not a good environment to tell your story so I don’t think it would be productive.

John_Glas · July 11, 2022, 12:39pm

I strongly suspect that the value of the wine that is contributed far exceeds any monetary payment, if there is one. Wineries need to contribute wine for the main event tasting and the Passport tasting - both have around 1,000 people. They also contribute a certain amount of wine to be put away for future events and the seminars, and other wines (primarily whites) to be served at the event. The way I understand things, all the wine served at all the events is contributed by the wineries or was contributed in past years.

I think the question of whether the event is “cheap” or not depends on your point of view. I think that a ticket to the entire event is a bargain, as is a ticket to Passport. The Salmon Bake is, IMO, overpriced, but it is a ticket to the biggest party in McMinnville all year (that, plus an opportunity to taste a ton of once-in-a-lifetime wines brought by other party-goers). I think it’s hard to understand the value of these events unless you attend them.

What is the price of the whole event? I know it is sold out so does not show.

It is about $1,400 and includes 2 days of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner plus Sunday Brunch and 2 full days of Seminars and Tasting Events held on campus plus an in-depth seminar at a winery location.

It’s solid value compared to other such events.

Not bad at all. Would be triple that in Napa or more!

Sean_S · July 30, 2022, 1:24am

Hey All! We are staying in Downtown McMinnville if anyone wants to join us for some after dinner tastings PM me or shoot me a text. So hot here but enjoying some great tastings so far at Walter Scott and Kelly Fox. Gonna taste with Vincent and Arterberry Maresh at the Red Barn tomorrow before the Salmon Bake.

Sean
Mobile: 919-740-4344

David_Patte · July 30, 2022, 2:26am

Wish I could! I’ve been advocating IPNC move to the last weekend in May due to the heat this past decade. I actually had been asking for June, but last year we had all time high temps. that week. If you all agree, send a note to the IPNC organizers : )

Sean_S · July 30, 2022, 2:31am

Agreed. Its so hot Rick Allen shut down the Heater Allen Taproom and I got an email from Martha Maresh over the at Red Barn saying Arterberry Maresh is cancelling tastings the rest of the weekend due to the heat. Still going to be a nice Saturday tasting at PGC, Vincent and Championship Bottle.

Sean

Sean_S · July 30, 2022, 7:35pm

Another great tasting at PGC this morning with Abighail. 2019 Lineup was solid across the board. I was really enjoying the Marine sedimentary Pinot Noir. 2019 Chardonnay was excellent. Thanks for restarting this program. Headed to the Salmon Bake tonight will be pouring a 2004 PGC Notorious from Magnum, as some burgs and Sandar & Hem.

Off to catch up with Vincent and Saul and get my sweat on out at Grochau cellars.

Sean

Sean_S · July 30, 2022, 7:57pm

Awesome Tasting with Dustin at Kelly Fox yesterday. Such good wines across the board. reminds me very much of goodfellow…

Dustin recommended checking out De Ponte in Dundee Hills as well. The wines were very good but the views were awesome…

Brian_Glas · July 30, 2022, 8:03pm

Is there a scheduling conflict with Linfield? I agree they need to move it earlier just after graduation in May or early June. Plus many of those dorms they have people staying in don’t have A/C. Maybe the college needs time to clean up after the students move out.

Scott_Tallman · July 30, 2022, 8:43pm

The only year I attended the Sunday tasting at Linfield (2016 IIRC), I was so hot from bike riding all morning that I had zero interest in drinking Pinot. My alcohol consumption that afternoon at the tasting was 80% Heater Allen Pils/20% Pinot.

The end of May or early June is a great idea.

Scott_Tallman · July 30, 2022, 8:45pm

De Ponte is a winery I have not thought about in years. One of the wineries we visited on our first WV trip in 2007. Recall really enjoying their Melon de Bourgogne more than anything, but thought the Pinots were solid. What was your take on their wines now, Sean?

Rick_Allen · July 30, 2022, 9:06pm

Linfield is busy pretty much all the time. A lot of football and soccer camps go on there, especially earlier in the summer. I’m told that the reason for doing IPNC when they do is because that weekend has the least chance of rain during the year. Linfield (actually McMinnville) doesn’t have a venue big enough to host the event indoors. Historically, June can get pretty wet. For example, this year, the first three weekends in June would have had rain, and the fourth had temperatures in the 90s - not much different than now. It’s pretty much always hot for the event, though I’ll admit that this year is a good 5-10 degrees hotter than usual. You just have to plan accordingly (and drink lots of beer).

David_Patte · July 30, 2022, 9:37pm

Wish I could! I’ve been advocating IPNC move to the last weekend in May due to the heat this past decade. I actually had been asking for June, but last year we had all time high temps. that week. If you all agree, send a note to the IPNC organizers : )

Is there a scheduling conflict with Linfield? I agree they need to move it earlier just after graduation in May or early June. Plus many of those dorms they have people staying in don’t have A/C. Maybe the college needs time to clean up after the students move out.

Linfield is busy pretty much all the time. A lot of football and soccer camps go on there, especially earlier in the summer. I’m told that the reason for doing IPNC when they do is because that weekend has the least chance of rain during the year. Linfield (actually McMinnville) doesn’t have a venue big enough to host the event indoors. Historically, June can get pretty wet. For example, this year, the first three weekends in June would have had rain, and the fourth had temperatures in the 90s - not much different than now. It’s pretty much always hot for the event, though I’ll admit that this year is a good 5-10 degrees hotter than usual. You just have to plan accordingly (and drink lots of beer).

Good point about the outdoor events but I still think the organizers need to rethink. Cold and wet June or May weather will become increasingly rare no doubt, and more tents/shifting the programming a bit would be preferable to the (almost guaranteed) heat in my opinion. Many of the vineyard/winery-based programs I have attended were for the most part in the cellar/production area or a covered patio (for the shade) but yeah, the marquee events would require extra planning and cost.

Brian_Glas · July 31, 2022, 12:32am

I’ve enjoyed tasting there a couple of times. Agree that the highlight was the Melon de Bourgogne.

lleichtman · July 31, 2022, 4:27pm

See you today Todd.