I don’t know as much about wine as I should. Having champagne taste on a PBR budget is a perennial hazard of the arts administrator’s trade. And to be fair, although I like a glass of wine with dinner, I had always thought there couldn’t really be that big a difference between the $7 Franzia from Freddie’s and the $370 Estate Bottled Pinot behind the glass in the wine cellar at El Gaucho. But I’ll never forget the day I first had the opportunity to taste a truly exquisite bottle of Pinot Meunier at the Willakenzie Estate Winery- it was more delicate, but at the same time more complex than I had ever imagined a grape based beverage could be.

Since then I’ve come to understand that a truly great wine is a fundamentally different experience than the two buck Chuck I slurp down with my weeknight pesto penne. It can open up a meal, redefining flavors and changing the tenor of a conversation. Sharing a big busty Cabernet (made silkier but no less robust by time and the subtle ministrations of the winemaker’s art) can lead to huge heartwarming experiences with dinner guests you may have felt hesitant about before. An elegant, grassy Viognier can turn a picnic into a symphony of the senses…the honeysuckle on the breeze complimenting the melon notes in the wine, and both reminding you and your companion of the ephemerality of a summer day.

The problem with my newfound passion for good wine? All the truly great vintages are already in private hands, nestled lovingly in the private wine libraries of people with the leisure (and passion) to track them down.

Perhaps you have the same problem? If so, here comes your chance to taste some of those rare and vintage wines, bid on full cases and wine dinners featuring even more exquisite wine, all while learning more about your favorite beverage from some of Portland’s finest sommeliers.

You are cordially invited to join us for Wines Center Stage, a tasting event and auction that will feature rare and special vintages from both the “Old and the New World of Wine.”

Here’s the details:

When: Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Where: Gerding Theater at the Armory
Cost: $200

Some things you’ll be tasting:

• 1970 Chateau Latour, Bordeaux, Pauillac

• 1972 Richebourg Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

• 1985 Heitz Cellar, Bell Oaks Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California
  (Wine Spectator: 92)

• 1985 Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California (Wine Spectator: 93)

• 1986 Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux (RP: 100)

• 1988 Silver Oak, Bonny’s Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California

• 1989 Chateau Le Gay, Pomerol, Bordeaux

• 1991 Woodward Canyon “Old Vines” Dedication Series #11, Cabernet Sauvignon,
  Columbia Valley, Washington

• 1995 Château Calon-Ségur, St. Estèphe, Bordeaux 3ème Cru Classé
  (Wine Spectator: 96, RP: 92)

• 1996 Leonetti Merlot, American Appellation, Walla Walla, Washington

• 1998 Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde, #10 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list

• 1999 Beaux Freres, Belles Soeurs, Shea Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Yamhill County, Oregon

• 2003 RR, Pinot Noir, Ridgecrest Vineyards, Willamette Valley, OR

Each paired with some delicious selections from Steve’s Cheese.

If you are like me and never want the wine tasting to end, you’ll be happy to know that you’ll also have the opportunity to bid on some truly special bottles to take home and wine dinners to enjoy later. Here’s some highlights:

• 1972 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, valued at over $1000
• Wine Dinner at ten01 for 10 people with wines from DePonte Cellars
• Join Pat & Joe Campbell, founders of Elk Cove Vineyards, at a private co-hosted dinner, catered by Art of Catering
• Join Patricia Green, from Patricia Green Cellars, for wine tastings and special dinner at a private home

And last but not least, here’s a few of the wine experts who will be accompanying you on your tasting oddysey:

Erica Landon, ten01, Portland, Oregon | Ken Pahlow, St. Innocent Winery, Portland, Oregon | Josh Wiesenfeld, Paley’s Place, Portland, Oregon | Michael Stiller, Tina’s, Dundee, Oregon | Savanna Ray, Lucier, Portland, Oregon | Vanessa Bazzani, Pinocchio Bar & Restaurant, Portland, Oregon | Regan Corbett, Red Star, Portland, Oregon | Kiyallah Heatherstone, Bel Ami Restaurant and Lounge, Eugene, Oregon

Bonus Opportunity: “Wine 101”, a tasting class to be held at no additional charge for those interested in learning more about the rare Private Cellar wines we will taste.

Tickets are $200 each ($150 is tax deductible). Care to join us? RSVP to Jessy Friedt at jessyf@pcs.org or 503/445-3744.

And last but not least, a special thanks to our host committee:
Barbara Baker | Paul & Pam DeBoni | Erica Landon | Richard Lawson | Bob Liner | Rick Linn | Pat Ritz | Lucy Tanner | Doug Wedding | Charlie Frasier