By Heather Strang
May 23, 2007

Pairing the perfect wine with dinner can be incredibly daunting. Is it chardonnay that goes best with chicken or is it fish? Is filet mignon better with cabernet or merlot? Fortunately, there are experts to answer these very pertinent questions. So, put down those fuzzy oven mitts and stop staring blankly at your wine rack. Instead, attend one of these wine dinners, where you’ll be impressed with — and educated about, if you so desire — exotic wine and food pairings from the folks who know their stuff. Then try a pairing at home. Or even better, just keep going back to the source — there are plenty of opportunities all summer long.

23 Hoyt
Pretty sure a wine dinner is out of your league? 23 Hoyt doesn't think so. That's why they’re holding a June 6th wine dinner with a unique twist — the entire restaurant will be open for the public to walk in and try their a la carte menu ($7 - $30) and extraordinary wines, available for purchase by the glass. Three German and three Austrian winemakers will be onsite to answer questions about their varietals, while Chef Christopher Israel uses European culinary skills to create dinners that match the flavors of the wine. Customers can choose from a variety of dishes like Dungeness crab risotto, grilled venison loin with red wine and cherries, and braised rabbit. Whether you take this opportunity or another to check out the relatively new restaurant, you're always sure to experience an explosion of tastes in the urban chic setting of 23 Hoyt.

Basta's Trattoria
Savor the authentic wine and food flavors of Italy at Basta's Trattoria, where they held 38 specialty dinners last year, including several wine dinners. Every featured wine is Italian and paired with entrees that provide the finest complement of tastes. Recently, Basta's hosted a Capri dinner, highlighting this winemaker of the year in Italy two years running. Wine dinners typically include four to six courses with previous menu items including crostini di polenta, stuffed veal breast and chestnut cake. Prices range from $65 - $100 with space for 45 guests available. Sign up for their newsletter to get the latest updates on wine events.

El Gaucho
El Gaucho hosts wine dinners as community fundraisers for local charities, so you can help others while you indulge in delectable wines. They've been seriously involved with the Classic Wine Auction for many years, partnering with wineries such as Stoller, Abeja and K Vintners. Recently, they held a wine benefit for Jesuit High School, featuring Ken Wright Cellars, and raised over $6,000. This summer, El Gaucho plans to host a wine event for Cooking For Kids, an organization they've been working with for over six years. Wine dinners are held in the intimate Vintage Room, a wine cellar private dining area that accommodates up to 14 people. El Gaucho's executive chef creates dishes that bring out the flavor profiles of each wine. Find out more about El Gaucho’s wine dinner fundraisers and the upcoming events on their website.

Heathman Restaurant
You might expect winemakers to be fairly laid back, as they spend their days in the countryside surrounded by delicious fruits of the vine. But the Heathman challenges that theory with its ongoing dueling sommelier battle. The second encounter took place on May 18, when the Heathman’s Jeff Groh and wine experts from Andina, Bluehour and ten 01 fought for the title of Portland's best sommelier. Each sommelier pairs one wine with each of the four courses; attendees decide who wins by voting on the best wine for each course. The $125 cost includes all four-courses and 16 wines. Reserve your space through the Heathman for the next three opportunities: July 25, August 24 and the grand finale on September 14. The Heathman also hosts a full schedule of summer wine dinners, including:

June 6 J.K. Carriere Wines with Jim Prosser
June 13 Penner Ash Wine Cellars with Lynn Penner Ash
June 20 A to Z Wineworks with Bill Hatcher
June 27 Mad Wines Company and Bishop Creek Cellars with Marcus Goodfellow
July 11 King Estate Winery
July 18 Solena Cellars with Laurent Montalieu
July 20 Buty Winery with Caleb Foster
August 8 St. Innocent Winery with Mark Volssak

Oba!
Sip tasty wines from around the West Coast while dining in Oba's Cuban-flavored Havana room during an exclusive wine dinner on July 11 (7pm), featuring Cakebread Cellars from the Napa Valley. Dennis Cakebread will lead guests through several pairings with Oba’s Latin cuisine, specially prepared to suit the wines on hand. Although wine dinners traditionally range from $65 to $85 per person, the Oregon appearance of this well-known and upscale vineyard costs $140 each. If that’s a bit too much for your summer budget, check the Oba website often for more wine dinners, usually held on Saturday evenings about every six weeks. Or even better, sign up for their mailing list to receive up-to-date wine event information.

Olea
Olea transforms traditional wine dinners into complete indulgence with their popular "Swine & Wine Dinner Series," held the first Wednesday of every month. Paying tribute to the other white meat, the pig, Chef Daniel Mondok prepares four courses for four wines, ending with even a pig-inspired dessert. Previous desserts included the pig-n-pancake (a small, round pancake stuffed with a poached egg and topped with candied bacon), a torte with bacon ice cream, and an upside down pineapple cake with baconized cream. Mmm...tasty. In addition, guests can bring their own wine (you know, the one that pairs well with pig) without a corkage fee. The price is $45 per person and is open to the public, although they do encourage guests to make reservations ahead of time.

On the second Tuesday of every month, Olea also presents the Vintners Dinner Series with five courses paired with five wines from throughout Oregon and Washington — plus full access to the winemakers to get all your questions answered. Upcoming winemakers include Zerba Cellars and Patricia Green, priced at $75 and limited to 20 individuals. For more information, contact the restaurant.

Paley's Place
It's a purely wine thang at Paley's Place every Wednesday evening. These special “Wine Wednesdays” (5:30pm - 10:00pm) feature three wine flights with three themed wines, including one mystery bottle; uncover the identity of the mystery wine and receive your wine flights at no charge! Flights range in price from $16 - $25 or all three flights for $50+. Choose to spend the entire evening sipping wine or order one of their specially prepared appetizers like a deviled ham salad or green garlic goat cheese flan. Guests can also order off of the Wine Wednesday menu and enjoy dishes that Chef Vitaly Paley creates to match each vintage. If you plan to wine and dine, call in advance to make reservations. Simply want to drink your calories? Then there's no need to call in advance. But, be sure to get there early — the coveted bar stools are grabbed up on a first come, first serve basis. Paley's will also accept reservations up to two months in advance, ideal for your next anniversary or birthday. Upcoming Wine Wednesday themes include:

May 23 Burgundy: Cote d'Or Goes for the Gold
June 6 Three Rieslings of Separation
June 13 New World Pinots Duke it Out
June 20 My Big Fat Greek Wine
June 27 Rose by Any Other Name

Pour Wine Bar & Bistro
Pour also encourages guests to enjoy wine and support local causes, offering monthly Sunday wine dinners with proceeds regularly benefiting area charities. Pour's most recent wine dinner included Ken Wright and the Freedom Hill wine series. Varietals were paired with a five-course meal of lobster and corn bisque, roasted hazelnuts, risotto, pasta and lamb from a local Canby farm. Prices range from $60 - $70 and attendance is limited to no more than 20 individuals. The next wine dinner is currently in the works with plans to partner with Baedeker Cellars in Carlton.

Salty's on the Columbia
Salty's is a well-known Portland landmark positioned perfectly next to the Columbia River. They also host five seasonal wine dinners a year, from fall through spring. Five courses prepared by Executive Chef Dana Cross feature a regional, sustainable and organic focus, while Beverage Manager Jason Ludlow pairs entrees with creative Northwest wines. The most recent was held on May 18, with winemaker Steven Westby and cellarmaster Mark Pape from Witness Tree Vineyards walking guests through their delicious pairings with Alaskan halibut, filo wrapped scallops, tortellini antipasto, king crab, wild mushroom salmon roulade and fresh figs for dessert. Sign up for their email newsletter for information on future wine dinners.

Southpark
Southpark Seafood Grill & Wine Bar showcases monthly wine dinners reflecting a particular theme, the next on May 30 with a focus on sparkling wines. Southpark's wine director works one-on-one with the chef to create perfectly complementary entrees that do not regularly appear on the menu. Courses for this dinner will include chilled honey-carrot soup, couscous breaded crispy oysters, butter basted mushroom and marcona almond stuffed quail, and roasted monkfish and smoked beef tongue. The $75 price includes gratuity. Call the restaurant to reserve your space today and receive details on upcoming wine events.

ten 01
ten 01 kicks off their summer wine dinner series June 4 (6:30pm) with prominent winemaker Jean-Lu Colombo, presenting wines from the Rhône, in provincial France; both of Colombo's renowned Hermitage and Cornas bottlings will be onsite. The $75 price tag covers five courses matched with five wines, and it’s more than worth it to sample new chef Jack Yoss’ revamped menu of farm-to-table, seasonal American cuisine. Dinners are usually kept small and intimate with only 25 people served in ten 01's private dining room, while vineyard representatives often provide presentations on their winery, showcasing special amenities and varietal facts. ten 01 wine dinners run January – August, with the season heating up after Mother's Day. Sommelier and manager Erica Landon prefers to hold wine dinners on the weekend during summer months, so stay tuned for future dates. Join their email list to receive the complete summer wine dinner schedule.

Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro
Thirst creates an intimate wine dinner setting by closing up shop to host wine events on Sundays from October through March. Winemakers from around Oregon are featured every month, including Elk Cove, Lange, Joe Dobbs and Dalla Vina, getting in on the action and participating in the event alongside guests. Meals range from four to five courses with winemakers mingling and relating stories about their winery. To maintain the cozy atmosphere, owner Leslie Palmer prefers no more than 20 individuals in attendance. Prices range from $85 - $95 and a deposit is required, as is 48 hours cancellation notice. To find out more, sign up for Thirst's newsletter via their website.