Wendy and I met in 1993 at a mutual friend's home in Bend Oregon. No wine was served at that gathering. A week later we went on a date to the Sunriver Sun Fest that included wine tasting, and thus started our wine journey. We were married two years later.
I was raised in Oregon and have been a business owner in the construction industry since 1988. Wendy, a UCLA graduate, grew up in Southern California and has worked with small children for the past 24 years.
We both enjoy spending time in the kitchen. Since I am an avid hunter and fisherman, we are always eager to try new ways to prepare the birds, game and fish that I bring home. We are always looking for that perfect pairing of wine and food. Because of that we have a very diverse wine collection at home. When out and about I am always looking at and tasting wine, pondering what food that particular wine will pair well with.
We love exploring the Pacific Northwest, often incorporating wine tasting into our travels. This year marked our 10th year that we have attended the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival on the Oregon coast with friends. On our "Wines and Waterfalls" weekend we traveled and explored the wineries and scenery of the Umpqua Valley this year. We also discovered several wineries while on a business trip to Kelowna, British Columbia.
For our 10th wedding anniversary we celebrated with a trip to Walla Walla. We visited and enjoyed several wineries as well as exploring the dining scene, including a wonderful dinner at 26 Brix. At Northstar we were treated to a private tour complete with nibbling on Merlot grapes while out in the vineyards. We even met up with the "Wine Club" members for a memorable tour of Basel Cellars where we were able to do barrel tasting of the 2004 vintage.
We look forward to the occasional winemakers' dinner and I am a regular participant of the wine club at Vino Mercato. Over the last few years we have been tasting wines whenever we have the opportunity, expanding our palates and our appreciation of wine. |
