Review: Cana's Feast Winery
Every now and then, you stumble upon a winery in transition. Ownership has changed hands or a winemaker has been replaced. As a result, the winery name might have been switched and/or a new wine brand has been introduced.
During my visit to Cana's Feast, I found it difficult keeping up with all the changes happening in this Carlton-based winery. In fact, the whole experience seemed very disorienting to me, leaving me confused and confounded as to who these folks were trying to be. See if you can keep up.
Cana's Feast was formerly known as Cuneo. The wine poured in their tasting room is branded Bricco, a line up focused on Italian varietals. The winemaker and founder, Gino Cuneo, has left to start anew. And four of the five wines in the tasting flight are from Washington state vineyards. But the winery is in the heart of Oregon's pinot noir country.
The new name of the winery is based on the Biblical story about the wedding feast at Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle turning water into wine. It's an interesting approach toward branding a winery, although it seemed a bit too fitting on the day I visited, for the place looked like the morning after a party had been thrown. Walking into the tasting room and looking around, it appeared disheveled and unkempt.
After a few minutes standing there, someone arrived and greeted me. My server, a newly hired event coordinator, was long on enthusiasm but short on knowledge. To her credit, she did her best answering my questions, but even with these eager efforts, her lack of training and experience did not bode well for Cana's Feast. It just left me with the impression that the folks in charge didn't care what kind of experience their visitors would have on this Thursday.
And if things couldn't become more fitting for the place, a group of nine middle-aged folks came bounding into the tasting room, obviously enjoying a long day touring wineries. Several were pretty lit up, with one woman clearly drunk. Fortunately for me, I was on my last taste of the Bricco high-octane wines, which would probably be well received by this boisterous group looking to extend their buzz.
Based on my experience, I would not recommend a visit to Cana's Feast anytime soon. Maybe after they get settled and are able to hit a new stride it will be worth checking them out. But then again, there are so many wineries in the Willamette Valley and so little time to visit each.
Comments
I like that in the heart of Oregon Pinot noir country we can stop and taste something new and different. The wines at Cana's Feast are big and bold and delicious, and the people who pour them are very knowledgeable. Have a specific question? The winemaker will come out and talk to you.
It seems a little harsh to come down on them for having to change their name because Cuneo was already trademarked. That happens to small businesses all the time. And most people in the wine industry are well underpaid, so to find anyone with enthusiasm is a boon if you ask me.
I visit this winery regularly and have always had a good experience. I prefer to go during the week when I can ask lots of questions and take my time.
But name change and service aside, I have not found a place that has more consistent, excellent wines.
I don't understand the comment/problem about Cana's Feast being an Oregon winery that uses Washington grapes. I'd rather buy wine from a winery that knows where to get the best grapes...and the Red Mountain AVA in Washington is among the finest. That's where Cana's Feast gets a lot of their grapes. And their wine is excellent as a result.
The food here is also spectacular and the chef's suggested wine pairings are right on. In fact, I took my family out there for a shared table dinner, and it was one of the most memorable, fun evenings we have had. We joined the wine club we like it so much out there. It's one of the best wine experiences around if you as me. Or my family.
Posted by: Sam Scott | April 6, 2008 10:36 AM
Sam, thanks for posting your comment sharing your experiences at Cana's Feast. I noticed your email address is affiliated with Cana's Feast, therefore am not surprised to find you "visit the winery regularly and have always had a good experience." And this explains the inherent bias in your review.
Posted by: Thad | April 6, 2008 03:37 PM
Perhaps the "who, and where" is the focus of Thad's review, and not so much the wine itself. My experience, and the experience of a number of people I know who have visited Cana's Feast (CF), for the wine, has been positive and much more in line with Sam's review, regardless of his alleged affiliation with CF.
Friends from the Portland area have long enjoyed the wines from Cuneo, and now CF, and recommended that I visit there during my tour of Yamhill and Willamette Valley wineries. Their pinot noir initially hooked me as a fan, but I've enjoyed just about every wine I've purchased from them. I have recommended others traveling through the area to stop in and they too have thoroughly enjoyed the food and wine experience at CF (a few have signed up for their wine club as testament to their consistently good winemaking). If you are reading this site as a wine aficionado, rather than a tasting room reviewer, please try their syrah, bricco or bordeaux style wines and judge for yourself. Wine, like art, is often very personal.
Posted by: Ro Berner | July 6, 2008 02:05 PM
Ro, thanks for sharing your experience with this winery and their wines.
You are correct in stating that "wine, like art, is often very personal", as there is a high degree of subjectivity when it comes to tasting wine. However, a lot more objectivity can be applied to a winery visit, which is why I strive to use consistent criteria when evaluating these experiences.
Whether visiting a winery or a museum, the beauty of a wine or a painting is clearly in the eye (or mouth) of the beholder. But a clear difference exists when the setting is clean, the staff are knowledgeable, and the stories are plenty. This is what connects folks to wine and art.
Again, I hope Cana's Feast has been able to improve upon things since my last visit. Based on your comment it appears they may well be on the path toward doing so.
Posted by: Thad | July 7, 2008 03:18 PM