For me, the measure of a good wine experience is how often and to what degree you reflect on it afterward. Since returning from IPNC 2008, I have been thinking a lot about what I gained from attending this event. If I were to distill it down to just a few themes, then IPNC for me was all about connections, context, and community.

Connecting to People and Places

I heard it said many times during the weekend, that it is the wine that brings folks to IPNC, but it is the people that make it special. That was clearly validated in the experience I had in meeting winemakers, bloggers, viticulturists, enthusiasts, distributors, chefs, sommeliers, and servers. From Thursday night attending the Lemelson winery dinner to the closing Sunday brunch, I met some incredibly friendly and good-natured people.

Along the way, I connected to a variety of places in the Willamette Valley as well as around the world. I will never forget the amazing description of the Bindi vineyards provided by Michael Dhillon during one seminar. Michael articulated such a detailed overview of the land where his grapes are grown that I felt like I was there. It is unfortunate that details on place are left up to verbal descriptions, for IPNC attendees would clearly benefit from having maps in their program detailing the geography of various regions.

Connections to the Past

While tasting vintages going back multiple decades, I found myself focusing less on the producer of each bottle, for there became far too many labels/names being poured. As a result, I started reflecting more on a key milestone in my life associated with the year the wine was crafted. Each vintage that filled my glass seemed to naturally map to a year when something wonderful happened in my life. When this happens, there is no greater joy in celebrating an older wine when it connects you to people and places in your past.

Gaining a Broader Context

If I were to estimate the number of wines tasted at IPNC, it would have to be over one hundred different producers/vintages. By sampling so much wine, I acquired a very useful frame of reference on pinot noir originating from different parts of the world, especially those produced in Oregon. With several dozen local wineries featured, it was an incredible opportunity in one setting to gain broad exposure to the styles of winemaking offered in the Willamette Valley.

Whether attending a vineyard tour and winery luncheon or a morning seminar on sustainability, my understanding of pinot noir expanded dramatically. There were times when all I focused on was French burgundy from a specific village or tasted New World pinot noir from various regions. As a result, I have a much broader context when it comes to understanding the differences between pinot noir produced in various places of the world.

The Community of Wine

Both the Grand Dinner on Friday night and the Northwest Salmon Bake on Saturday evening will be remembered for the sheer volume of wine. But more importantly, it was the communal nature of these meals that left the most lasting impression. With so much wine flowing yet only one glass to taste from, it became a common practice to share with others whatever you were drinking. It was really cool when someone next to you received a pour of something special only to have them pass their glass with the comment, "here's a (insert vintage/producer), what do you think?". Now some might have reservations about this approach, but I found it a wonderful way to celebrate the communal aspects of wine.

Final Reflections

I will definitely return to IPNC in the years ahead. Maybe not an annual basis, but definitely every two to three years. If you enjoy wine and have an affinity for pinot noir, then you owe it to yourself to invest in the IPNC experience. The connections, context, and community offered through this weekend event will have a lasting impact on your appreciation for wine in general, and specifically pinot noir.