IPNC Grand Dinner

What an amazing evening the first night of IPNC has been...

It started with the al fresco tasting event, featuring dozens of producers from around the world pouring recent and past releases of pinot noir. As much as these types of tasting events offer a useful cross-section of wines, I find it challenging to really enjoy wine in this setting without food. The cocktail wines always show well, while the food friendly wines struggle.

Following the tasting reception, we all came together for "The Grand Dinner", with a variety of wines and vintages being poured throughout our meal. Here is the menu from tonight's dinner which was prepared by guest chefs Philippe Boulot of The Heathman in Portland, Jason Wilons of Crush in Seattle, Keith Luce of The Herbfarm in Woodinville, and Lauren Fortgang of Paley's Place in Portland:

First Course
Bourride en gelee,
barrigoule des chanterelles

Second Course
Crispy Carlton Farms pork belly
with grilled onions and cherries, olives and corn

Third Course
Lavender roasted guinea fowl
with duck confit, braised cherries and foraged mushrooms

Dessert
Almond torte with macerated peaches,
blackberries and cream

Along the way, there were dozens of wines poured, with quite a cross-section of French burgundies, both red and white, from vintages spanning the 1960's to the current decade. Many Oregon pinot noirs were present also, with some going back to the late 1980's. It was over the top considering the variety of wines poured this evening.

It certainly was an extraordinary dinner in terms of wine, but it was an exceptional evening due to the people I was surrounded by at the table. I am going to post later on the wonderful folks I met and dined with tonight. As much as I enjoyed the wines, it was the new friends I made and the company we shared that will be remembered this evening.

But now it's time for bed, as it's going to be another early morning, another full day, and another fun night ahead tomorrow at IPNC.

Pre-IPNC Winery Dinner
IPNC: Day One, Part One
IPNC: Day Two, Part One
IPNC: Day Two, Part Two