It's only fitting that Scott Paul Wines serve as the inaugural post for my new "Connections" series. This Carlton-based producer truly epitomizes what it means to connect consumers to the larger context offered in wine, especially that which exists between the old and new worlds of winemaking. How does Scott Paul accomplish these connections?

First and foremost, Scott Paul has distinguished itself for pouring and selling an ever expanding portfolio of Burgundy wines alongside their Oregon pinot noirs: Cuvée Martha Pirrie, La Paulée and Audrey. Not only does this approach offer a constructive frame of reference to each tasting room visitor, but it also helps compare and contrast the winemaking style used in crafting Scott Paul's delicious wines to that of Burgundy and their Oregon peers.

Even better, Scott Paul offers a a variety of Burgundy seminars to help educate consumers on this region and its wines. These two hour seminars are held on Saturday evenings at the Scott Paul Wines tasting room. Six to eight Burgundy wines are served, making the $45 to $79 fee quite reasonable considering what is poured at each seminar.

And if that weren't enough, Scott Paul is helping establish a centuries old Burgundian tradition in the Willamette Valley with its annual La Paulée de Carlton. This fall harvest celebration includes an afternoon tasting at the Scott Paul winery, replete with Oregon and Burgundian pinot noirs, followed by an evening dinner where guests pass around bottles of pinot brought out from their cellars.

The person responsible for bringing all of this to the Willamette Valley is Scott Wright, proprietor/winemaker of Scott Paul Wines, who remains a tireless advocate and educator connecting folks to the Oregon pinot noir he crafts and the wines he represents from Burgundy. But not all of Scott's efforts are relegated to pouring wine, teaching seminars, and hosting dinners.

On a regular basis, Scott maintains an active blog, which serves to connect consumers to his work in the vineyard and winery from bud break to bottling to release. This blog also serves as a diary of Scott's travels to Burgundy, where he meets with various producers and takes part in many of the region's traditions.

Scott's passion for the larger context that is Oregon and Burgundian pinot noir is shared by the extended team at Scott Paul Wines. This team includes Martha Wright, Scott's wife and co-proprietor, Kelley Fox, winemaker, and Kelly Karr, director of sales and marketing. While each plays a unique role at the winery, all share in fulfilling a common mission at Scott Paul Wines:

Produce and market the best wines — with honor and integrity, utilizing practices that fully respect the earth and the chain of human lives that create, nurture, market and consume the wines, and the interlocking web of communities where we work and live.

From my first visit to the Scott Paul winery two years ago to this month's La Paulée de Carlton, I have experienced firsthand the fulfillment of this mission statement. I have also observed the Scott Paul team practicing the core values featured on their web site. There is honor and integrity in everything they do, which makes these folks and their wines truly special.

Rather than merely let the wine speak for itself as some producers do, Scott Wright is sharing a broader and deeper narrative on pinot noir that is serving to bring consumers much closer to this grape's origins, heritage, and legacy. As a result, Scott has distinguished his wines and winery as a definitive benchmark when it comes to a producer going beyond the bottle.

If you have yet to experience the connections Scott Paul Wines offers, then it's time to visit their Carlton tasting room or their website online. You'll come away with a more expanded and informed view of the larger context that is pinot noir, thanks to Scott and his team.

Related Links
Beyond the Bottle's "Connections" Series