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Local focus: Wine shop opens in Mount Angel

Lisa and Jeffrey Scrimenti, owners of Mount Angel Cellars and Vineyards.
Lisa and Jeffrey Scrimenti, owners of Mount Angel Cellars and Vineyards.

By Don Murtha

If you are searching for locally made gifts, visit the new Mount Angel Cellars and Vineyards, 215 N. Main St.

Jeffrey and Lisa Scrimenti have opened a wine shop where whether you are a connoisseur or just enjoy an occasional glass, you are welcome to relax and taste in friendly surroundings.

Jeffrey, who has been making wine since he was a young man, earned his master’s degree in wine marketing at the University of Texas.

“I have been learning from him since we met,” Lisa said.

“We come from opposite sides of the continent,” she said. “He grew up in Pittsburg, Penn. and I grew up in Portland.”

They met at UCLA, where she was earning a degree in law and he was working on a degree in business.

“It was love at first sight, at least for me,” she said. “We dated for 10 years before we decided to get married.”

They came north from California to find a suitable place to call home, settling first in Silverton, then Central Howell.

Jeffrey established Mount Angel Financial Services on Charles Street, but a fire in February 2011 burned out his and other businesses.

Now Jeffrey is back in town and he and Lisa share space and the wine business.

“He has a discriminating pallet but I have learned a lot from him,” Lisa said.

Their wines come from a variety of sources, all from the Willamette Valley. Presently they offer Marionberry, pear, honey mead and raspberry wines. They also carry Hanson Vineyards wines, made in Monitor.

They plan to introduce more, including cabernet, pinot noir and marechal foch.

In addition to individual bottles they offer local-product baskets featuring wine, chocolates from Aurora, Benedictine Sisters mustard and wine glasses.

They plan for a section of the shop to be devoted to gifts, and currently carry jams,  jellies and syrups prepared by Pinot Noir, a Willamette Valley company.

Mount Angel Cellars and Vineyard will be represented at the Hazelnut Fest and Kristkindle Markt on Dec. 1 and 2 in the Mount Angel Festhalle, and plans to participate in the Dec. 15 Mount Angel Wine Walk, February’s Wurstfest and next year’s Oktoberfest.

“We hope to bring more people to Mount Angel with a tour to include stops at the Oregon Garden, Silverton and Mount Angel in the future,” Lisa said.

The wine shop holds special meaning for Lisa.

“My brother, Michael Farley, who died last year, designed all of the labels and made many of the decorations,” she said. “I want his spirit to live on here in our wine shop.

“We have high hopes and pray for success.” Lisa said. “We will make it a pleasant experience for the people who visit us.”

The shop is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.

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