By Dixon Bledsoe
In a “wine walk” format, Silverton’s third annual Wine and Jazz festival May 9 offers 11 downtown venues where patrons can sample vintages grown in the region and listen to live jazz.
Highly successful in its first two years, the 2009 lineup has a lot to offer for this year’s festival-goer. Eleven wineries are participating, more than 50 musicians will be performing, and the Mel Brown B3 Quartet will serve as the closing act.
General festival hours are noon to 9 p.m. with the grand finale at the Elks Lodge on High Street from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Silverton restaurants and businesses will be open with several serving as venues for both music and tastings.
“The level of talent in this Wine and Jazz Festival is rarely witnessed in towns of this size,” said Ken Hector, who is helping with public relations.
The wines are also known to be outstanding and varied.
Many varieties will be poured from the now-famous East Willamette Valley vineyards and winemakers.
Tickets, $25,
provide unlimited admission to all festival venues,
presentations and performances.
Ticketholders receive a wine glass,
$5 of script for wine or food, and a poster.
Tickets are available at any of the venues,
participating wineries,
online at silvertonwineandjazz.com,
or by phone at 503-873-WINE
Pete Buffington and his wife, Marcia, owns Abiqua Wind Winery. Their 2007 double gold medal winner (2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition), Chloe’s Breeze Mueller-Thurgau to the show. Their granddaughter, Chloe, was the inspiration.
Isaac’s Reserve, a 2006 Pinot noir, inspired by a grandson, will also join the tasting fun.
“We will be offering dessert wines to Pinot noir and Pinot gris, and we are especially proud to offer Chloe’s Breeze. The Mueller-Thurgau is from a lowly Swiss grape that is tasteless in the vineyard but makes a spectacular world class sipper. We call it Riesling’s better cousin,” laughed Buffington.
Hanson Vineyards of Monitor is bringing its Pinot gris, Pinot noir and Pinot blanc offerings.
Dr. Maurice Collada’s Cubanisimo Winery of West Salem will be featured as well as Coehlo Winery out of Amity with its premium port-style Portuguese varietal wines.
Other wineries participating include Arcane Cellars at Wheatland Winery, Silver Falls Vineyard, Piluso Vineyard and Winery, Vitis Ridge, Christopher Bridge Cellars, Pudding River, and St. Josef’s Winery.
Mel Brown, a native Oregonian, artistic director, highly accredited Northwest drummer, bandleader and educator, has been a fixture on the Portland jazz scene for more than 40 years. He has been called both “The Gentleman of Jazz” and “The Musician’s Musician.”
His group will close out the festival with the final performance at the spacious Elks Lodge on High Street.
Howard Hinsdale of Howard Hinsdale Cellars in downtown Silverton is president of the festival board this year. He will also host a wine and jazz venue.
Jose Delarosa, owner of Allison and Israel Jewelers, is vice president of the Festival and his business is one of the venues.
John Bateman, the treasurer, said the Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival is going to be great fun.
“It provides a glimpse to Silverton’s future where there will be no empty commercial sites and there will be a vigorous community with more fine restaurants and places to stay and vacation,” said Bateman, who is also a winemaker and owner of Pudding River Wine Cellars.
VENUES
On the Streets
Musicians: The Girls From Company B, 1:30 pm
#1 • The Red Bench, 205 N. Water
Winery: Silver Falls Vineyards
Musicians: Jack Hopfinger, 2 pm • Blue Gardenia Jazztet, 5 pm • Ron Steen Trio, 2:30 pm
#2 • Mac’s Place, 201 N. Water
Winery: Piluso Vineyard & Winery
Musicians: Valdez Latin Jazz Quartet, 2:30 pm • Robert Moore & the Wildcats, 5:30 pm
#3 • Hinsdale Cellars,111 N Water
Winery: Vitis Ridge
Musicians: Dave Feinberg Trio, 2 pm • Paul Painter, 5 pm • Bill Hughes Trio, 8 pm
# 4 • Creekside Grill, 242 S. Water
Winery: St. Josef’s
Musicians: Micah Kassell, 1:30 pm • Eddie Parente Trio, 5 pm • Chance Hayden, 8 pm
#5 • Citizens Bank, 217 E. Main
Winery: Arcane Cellars
Musicians: Tim Willcox Quartet, 1:30 pm • Nancy King, Steve Christoferson 4 pm •
UnBande, 6:30 pm
#6 • Pomegranate & Rolling Hills Bakery, 106 N. First
Winery: Cubanismo Winery
Musicians: John & Yuko Keyser, 1:30 pm • Young Lions, 5 pm
#7 • The Elks Lodge, 300 High
Winery: Abiqua Wind Vineyard
Musicians: PSU Big Band, 2 pm • Charles Gray, 3 pm • Ray Rom Quintet, 5 pm •
Mel Brown B 3 Quartet, 8 pm
#8 • Silverton Inn & Suites, 310 N. Water
Winery: Hanson Vineyards
Musicians: Horsfall/Snazelle Duo, 2:30 pm • Young Lions, 5 pm
#9 • The Palace Theater, 200 N. Water
Winery: Coehlo Winery
Musicians: Silverton High Jazz Band, noon • Western Oregon Big Band, 1 pm • Ron Steen Trio, 2:30 pm • The Two Tenors – Lee Wuthenow & David Evans, 5:30 pm
#10 • Allison & Israel Jewelers, 205 Oak
Winery: Pudding River
Musicians: John Moak Trio, 1:30 pm • Young Lions, 4 pm • Randy Byrnes, 6:30 pm
#11 • Pudge’s Pub, 219 Oak
Winery: Christopher Bridge
Musicians: Young Lions, 2 pm • John Nastos and Jed Wilson, 5 pm