RIESLINGFEIER MARCH 16th and MARCH SPIN THE BOTTLE

To celebrate our favorite grape, we are throwing a Riesling fest ("Feier" in German).

• When? Saturday, March 16th (1pm to 7pm)

• Where? At our tasting room. Map here.

• Cost? Priceless. Actually, not true. It's $15/person which includes a taste of the lineup of Rieslings and the Radler. Fee is refundable with $50 wine purchase.

• Why? Because you're awesome and Riesling is awesome, so we thought two awesomes make an incredible and that's what you'll experience. Checking my math. Bam. Correct!

This is the 3rd annual Rieslingfeier and we are featuring three of our Rieslings plus our collaboration with Great Notion brewing: Riesling Radler.

The Radler has proven, well, RAD!, over the past two years and Great Notion only make a small amount. Once it's gone, it's gone, so be sure to bring your growlers!

Speaking of growling, how is your tummy? Well, one cannot host a German fest without German food! We will have pairings of hand-made local Bratwurst, kraut and fixings on hand in case you get peckish. All the bratwurst is cooked in the Radler and grilled to order.

Lara, the head brewer at Great Notion, and our very own Jess are entering the Riesling Radler into Shebrew, a nationwide celebration of women in the craft beer and cider industry. Shebrew, which happened, March 10th, in PDX. Come in and ask Jess how it went!

Here’s what we will be pouring:
2022 Pet Matt Sekt Sparkling Dry Riesling
2018 Love & Squalor Dry Riesling Willamette Valley
2017 Love & Squalor Dry Riesling Sunnyside Vineyard
Riesling Radler

We hope to see you at the feier!

Spin the Bottle

Every month at Portland Wine Company, our guest winemaker series! Each month, we invite esteemed winemakers from across the region to share their passion, knowledge, and of course, their exceptional wines with our community of wine enthusiasts.

On March 30, from 3pm to 6pm, we welcome LISKA WINERY. Liska is a small family winery in Willamette Valley focusing on the region's, "compelling, yet under-represented wine grape varieties," like Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Gamay Noir all from Eola-Amity Hills AVA.

You'll be able to sample these wines and talk with one of their winemakers.
2022 Riesling Royer Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills
2022 Gewurztraminer Holmes Hill Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills
2022 Gamay Noir Pamar Vineyard Van Duzer Corridor
2022 Gamay Noir Bjornson Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills

MEMORIAL DAY EVENT

Jess at Pierce Wines

MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY MAY 29th PAELLA PARTY

We are having an EPIC winery event on Memorial Day. May 29th Monday 1-7pm come celebrate the unofficial start of summer this weekend at Portland Wine Company with wines, sunshines and vinyl.

We will be pouring all our Spring Releases and some library Pinot Noirs alongside some of our friends, Jess Pierce (Pierce Wines) and Saul Mutchnick (Championship Bottle).

Jess has even promised paella for the fest!

Come celebrate the unofficial start of summer this weekend at PDX Wine Co with wines, sunshine, and vinyl.

Cost is $15/ person for the whole tasting party!

Check out all the details below, and don't forget about our women’s healthcare & reproductive rights fundraiser, The Pink Party, on June 3rd (info to come).

Saul Mutchnick from Championship Bottle

RIESLINGFEIER (party)

RIESLINGFEIER

To celebrate the arrival of Spring and our favorite grape, we are throwing a Riesling Fest ("Feier" in German pronounced FIRE!) for all of you. The Feier is Saturday April 2nd from 1pm-7pm. We will be featuring flights and glasses including our beer collaboration with Great Notion Brewing - the Riesling Radler, our 2020 Pet Matt Sekt Sparkling Dry Riesling and the latest release of the our most renowned wine - 2017 Dry Riesling Willamette Valley. We will have some pairings of hand-made local sausages, kraut and fixings on hand to help you celebrate in high style.

PICKUP PARTY

Save The Date - 'Friends With Benefits' members, Friday, May 13 4-7pm is the wine club pickup party at the winery. We've missed seeing you, and while we are all remaining cautious, we look forward to welcoming you at the tasting room for a super special sip and a snack. Bring a friend and if they join we'll toss in an extra bottle in your box. See you there! Oh, and don’t forget, adding extra bottles to your club box gets you that sweet 20% discount during pick-up.

We want to assure you that there is zero supply-chain disruption of fine wines for your table here at Love & Squalor HQ. However we are down to the last case of the most delicious 2016 Pinot Noir Reserve. It seems like we just released this, but it went FAST because it is amazing, of course! Jump online and grab the last of it.

email with any questions at hey you!

@portlandwinecompany | #portlandwinecompany Home of @loveandsqualorwine

WINE ENTHUSIAST Says "Oregon Wine is the Best..."

Matt was recently interviewed by Paul Gregutt of the Wine Enthusiast for an article about the sommeliers' darling — Oregon Riesling. To celebrate all our Rieslings will be 20% off on the website until the end of September. CHEERS!

Oregon Riesling is the Best in the West

Great examples of Riesling are produced in California, Washington and British Columbia. But one critic believes Oregon's current offerings can't be beat.

BY PAUL GREGUTT

In recent decades, Oregon has gained global recognition as a leader in Pinot Noir. But such laser focus comes at a price—many wine drinkers don’t realize that Oregon grows about as many different types of grapes as Washington and California.

One standout that flies under the radar is Oregon Riesling.

It’s true that Washington is home to the world’s largest Riesling producer by volume, Chateau Ste. Michelle. California winemakers have scored successes at both the dry and sweet ends of the scale, and British Columbia has been producing some crystalline and racy examples. However, Oregon’s many Riesling specialists offer more diversity, value and quality than anywhere on the West Coast.

“People didn’t know what to make of it. Perhaps they had Blue Nun in their youth, and as their tastes grew, they shied away from all Riesling.” —Terry Brandborg, Brandborg Vineyard & Winery

Old vines have been key to the state’s current success. Oregon’s Pinot pioneers often planted Riesling as well to keep up cash flow as their red wines aged. Matt Berson of Love & Squalor calls these early efforts “overcropped, one-note plonk.” That’s a bit harsh, but there’s some truth to it.

Nonetheless, we should thank those accidental Riesling pioneers. Old-vine examples seem to show more nuanced scents and flavors, as is true with old-vine Pinot Noir.

“I find that the older-vine Riesling tends toward a more natural balance, and there is no doubt that those deep roots pull some really precise and delineated flavors,” says Berson.

Then there is terroir. Oregon’s Riesling vines are scattered from the deep southwest corner of the state up to the northern edge of the Willamette Valley. Soils vary significantly, but what distinguishes them is the maritime influence that avoids the baking desert heat of eastern Washington. Many vines are also dry-farmed, which pushes roots deeper.

Given their explorations of clonal selections for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it’s no surprise that Oregon’s winemakers are also doing the same for Riesling.

Trisaetum’s James Frey says the state’s Riesling plantings were dominated by two German clones: Clone 9 from Rheingau and Clone 12 from Pfalz. He credits Chehalem’s Harry Peterson-Nedry for his experimentation with new clones.

Frey currently grafts new Riesling clones from the Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz and Alsace in his Coast Range and Ribbon Ridge vineyards.

Single-vineyard cuvées, native yeast ferments and experiments with concrete eggs also contribute to the region’s amazing diversity. Trisaetum produces up to 10 Rieslings each year, while Janie Heuck at Brooks made 20 in 2016, mostly single-vineyard cuvées.

“The goal is to show differences in wine characteristics due to vine age, soil type, aspect and elevation,” says Heuck.

Oregon wines can age quite well. The better Pinots can often go 20 years, and Oregon Chardonnays can even outperform Burgundies. Riesling is a grape born to age, and winemakers seek to prolong the drinking window of their bottlings.

The first vintage of Brooks Riesling was 1998, and it still drinks young, says Heuck. Brandborg’s first Oregon vintage was 2002, and, he says it’s drinking beautifully right now.

Bill Hooper, of Weinbau Paetra, learned winemaking in Germany, and he uses that experience as a model for his work. Berson points to the acid structure of the wines, which “provides a scaffolding (like tannins in a red) to hang the fruit and all other flavors from. As the wine ages, the sharp edges smooth and allow the complexity of secondary and tertiary notes to shine through.”

Based on his German training, Hooper says, “At around 15 years, Riesling [vines] really starts to establish itself in a way where terroir expression and the overcoming of extreme weather conditions is achieved. Many German producers will wait until this time to declare single-vineyard wines.”

Despite its quality and value, Riesling remains a minor player in Oregon, with just 724 planted acres as of 2015, half in the Willamette Valley. But as producers like Brandborg, Brooks, Chehalem, Love & Squalor, Paetra, Trisaetum and others squeeze the best out of their grapes, it’s arguably the most versatile and exceptional white wine in the state.

http://www.winemag.com/2017/08/21/oregon-riesling-is-the-best-in-the-west/

Single Vineyard New Releases

For those of you who have been paying attention, know that I have never ever released a single vineyard bottling (with one obscure exception). Well, never say never. We are very proud to introduce our brand new Single Vineyard lineup.

2014 Wings of Desire Cuddihy Vineyard Field Blend
This bottling is sourced from the old experimental block at Richard Cuddihy’s eponymous Yamhill vineyard. A co-fermented blend of 8 different grape types all planted next to each other in 1971. This barrel-aged richer styled white is a testament to the hardscrabble early days of Oregon viticulture and to magical accidents. 60 cases produced $30

2014 Sunnyside Vineyard Riesling
This Riesling is a citrusy, apple-y, stone-y and herbal dry Riesling sourced from my favorite Willamette Valley site for the varietal. If you are already a fan of my Riesling, this should deepen your appreciation. If you’re not quite sure, then this is the one to win you over. 25 cases produced $48

2014 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
This wine is bolder than my usual Pinots, it nonetheless has a signature grace typical of this storied Eola-Amity vineyard. I have been fortunate to work with Temperance Hill Vineyard fruit since 2007. To cut your teeth on an Oregon “Grand Cru” is a great way to learn winemaking. There are so many respected winemakers who make amazing wines from Temperance, I guess it’s time to throw my hat into the ring. 25 cases $58.

Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 90pts read more here

2014 Sunny Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir
Not to be confused with the Sunnyside Vineyard from above of course, I have been seeking fruit from this Southern Willamette site ever since my assistant winemaker days at Brooks. We had some in the fermentation hall there, and it was always my favorite to do punchdowns on. The exotic aromatics of spice and leather were and are seductive and the wine in barrel has power and grip like no other site I’ve had the pleasure to work with. 25 cases $58

These wines are very limited and may or may not ever be bottled again. So enjoy them while they are around. And to celebrate their release with us - enjoy them at a discount . . .

Buy the wine here

Here is an interview about these Single Vineyard wines

Portland Magazine's top 50 wines

Guess who is in the top 50 wines chosen by Portland Monthly Magazine— Check out #33! 
hint: Love & Squalor Riesling

http://www.pdxmonthly.com/articles/2016/9/13/oregon-s-50-best-wines

33. Love & Squalor
2013 Riesling. 
Willamette Valley, $20
Grapefruit zest and crabapple. Mouth-watering acidity that makes your mouth pop. Earthy. Textural and aggressive. Pair with: choucroute garnie

New Single Vineyard Riesling and Pinot Noir coming soon!

We just printed new labels for our upcoming single vineyard bottling. We will be bottling a Sunnyside Vineyard 2014 Riesling, a Sunny Mountain 2014 Pinot Noir and a Temperance Hill 2014 Pinot Noir. We are only bottling 25 cases of each to be released with our Club Membership shipments this Fall. What's left over will be available on our site for purchase. Join our Wine Club by emailing us to get in on the fun!

WINE ENTHUSIAST REVIEWS ARE IN!

Fine winemaking is on display here...

— Paul Gregutt Wine Enthusiast June 2016

love & squalor WV Riesling 2013 - 93 Points - Editor's Choice
This packs tremendous flavor into a low-alcohol wine with moderate residual sugar. Peach pit and juice, green apple and citrusy acids start it off. The flavors keep going through a long, complex finish, adding subtle notes of herb and cut grass.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Riesling 2011 - 92 Points
Ignore the silly name and focus on the important particulars—old vine (planted 1976), wild yeast, biodynamic farming. Absolutely bone-dry yet bursting with complex minerality, citrus rind, and penetrating acidity, it has phenolics that give length, breadth and detail.

love & squalor WV Pinot Noir 2012 - 91 Points - Editor's Choice
Fine winemaking is on display here, as the blend includes grapes from six far-flung vineyards. It’s artfully melded, with brambly berries, Bing cherries, cola, cocoa and red licorice notes. Seamless and buttressed with natural acids, it’s not at all reliant on barrel flavors, having seen just 6% once-filled oak, with the rest neutral.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Pinot Noir 2011 - 91 Points
The proprietary name indicates that this is the winemaker’s reserve cuvée, a three-barrel selection mixing equal proportions of grapes from the Eola Hills, Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge AVAs. It’s austere, tight and yet authoritative, showing compact wild berry fruit, Mediterranean herbs and a slight saltiness. It’s best to cellar it until 2020, or give it a good long decant.

Thanks Mr. Gregut 

source: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2013-pinot-noir-willamette-valley

WINE & SPIRITS Article featurES Matt!

From Wine & Spirits Magazine August 2016

Riesling Resurgent
by David Schildknecht

pg 47. "...That Seestedt’s Sunnyside success isn’t some winemaking tour de force is demonstrated not only by his familiar claim to have done as little “making” as possible, but also by the equally vibrant and infectiously juicy 2014 Sunnyside Riesling crafted by Seestedt protégé and former restaurant manager Matt Berson under his Love & Squalor label. Berson, who also works adeptly with the fruit of Richard Cuddihy’s 1971 planting, ferments and raises multiple tiny lots according to di ering protocols, one possible explanation for the satisfying complexity of his results. Another intriguing piece of the Sunnyside puzzle—assuming you’re puzzled that riesling this good comes from a place of which few riesling-lovers have heard—is that the vines are trained with so-called Pendelbogen arches, a method that promotes sap distribution and efficient picking, as well as depresses must weights, which might nowadays be advantageous."

The article can be downloaded here

"Really Tasty"

91 points

love & squalor 2009 Riesling (Willamette Valley)

Biodynamically-farmed, old vine fruit from the Eola Hills vineyard is the source. The wine is forward and tangy, with a Vouvray-like sweet/sour character. It could be Chenin Blanc, only just a bit lighter, but with the same tart and tasty mix of acid and sugar, with lemony fruit and floral highlights. Really tasty.  — 

Paul Gregutt

Published 10/1/2011

Link to the original web page

here

Oregon's Best Wines!

AwardPlaque

They blind-tasted over 400 wines. Four days of arduous sipping and spitting. They chose just 15 white wines and only four were Rieslings. Love & Squalor 2010 Willamette? No. 12!

I am extremely grateful to the tired palates at the Portland Monthly for their nod. I'll buy you guys a beer.

----------------------------------

No.12

Love and 
Squalor

2010 RieslingWillamette Valley, $18

Matt Berson’s zesty riesling—made with organic grapes—is sweet, lush, and refreshing, offering flavors of peaches and mangoes for a balanced palate that’d be a perfect picnic sipper. Pack a backpack with a baguette, smoked salmon, Peppadew peppers, and a corkscrew, and you’re set for a wonderful meal.

Here's the link.

New Releases: Get Them Here First!

I am very pleased to announce the pre-release offering of the new Love & Squalor wines. You can order them via eMail at buywine@loveandsqualorwine.com. I will be pouring these beauties this coming Memorial Day weekend at Brooks Winery in Amity (just south of McMinnville). Please come and say hello between sips.

The 2009 Eola Hills Riesling is drinking great, even in its youth. It is a bit drier than previous vintages but still shows forward apple and citrus fruits, a tropicality in the mid-palate and  a long wet finish. $18/bottle.

2008 was a banner year for Oregon Pinot, and the Love & Squalor 2008 Pinot noir bottling is surely taking part in that parade. Floral and forest notes lead into a dark and rich beginning. The middle spreads wide across the tongue, coating with cherry, black tea and finishes with bright complexity. This is my finest effort yet and I hope you will agree. $24/bottle.

As always, I will extend a 10% discount on orders of 6 or more bottles. I also have a bargain four-pack  - 2 Riesling + 2 Pinot for only $80 + shipping. Or try the six-pack deal - 3 Riesling + 3 Pinot for only $110 + shipping. Please see last year's order form on this blog for more clarification. 2009/2010 L&S Order Form

Thank you for your continued enjoyment of Love & Squalor. May we have the opportunity to toast together soon.

Cheers-

Matt