IPNC Part I — Thursday

A whole weekend of Pinot Noir. That is the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville, Oregon. We attended this year because Mike gave a talk at the University of Pinot. Let me say right here that this was the best organized event I have ever attended. Ever.

IPNC celebrates not only Pinot Noir, but astounding food by chefs from the Northwest. You can see the full list on the IPNC Web site. We know that our family and friends often like to know what is on the menu, so here is a taste (pun intended).

Thursday, we went to the Anne Amie Vineyards Counter Culture, billed as “a celebration of international wine and urban street food.” The food was paired with wines mostly from Oregon, but also with some from California, Canada, and New Zealand. We ate, in random order:

Porchetta at Counter Culture

• Classic yakitori
• Mumbai grilled sandwiches
• Pinot Noir sangria popsicles
• Bacon butterscotch chip cookies with cream cheese icing
• Chicken liver mousse on crostini with blackberry compote
• Smoked beef tongue sandwiches (full disclosure: Sue did not eat beef tongue)
• Salted caramel ice cream and apricot ice cream
• Grilled pork loin skewers with peanut sauce and cucumber relish
• Pork taco with pineapple, salsa de arbol, onions, cilantro
• Porchetta with peaches
• Braised beef sliders with blue cheese and carmelized onions
• Waffle with gorgonzola dolce and raspberry
• Lamb kebabs with olive-tomato relish

We are off to a good start. This is the first of four IPNC reports. Stay tuned.