At this point in the year, I try to calm myself because the end of summer is in sight. I feel like I haven’t gotten enough days on the back deck working, bike rides in, or been to more wineries, and so many other things I could list on forever.

Next week is IPNC. I couldn’t be more excited to catch up with friends and meet new ones. So far, it looks like it will be hot, but not extremely hot. Also, I know I flaked on getting a newsletter out during IPNC week last year. This year that is not the case. It is a podcast week, and I am already putting the finishing touches on the interview with an exceptional guest and featured winery for IPNC. Stay tuned!

Resonance has a new tasting I need to check out!

Shout out to Brooks for being #28 in the World’s Best Vineyards list.

Some Cranberry Wine is coming out of Bandon.

Napa’s Harvest might be delayed to cool weather.

A new restaurant from Cowhorn, oh my!!

Samantha Cole is getting back into groove tasting through some extraordinary Oregon Wines (behind a paywall)

A couple of Top Ten Lists for you - Best New Winery Experience and Best Wine Festival. Rest assured, Oregon is represented proudly in both lists!

There is an events Newsletter also. I know you aren't interested. Next one comes out August 1st. Whatever you do don't Sign Up. Don't Click to Sign Up!

I was going to save this nugget for the first monthly newsletter on August 5th, but my editor moved some things around on me. I’m telling you these are some problematic work conditions I must put up worth. At least there is Sparkling waiting for me once this is done!

We all have friends who enjoy drinking fermented grape juice to share in our journeys. We hear exemplary places to visit and some not-so-good places to visit. For both instances, we make mental notes and proceed forward. I made a note when I first heard about Open Claim via IG. When a friend was excited about Open Claim, I put several exclamation points behind my mental note. When I did some research to learn Tony Rynders was the winemaker, I highlighted my note, put circles around them, and dissected my calendar to find a way to visit.

The owners of Open Claim are Brett and Marnie Wall. The journey to bring Open Claim into reality has been lengthy. Brett works for Medtronic, one of the leaders in medical devices headquartered in Irvine, California.

The real story is that Marnie’s mom purchased 35 acres in 1994, a little outside of Dallas, Oregon. I assume Brett and Marnie liked the property because, in 2013, they bought an additional 20 acres. The details are a little fuzzy if the couple is using the original 35 acres plus the other 20 acres for Open Claim, but I would make some assumptions with 3 acres of Chardonnay and 12 acres of Pinot Noir planted in 2012.

The name Open Claim comes from the federal government. In 1850, there was the Donation Land Claim Act offered parcel No. 68 in “Open Claim” to anyone willing to nurture the land to life and meaning.

If you know Tony Rynders's philosophy about releasing wine, you know he likes to over-vintage the wine, meaning it spends a minimum of 16 months in barrel. In 2018, Open Claim released its first 2015 vintage to the public. Yes, there was a 2014 vintage, but it wasn’t available to the public.

There was no tasting room with the 2018 release, but there were plans to have a facility at the end of 2019. I can’t confirm when the tasting room was built, but I did find the plans. After being in the tasting room and seeing the floor plan, I need to go back to gather a better appreciation.

One more piece on the timeline before I get into the tasting. In 2021, Open Claim became the 50th signatory of the Oak Accord. There are several wineries part of Oak Accord. Left Coast is one of them. When I wrote about them last year, there were 65 participants. It’s pretty darn cool to see 15 additional signatories signed on between 2021 and last summer.

Visiting Open Claim is not a last-minute, spur-of-the-moment kind of experience. Notice how I mentioned experience and not tasting. When visiting Open Claim, plan a solid two weeks in advance. The build-up and anticipation for an upcoming blow-the-socks-off-your-feet experience is worth it 142 times over!

The reason for planning is that the personal chef who is cooking food for you forages for food and plans for every guest. If there are allergies, he also takes that into account. So, for example, if you react to eggs, he will ensure your hollandaise sauce is out of this world without eggs. It is also one party at a time for the experience.

Seeing the Open Claim sign leading up to the driveway, I sighed a sigh of relief. I never know when Apple Maps will correctly get me to the destination. Overall, I have had next to no issues, but being late is a pet peeve of mine.

Seeing the tasting room and the view of the Valley from the top of the driveway was stunning. Walking into the tasting room, Ari had everything ready to sweep us away for one heck of an experience, starting with Champagne.

While sipping Champagne, Ari talked about Open Claim while making us feel at home. After leisurely finishing the Champagne, Ari took us on a tour of the grounds and the vineyard. What I noticed the most about the vineyard was how it was surrounded by evergreens creating a micro-climate for the vineyard itself. I also saw bees on site but didn’t take a picture.

After walking around and falling in love with the property, it was time to get down to business with wine and food. Some people say food and wine, but I have my priorities!

​

Below are pictures of the food along with the wine pairing

2019 Open Claim 'OCV Chardonnay

Sun Gold Tomatoes, Gooseberry, Cucumber, Almond, Begonia

2015 Open Claim OCV Chardonnay

Dungeness Crab, Snap Peas, Captain Paul's Biscuits, Hollandaise

2019 Open Claim "OCV Pinot Noir

2018 Open Claim OCV Pinot Noir

Columbia River King Salmon, Roasted Beets, Tamarind, Basil

2017 Open Claim 'OCV Pinot Noir

Smoked Chicken, Roasted Morels

Wild Cherries | Lardo

Honey Ice Cream, Cottonwood Carmel

Oregon Berries

Candies

If I could go back in time to tell myself when I moved to Oregon in 2001 that I would have fallen in love with all of the wine and the food from this experience, I would have said to myself, “You are one crazy foul!” All of it was fabulous!! Next year, I need to see Open Claim as part of the Top Ten Wine Experiences! Who has a personal chef who cooks food for you on the spot, comes out to talk about the food, and answers any questions about it? There is another food and wine pairing experience in the Valley that is also mouth-watering. The price for their experience is $150. Open Claim's experience is also $150 and blows the other one out of the water!

Get your calendar out, and find some time coming up, even if it’s in the Fall. This is worth your time, attention, and your taste buds will thank you many times over. Visit Open Claim’s Website, fill out the form, and be patient in getting a response. Multiple schedules and calendars are synced to ensure you have a stellar experience! Also, when you see Ari, please tell him, “A.J. sent me!”

​

​

With Heartfelt Gratitude,

A.J.