2024 Classes and events
Heroic Viticulture, $45
Wine is made all over the world, but there are places where the conditions are so extreme and difficult they are deemed “heroic,” and that is where we’ll venture in this class. Learn about the conditions, special viticulture techniques, the extraordinary work required and the dedicated (some might say crazy) people keeping these vineyards and traditions alive. Travel to the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, the Alps, Italy’s rugged coastline, Portugal’s Douro Valley, Sicily’s Mt. Etna, the Canary Islands and more through a traveling dreamscape of wine!
Free Irish Music
Please join us for an evening of
IRISH DANCE MUSIC
&
TRADITIONAL & ORIGINAL SONGS
featuring Joan and Mark Roes, Sofia Jokela, Elijah Cetas, Jan DeWeese, Jonah Willbach, Lynn Averbeck, Linda Stoltz, and Jayme Armstrong
These folks, seasoned performers at many a Sweeney/Moran St. Patrick’s Day Party, bring energy and sensitivity to the timeless strains of Irish music, plus moving personal songs. Here is rare showing for the greater public, in a setting unequalled.
Your attendance is only guaranteed by “purchasing” a free ticket, as space is limited.
More than Inclusion: The Prophetic Imagination and the Call to Liberating Love , FREE
Inclusion is not the end goal. Love is. Justice is. Community is. This experience we will share together draws on Catholic Social Teaching, the prophetic imagination, and the real-world complexities of doing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) work in a polarized world. It's a conversation for those who want to move beyond the performance of inclusion and toward the deeper, riskier, more sacred work of collective liberation. Our aim is to leave with framing and language to name what we are for (not just what we're against) and to keep showing up with courage, clarity, and care.
Tshombé Brown is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Portland. He studied linguistics and Spanish at Western Washington University before embarking on a career in community organizing. In his spare time, Tshombé enjoys working out, urban hikes, gardening, sticking his feet in freezing water, eating sashimi, and full-belly laughs…especially his own.
Horse Devours First Friday, $10
Leyla and Ian met in college, and they are certainly one of the most exciting underground duos we’ve come across in our two-plus years of existence. Anyone who’s familiar with our shop knows that we dig winemakers who do their thing intentionally and carefully, but with a spirit of joy. The very name “Horse Devours” reminds us of some of our favorite French winemakers who are naming their lovely wines with a spirit of playfulness.
This is a new-ish project that began in 2022, after Leyla and Ian spent a bunch of time exploring wines of the world, and falling into natural wine circles.
purchase tickets here, $10 (credited toward the purchase of two bottles)
Foundations I: Wine for Newbies, $25
Join us for an introduction to the basics of wine. All of us, at some point or another, have found ourselves boggled by retail shelves or restaurant menus. Between regions, varietals, styles, and jargon, approaching wine can seem impossibly daunting. This class is geared toward those who love wine, but find themselves a little (or maybe more than a little!) lost.
We’re going to cover the most essential concepts surrounding wine production and how to read a wine label. With these skills, you’ll be equipped with the right set of tools and questions to tackle the world of wine.
Rabbi Brian Mayer Reads from Rabbi Brian’s Highly Unorthodox Gospel, FREE
Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer (rB) enjoys the challenge of summarizing himself into a few sentences. He lives in Portland Oregon, and–from his MacBook M2 Pro–runs ROTB.org, a worldwide, internet-based congregation of over 3,000 members.
In 2025, rB published Rabbi Brian’s Highly Unorthodox Gospel–a modern testament to compassion, kindness and love. For others. (And self.)
“A bewitching combination of Borscht Belt-style humor and Eastern Philosophy.” – The Jewish Journal
Magic Uncorked, $30
Our fourth iteration of “Magic Uncorked” is sure to sell out for the fourth time in a row, so snag your tickets soon! Starting at 6pm, enjoy close-up and walkaround magic and enjoy some wine before heading into the Vinum Lounge for our seated parlor magic. Our featured performer this evening specializes in historically-grounded Victorian parlor magic, so get stoked. Read about the performers, and…
Everything You Wanted to Know About Pinot, $45
While Burgundy is the indubitable beating heartland of Pinot Noir, and while Oregon is producing absolutely world-class expressions of this grape, growers in other regions around the world have been crafting top-notch Pinot for many decades, and even centuries. We’ll be diving into its historical and agricultural background, and experiencing how terroir and production methods influence the breadth of expressions that Pinot is capable of. Our flight will consist of Pinot Noirs from Burgundy, Oregon, and beyond, so prepare yourself.
Chillable Red Porch Pounders, $35
Perhaps the greatest surprise of running a wine bar was realizing that people will drink chillable red wines even in the middle of winter. And now that we have almost three years’ worth of pouring and selling many dozens (perhaps even hundreds) of chillable wines, we have some unconventional favorites that we turn to time and time again. Join a hedonistic, joyful exploration of crushable porch pounders that will amplify summer festivities.
Varnum Vintners First Friday, $10
Taralyn and Cyler Varnum craft remarkable old vine Riesling, Pinot Noir, and sparkling wines in the Eola-Amity Hills, but they are perhaps most famous for creating Oregon’s very first non-alcoholic wines. Come meet Cyler, and meet the dynamic range of wines that he and Taralyn are all about.
Foundations II: Demystifying Wine Tasting, $25
If you have a foundational understanding of how wine comes into existence, and a grasp of the most essential concepts that surround wine, then it’s time to dive into wine tasting. Wine can (and should!) be mysterious, but we’re going to provide you with a firm foundation to understand—and thereby better enjoy—the wines you drink.
Before exploring the various areas of aroma and flavor profiles, we’ll talk about the key structural elements that compose a glass: sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and tannin. Alongside a little bit of science and a dose of psychology, we’ll provide tips and tricks to navigate the choreography and mechanics of tasting.
Beautiful & Glorious Riesling, $45
Perhaps more than any other grape, Riesling might very well be the most misunderstood and the most underappreciated. While a couple of companies-that-shall-not-be-named destroyed Riesling’s reputation by pumping their wines full of sugar decades ago, this varietal’s various styles ranging from dry to sweet predate that catastrophic era by many centuries.
We’ll be surveying Riesling from Austria, Alsace, and of course Germany, with the hopes of exploding your minds with how awesome Riesling can be, even when it has a bit of residual sugar. As a specialty bottle shop that’s come to specialize in German wines, we have access to some of the rarest Rieslings around, which will foreground this class. There’s good reason why 99.9% of wine geeks and pros declare their favorite varietal to be Riesling (that’s probably hyperbole, but only barely so): let an exploration of these wines obliterate the lamentable zeitgeist that plagues Riesling!
Listening to the Heart of the Story in Life’s Pursuit for Meaning: Lessons from a DeafBlind Hospital Chaplain, FREE
Some words from Paul on this talk: “I recognize there are a lot of tools that we may use in this time, I am hoping this is one tool that you can use in your tool belt of resources when navigating your walk. This talk will focus on the tools of grounding yourself in core beliefs, listening deeply, recognizing our own triggers and how to think about healthy boundaries amongst other topics. I hope you're ready to reflect honestly and dive deeply into curiosity and wonder. Maybe you will learn something new about yourself or another as we all walk each other home in this life.”
Paul Griego, M.Div. has served for almost 15 years as a hospital and hospice chaplain, both in the pediatric and adult worlds, and brings a myriad of experiences to share and understand how very little he does know. Paul is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and is a staunch advocate for the differently abled/disabled. An original Bay Area native, Paul found his way up to the pacific northwest to attend Linfield College before being called by the mountains to the Iliff School of Theology in Denver. From there, Paul served the Children’s Hospital in Colorado as the Chaplain for their Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department. In August, Paul returned home to the PNW, and is enjoying getting reacquainted with his new community and all the delicious treats Portland has to offer.
Foundations III: The Essentials of Food and Wine Pairing, $25
If you’ve come to appreciate how wine can elevate a meal, but want to understand how wine and food interact–in both desirable and undesirable ways–then this is the class for you. As we taste through our flight, we’ll be investigating how these wines interact with various food components (salt, fat, acid, and heat, as it were). We’ll empower you with the resources to ask the right questions of wine stewards and sommeliers when you’re looking for the perfect bottle or glass to accompany your meal.
The Loire Valley with Certified Sommelier Oliver Longwell, $45
Of the great wine regions, in France and beyond, perhaps none offers a more diverse array of world-class wines than does the Loire River Valley. Justly celebrated today for the dry white wines of Muscadet, Sancerre, and Saumur, the Loire has a long history of producing magnificent late-harvest sweet wines. Red wines run the gamut from rich Cabernet Franc and earthy Côt (Malbec) to silky Pinot Noir and peppery, translucent Pineau D’Aunis. And don’t forget the sparkling wines from Champagne look-alikes to funky Petillant Naturel (“pet-nat”) wines. In fact, your entire Thanksgiving feast could be accompanied beautifully by Loire wines. A celebrated tradition of winemaking combined with an exciting community of naturally-minded, farming-focused young vignerons makes the Loire one of today’s most dynamic growing regions. Taste the diversity, and value, it offers.
A native New Yorker, Oliver Longwell caught the wine bug in 2012 after a number of years working in government and politics. He has worked for leading wine retailers in New York and Los Angeles, with a particular focus on organically-farmed and natural wines. Oliver is a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and works as a freelance wine consultant. He enjoys experimenting with fermentations, especially ciders. He and his wife moved to Northeast Portland in 2021, welcomed their first daughter in 2022 and their second daughter in 2024.
Foundations I: Wine for Newbies, $25
Join us for an introduction to the basics of wine. All of us, at some point or another, have found ourselves boggled by retail shelves or restaurant menus. Between regions, varietals, styles, and jargon, approaching wine can seem impossibly daunting. This class is geared toward those who love wine, but find themselves a little (or maybe more than a little!) lost.
We’re going to cover the most essential concepts surrounding wine production and how to read a wine label. With these skills, you’ll be equipped with the right set of tools and questions to tackle the world of wine.
Foundations II: Demystifying Wine Tasting, $25
If you have a foundational understanding of how wine comes into existence, and a grasp of the most essential concepts that surround wine, then it’s time to dive into wine tasting. Wine can (and should!) be mysterious, but we’re going to provide you with a firm foundation to understand—and thereby better enjoy—the wines you drink.
Before exploring the various areas of aroma and flavor profiles, we’ll talk about the key structural elements that compose a glass: sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and tannin. Alongside a little bit of science and a dose of psychology, we’ll provide tips and tricks to navigate the choreography and mechanics of tasting.
Foundations III: Essentials of Pairing, $25
If you’ve come to appreciate how wine can elevate a meal, but want to understand how wine and food interact–in both desirable and undesirable ways–then this is the class for you. As we taste through our flight, we’ll be investigating how these wines interact with various food components (salt, fat, acid, and heat, as it were). We’ll empower you with the resources to ask the right questions of wine stewards and sommeliers when you’re looking for the perfect bottle or glass to accompany your meal.
Friday Tasting: Canopy & Company, FREE
Jeb and Rachelle Hollabaugh are two Oregonians who spent over 15 years crafting wine, beer, and cocktails for a number of local companies before starting their own label. Their “Vino Amaro” is a killer apertivo featuring locally-sourced botanicals.
They’ll be pouring samples of this wine, so come on by to try it!
Foundations III: The Essentials of Pairing, $25
If you’ve come to appreciate how wine can elevate a meal, but want to understand how wine and food interact–in both desirable and undesirable ways–then this is the class for you. As we taste through our flight, we’ll be investigating how these wines interact with various food components (salt, fat, acid, and heat, as it were). We’ll empower you with the resources to ask the right questions of wine stewards and sommeliers when you’re looking for the perfect bottle or glass to accompany your meal.
Grape Ink First Friday, $10
Jarad Hadi worked alongside some of the top viticultural and winemaking consultants in France before returning home to Oregon. He plants and farms vineyards in the Tualatin Hills AVA, the most northerly sub-appellation of the Willamette Valley, precisely because of the high altitude vineyards here.
Jarad is a brilliant farmer, and makes almost absurdly tiny quantities of wine from the best plots that he farms. Supremely attentive in the vineyards, Jarad eschews chemicals, and crafts his wines with as minimal intervention as possible. His wines range from the classic to the creative.
Come taste through his wines, with your ticket credited toward a purchase of two bottles.
The Esoteric Wines of Oregon, $35
While Oregon is most famous for Pinot and Chardonnay, in recent decades experimentalists have been planting grapes that are native to the more obscure (and sometimes classic) regions of Europe. These are, admittedly, the varietals that get us especially riled up when it comes to local wines, given that they’re vinified in such limited amounts by wickedly creative folks who are rebelling against the mainstream. Join us on an expedition through the most exciting things happening in the Willamette Valley, Columbia Gorge, and beyond!
The Willamette Valley, $45
In honor of Oregon Wine Month, we’re nerding out about the world-class Pinots and Chardonnays of Oregon. How did the Valley historically come to exist as a beloved wine region? Why does the Willamette Valley have so many danged AVAs? What could possibly merit these distinctions in a relatively small region? We’ll be getting into some of our favorite Pinots and Chardonnays, talking about soils and microclimates of each sub-AVA within the Valley, and how they distinctly affect the wines made from their grapes. Get ready to learn about the history, geology, topography of the Willamette Valley, and dive into some truly exceptional wines. Expect a bonus pour or two from Dave’s home cellar of wonders that are not widely available.
WINERY TASTING: BENANTI OF MOUNT ETNA, FREE
Antonio Benanti, the co-owner of a Sicilian estate that’s over 300 years old, will be pouring a slate of exceptional wines from Sicily, ranging from their flagship red and white wines from Mount Etna to a traditional method bubbles to more specialized single-vineyard bottlings.
Come meet Antonio, and taste through some amazing wines from legendary volcanic terroir.
Foundations II: Demystifying Wine Tasting, $25
If you have a foundational understanding of how wine comes into existence, and a grasp of the most essential concepts that surround wine, then it’s time to dive into wine tasting. Wine can (and should!) be mysterious, but we’re going to provide you with a firm foundation to understand—and thereby better enjoy—the wines you drink.
Before exploring the various areas of aroma and flavor profiles, we’ll talk about the key structural elements that compose a glass: sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and tannin. Alongside a little bit of science and a dose of psychology, we’ll provide tips and tricks to navigate the choreography and mechanics of tasting.
Oregon Wine Fair & Maker’s Market
May is Oregon Wine Month, and were kicking it off right! Join us for a wine tasting fair, featuring six indie winemakers, and a vibrant marketplace of local crafts and gourmet foods!
These innovative winemakers are much-loved in the local wine scene. Some folks you might be familiar with, others perhaps not. But we guarantee this much: their wines are tremendous, approachable, and affordable! Taste through 18 wines, with bottles available for purchase.
It’ll be a party vibe with local food vendors and artisans and makers. Vendor details will be released in the coming weeks.
Come support small businesses and celebrate Oregon spring with us!
Purchase advance tickets here, $20
Pre-sale ends April 30th; tickets will be available at the door for $30.
OEL wine club members will have exclusive, early access starting at 2pm. Doors will open to everyone else at 3pm.
The Wines of Languedoc-Roussillon, $40
Languedoc and Roussillon were the first places in France that recovered from the phylloxera epidemic that decimated the vast majority of European vineyards at the turn of the 20th century. While they were known as a “wine lake” for decades, churning out millions of gallons of table wine, recent years have seen a resurgence of radically cool juice made from grapes in old vineyards that have never seen chemicals.
A broad spectrum of styles is made in this region, ranging from sparkling wine (where the monks of Saint Hilaire discovered it in the early 1500s) to fortified wines, and we’ll be exploring daily drinkers and fancy juice from allocated producers. Prepare to have your minds and palates blown, in the best of all possible senses.
Magic Uncorked, $20
Our third evening of magic is not to be missed. Enjoy walkaround and close-up magic in the shop for an hour before heading into the Vinum Lounge for a seated parlor magic show.
Featuring the magic of TJ Newton, John Stevens, and Jonathan Molo from the Magic Castle! Click the link below to learn more, and to…
Foundations I: Wine for Newbies, $25
Join us for an introduction to the basics of wine. All of us, at some point or another, have found ourselves boggled by retail shelves or restaurant menus. Between regions, varietals, styles, and jargon, approaching wine can seem impossibly daunting. This class is geared toward those who love wine, but find themselves a little (or maybe more than a little!) lost.
We’re going to cover the most essential concepts surrounding wine production and how to read a wine label. With these skills, you’ll be equipped with the right set of tools and questions to tackle the world of wine.
April First Friday Tasting: Willow Wine Cellars, $10
Brendan and Tarnna are true garagiste winemakers, literally fermenting and bottling juice in their renovated garage in the Columbia Gorge. Brendan got his start in wine hospitality at Chrysalis Winery in Virginia before moving to Napa, where he led wine tours and attended night classes for viticulture and enology. Brendan and Tarnna met at a bakery in Napa, and moved to Tarnna’s hometown in Hood River, where they managed their friend’s backyard hobby vineyard and made their first twenty cases of rose.
As the years progressed, Tarnna completed her master’s in education, the two had a couple of kiddos, and scaled up their production to 900 cases. They’re making a variety of wines, sourcing fruit from Washington and the Columbia Gorge.
Join us as we taste through a selection of their wines! Your $10 ticket will be credited toward a purchase of two Willow bottles.
Bargain Wines from Famous Regions, $35
This class will explore the world’s most famously expensive regions, specifically with an eye to finding quality wines from those areas without spending hundreds of dollars. Ever heard of French crémant? Or second labels from Bordeaux? Or the Mâconnais? If not, you’re in for a treat as we taste through and discuss bomb wines that are way more affordable than their more famous counterparts, and just as delicious.
Foundations III: The Essentials of Pairing
If you’ve come to appreciate how wine can elevate a meal, but want to understand how wine and food interact–in both desirable and undesirable ways–then this is the class for you. As we taste through our flight, we’ll be investigating how these wines interact with various food components (salt, fat, acid, and heat, as it were). We’ll empower you with the resources to ask the right questions of wine stewards and sommeliers when you’re looking for the perfect bottle or glass to accompany your meal.
Women in Wine: The Art of Micro-Winemaking, $40
We’re thrilled to host Diana Schultz of Augustina Cellars and Meg Rulli of Flipturn Cellars for a class that celebrates the vinous dimension of Women’s History Month. These two ladies will lead us in a class that highlights their wines, and discussing their winemaking journeys along the way. Diana and Meg manage every aspect of their wine production and business, from vineyard contracts to winemaking to marketing to selling. If you’re curious to learn about how two indie winemakers do their thing, this will be a supremely insightful evening, with conversation directed by a flight of six wines lovingly made by Diana and Meg!
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Here’s some info about our two guests, and their work:
Diana (she/her), the owner and winemaker of Augustina Cellars, lives for her passions, of which she has many. When trying to draw on the origin of her intrigue in the world of wine, she realizes how closely connected it is to food. Even in high school, when a friend brought over a bottle of Bordeaux from their parent's cellar, Diana pulled out the deli cold cuts and pre-sliced cheeses to make (the most generic) cheese and charcuterie plate to compliment the wine. However, the inexperienced tastebuds of teenagers had them spitting out the wine and dumping the bottle down the sink. Oh, the shame! She has since spent two decades honing her palate, testing her skills in naming the varietals and regions as well as assessing quality. She is a certified Spanish Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar from the Wine Scholar Guild and WSET Level 3. Diana is a wine educator at The Wine & Spirit Archive in Portland. The next adventure of learning is all that goes into winemaking by making her own which she started in 2019.
Diana loves to dance, attend live theatre, music, Blazer games and stand up comedy. Her favorite way to enjoy time off is spent leisurely cooking, outside in her own backyard or the beautiful lakes, rivers and trails of the Pacific Northwest. All good food is her favorite. She wants to travel everywhere and drink all the amazing wine on this planet.
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Flipturn Cellars celebrates the unexpected flips and turns in life. Owner Meg Rulli's passion for wine began during her college study abroad in Barcelona, where she discovered the joy of pairing wine with food. Years later, Meg traveled abroad for an entire year exploring renowned global wine regions. She grew increasingly passionate about wine when she returned to the States and set up roots in Portland, immersing herself in the vibrant Oregon food and wine scene.
In 2019, Meg pursued the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) program, earning her certification as a Level 3 Wine Expert and deepening her fascination with the grape-to-glass transformation. In 2020, without prior winemaking experience, she took a bold leap and purchased 1 ton of Syrah fruit from Yakima Valley. Through learning by doing and mentorship from talented Oregon winemakers, she produced her first vintage and launched her brand, Flipturn Cellars.
Flipturn Cellars sources grapes from vineyards committed to regenerative farming. Meg crafts small-batch, minimal intervention, food-friendly wines, inspired by the wines she has fallen in love with during her travels.
In addition to Flipturn Cellars, Meg creates educational wine content for everyday wine enthusiasts for her brand, Barrel Dork.
March First Friday Tasting: RAM Cellars
Vivianne Kennedy, the owner and winemaker of RAM Cellars, is a true pioneer in the Oregon wine scene, and crafts small lots of premium, low intervention wines in SE Portland. Viv is the first transgender winemaker in Oregon, and we’re excited to host her at OEL for the first time! A portion of all RAM Cellars revenue is returned to the communities that she is part of, focusing on non-profit organizations that support and uplift queer and transgender folks.
$10 to taste through a flight of three wines, with your ticket credited toward a purchase of two bottles!
Magic Uncorked
Well, our first magic show was a raging success, so we’re excited to host a few stellar magicians for our second Magic Uncorked. This time around, you’ll enjoy walkaround and close-up magic in the bar from 6-7:15 before heading into the Vinum Lounge for a seated show at 7:30. Your ticket includes a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage and three hours of incredible magic! Please note that tickets will not be available at the door!
Here is some information about the magicians:
John W. Stevens has been called, “The Mr. Rogers of Magic,” and is a family entertainer who has been delighting audiences for over 35 years. Known for his captivating magic tricks and joyful performances, John brings a blend of wonder and laughter to every show. His career has spanned generations, enchanting children and adults alike with his magical stories.
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Wunderkid Moto McChesney might not have graduated high school yet, but this fellow has been accepted into the world-renowned Junior Program at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles! Auditioning for, and being accepted as a magician member of the Castle is something most magicians can only dream of. Before he got into the Castle, Moto made waves in the Portland magic community by earning 4th place in a statewide magic competition after just one month of performing. From grand stage illusions to close-up magic performed right in the palm of your hand, Moto offers captivating entertainment for any and every audience.
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TJ Newton’s journey into magic began with the charm of early variety television shows that inspired him as a child. By his teens he was mentored by a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and earned a spot in both his mentor’s magic club and the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians by age fifteen.
From that humble beginning, he quickly became a staple in his community, performing for private parties and teaming with a young talented juggler and best friend performing under the name “TJ and Thompson.” Together they performed for audiences including fairs and other public events in the area.
After shifting focus to theater, TJ performed on stages along Oregon’s North Coast from the early ’90s until his move to Oregon City in 2022. His theatrical experiences include a small role in the television show Leverage and training in improvisation, character development and acting at the Portland Actors Conservatory.
Now after 40 years from when it all began TJ is circling back to his first love of performance: magic. He brings with him a wealth of storytelling and comedic timing he has honed through those many years on the stage.
TJ’s magic promises to entertain and enthrall audiences as he attempts to impart on them the same sense of wonder and excitement as when he saw his very first magical performance as a child.
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Craig Martin, a dedicated magician whose passion for creativity and commitment to his craft shine through every performance. With a unique blend of humor and visual artistry, Craig has developed a distinctive style of Business Magic that transforms corporate events into memorable experiences. He seamlessly weaves your message into his act, ensuring that audiences not only enjoy the show but also remember the key takeaways long after the curtain falls.
With over 30 years of experience performing for respected companies like Costco, Nike, PDX, Microsoft, Home Depot, Holiday Inn, Survey Monkey, Seattle Genetics, Alta Pharmaceuticals, OpenSesame, Cricket, Kohler Engines, The Hilton, and many others.
Craig takes pride in tailoring his performances to resonate with diverse audiences. His goal is to make corporate gatherings enjoyable and engaging, adding a touch of magic to the everyday.
Before embarking on his journey as a magician, Craig dedicated over 20 years to the United States Army, where he served in the 9th Mission Support Command in Honolulu, Hawaii. Responsible for the medical readiness of more than 4,000 soldiers across the South Pacific, Craig learned the importance of teamwork, communication, and collaboration—principles that he brings to every performance.
Craig Martin is not just a magician; he’s a storyteller who believes in the power of connection and joy. With every show, he aims to create moments of wonder that leave a lasting impression. Get ready to be entertained and inspired!
February Furmint: The Wines of Central and Eastern Europe, with Stetson of Black Lamb Imports
As a continuation of our celebration of February Furmint, Join Stetson Robbins the man behind Black Lamb Imports, a sui generis company that specializes in the wines of Central and Eastern Europe. Taste through a flight of six wines from Central and Eastern Europe, with your ticket credited toward a purchase of three bottles. Here’s some info about Black Lamb:
Black Lamb is an importer of low technology wines and fermentables primarily from Georgia and Central Europe. These are not well known regions and their wines even less so. Ironically, it is this lack of attention that insulates the wines of these regions from the homogenization that defines modern wine. We are not interested in homogenous wine. We seek singular wines of imagination that communicate something about the place and people who made them. As importers, it is our job to bend the market to these wines rather than the wines to the market. Doing this protects the diversity of wine on our table and yours while encouraging, if not providing a livelihood for, the artisan craftspeople who produce them.
Foundations II: Demystifying Wine Tasting
If you have a foundational understanding of how wine comes into existence, and a grasp of the most essential concepts that surround wine, then it’s time to dive into wine tasting. Wine can (and should!) be mysterious, but we’re going to provide you with a firm foundation to understand—and thereby better enjoy—the wines you drink.
Before exploring the various areas of aroma and flavor profiles, we’ll talk about the key structural elements that compose a glass: sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and tannin. Alongside a little bit of science and a dose of psychology, we’ll provide tips and tricks to navigate the choreography and mechanics of tasting.
Valentine's Day Flight
Looking for the perfect way to add some sparkle to your Valentine’s Day plans? Your $30 flight comprises three elegant rosé sparklers, including a real-deal Champagne! Make it even sweeter with an optional Valentine’s Day cheese and dessert plate for $30 more, featuring decadent treats and perfect pairings.
Whether you’re starting your evening off right or winding down after dinner, this tasting is the ideal way to toast to love, friendship, and everything in between.
Please note that space is limited, and we have reservation times for 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm, which you will select upon checkout.
Galentine's Day Trivia
For the ladies, we’re excited to host a Galentine’s Day Trivia! Your ticket includes a glass of wine, with a snack plate available for purchase with your ticket. Space is limited, so please reserve tickets for groups of up to 6. While this is a Galentine’s-themed event, all are welcome!
OEL’s co-owner Sarah Gregory has put together an exciting set of trivia questions, centered around the accomplishments of women throughout human history. Her lesser half, Dave, will be temporarily returning to his career as a teacher, and will be present to pour wine and grade your answer sheets.
And yes, there will be prizes.
February Furmint: The Wines of Hungary
We’re featuring wines from Central and Eastern Europe throughout February in celebration of February Furmint, and our first of two tastings will focus on the wines of Hungary.
Last year, Dave met Eric Danch, a hilarious and supremely passionate fellow who fell in love with the wines of Central and Eastern Europe while working for a show that combined European cabaret and Vaudevillian circus. Eric’s six years in the circus catalyzed a career focusing on the wines that his European colleagues drank, and he spent close to a decade spreading love for these wines in the Bay area before taking over and transforming the Blue Danube Wine Co. into Danch and Granger Selections with his business partner Catherine Granger.
This tasting will highlight six wines from the Hungarian side of the Danch & Granger portfolio, foregrounding the historical regions of Somlo and Tokaj; these white wines will range from dry to off-dry to fully botrytized, covering a breadth of traditional styles that are rarely seen in the United States.
Your ticket will be credited toward a purchase of three bottles.
First Friday Tasting: Sealionne, $10
In 2023, we hosted our first Winter Wine Market, where we were introduced to Ben and Piper of Sealionne wines, whose bottles were an absolute hit! We’re thrilled to have them back for a tasting of their critically acclaimed juice. Here’s some info about the label:
Inspired by SeaLyon, a 1920-1930’s classic wooden boat designer from New York City known for exceptional performance. The brand was conceived by Ben and Piper with family while cruising through our happy place - perched in the cockpit of a 1925 SeaLyon called the Herschel. While drinking wine and feeling the freedom of slicing through the water, we felt compelled to bring this sense of adventure to our wine making journey. Sealionne wines, rooted in our beautiful Ribbon Ridge Estate property in Newberg, Oregon, is also a place for exploration. We make wines that we feel embody the freedom we experience while adventuring and traveling with those we love.
Taste through a flight of Sealionne wines, with your ticket credited toward a purchase of two bottles. Free for club members!
Pink Bubbles, $45
Who doesn’t love pink bubbles? They’re fun, they’re tasty and just the right kind of wine to share with someone you adore – or want to! In this class we’ll explore a world-wide variety of sparkling roses, from pet nats to Champagnes. Learn about how varieties and production methods create different styles – from pale blushes to big, full-bodied versions – to find what YOU love.
Taught by our own Tanya Zumach, WSET 3 and Master of Champagne.
Foundations I: Wine for Newbies
Join us for an introduction to the basics of wine. All of us, at some point or another, have found ourselves boggled by retail shelves or restaurant menus. Between regions, varietals, styles, and jargon, approaching wine can seem impossibly daunting. This class is geared toward those who love wine, but find themselves a little (or maybe more than a little!) lost.
We’re going to cover the most essential concepts surrounding wine production and how to read a wine label. With these skills, you’ll be equipped with the right set of tools and questions to tackle the world of wine.
Two Year Anniversary Party
Well, we survived our two years of business, all thanks to you. We’ll be pouring some amazing wines from giant bottles, along with munchies from local cheesemongers and chocolate makers. Ever tried wines from 9 liter or 12 liter bottles? Neither have we, but we’re going to. This isn’t a class, it’s a party!
Champagne Master Class, $60
Take your Champagne knowledge to the next level with this in-depth Master Class, taught by our very own Tanya Zumach, WSET3 and Master of Champagne. As we taste through six premium wines, we’ll explore the diverse regions, cult grower-producers, and grand marques that define the world of Champagne. Dive into the nuanced roles of oak and reserve wines in crafting exceptional cuvées, and experience a live sabering demo! Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a budding connoisseur, this class will refine your palate and deepen your appreciation for the complexity and artistry behind every bottle.
Winter Wine Market, $30
This year’s winter wine market is all about German, Austrian, Alpine, and Champenoise wines! We’ll be featuring the wines of four importers ( Vom Boden, High Five, Archetyp, and Prufrock), each of whom will be pouring samples of two premium wines for your enjoyment and holiday shopping.
Your $30 ticket includes samples of eight wines ranging the spectrum of whites to reds to real deal Champagnes and small bites from Cow Bell. In addition to the wines, local makers and artists (to be updated as we confirm) will be selling their work.
Club members will have access to the market at 4pm, and early access also includes a bonus sample from each importer!
Traditional Method Sparkling Wines, $35
While Champagne absorbs much of the Holiday glow at this festive time of year, we also want to shine a light on the dazzling array of sparkling wines made outside of the Motherland. All our selections will be made in the “traditional” or Champagne method, where the bubbles are created naturally in individual bottles. But then the differences in grape varieties, terroir, and winemaking styles will come into play. Some are crafted as an homage to Champagne, others are made with local grapes to be distinctly different. All will offer festive flavors, versatility in food pairings, and compelling quality for the price.
A native New Yorker, Oliver Longwell caught the wine bug in 2012 after a number of years working in government and politics. He has worked for leading wine retailers in New York and Los Angeles, with a particular focus on organically-farmed and natural wines. Oliver is a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and works as a freelance wine consultant. He enjoys experimenting with fermentations, especially ciders. He and his wife moved to Northeast Portland in 2021 and welcomed their first daughter in 2022 and second daughter in 2024.