Bulletin E-Edition:
more photosSunriver Sunfest Wine Festival attendees peruse different vendor tables at the Sunriver Village Mall on Sunday morning.
Andy Tullis / The Bulletin
CHILLIN’ OVER WINE
By Lauren Dake / The Bulletin
Published: July 27. 2009 4:00AM PSTSUNRIVER —
Swirl. Sniff. Sip.
“Now, that’s a dry chardonnay,” said Anouk Tapper, 40, of Bend, about Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay.
Tapper was one of about 4,000 people who visited the Sunriver Sunfest Wine Festival during the weekend.
For about 20 years, the festival has been part of Sunriver’s summer offerings. This year, 90 percent of the winemakers represented were from Oregon. The event was held at the Sunriver Village Mall.
The proceeds of the family- and pet-friendly event went to Newberry Habitat for Humanity, which serves southern Deschutes County, according to Kim Thompson, with Specialized Meetings and Events.
For many, the festival served as an introduction to local wineries.
For Tapper’s mom, Josiane Snyder, 72, who was visiting from Michigan, it was a chance to try out a variety of white wines. For years, she was a red wine drinker.
“Her motto is, when your hair turns white, switch to white,” Tapper joked of her mother’s choice.
Doug and Debby Schultz, of Albany, said they fell in love at the festival — with Melrose Vineyards’ Viognier.
The couple had never heard of the Umpqua Valley vineyard before Sunday.
“We just joined their wine club,” said Doug Schultz, 56.
Erin Rau, 32, and Ian Monroe, 29, both of Portland, were cruising around, tasting different wines, and enjoying the music and other vendors at the festival.
Rau said she appreciated the laid-back feeling to the festival. Not being wine connoisseurs, Rau said, didn’t deter them from having an enjoyable time.
“There’s friendly, mellow vibes,” Rau said.
Shelleigh Chavez, 33, of Bend, came with her friend Glenda Pascoe, 34.
Chavez initially had no intention of buying any wine.
“I’m not a wine drinker,” she said, “but I’m buying wine.”
The Fizze, from Julianna Vineyards, also in the Umpqua Valley, made her change her mind.
“It converted me,” she said.
The vendors at the festival seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.
Jim Seufert, of Seufert Winery in Dayton, which specializes in pinot noir, said it was obvious that people enjoyed the event.
“People are having a good time, and sales are reflecting that,” he said.
Lauren Dake can be reached at 541-419-8074 or at ldake@bendbulletin.com.
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