Maggie Harrison, winemaker for Antica Terra - a Forbes Q&A:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/katiebell/2012/11/02/the-best-oregon-pinot-noir-is-grown-on-rocks/

Roasted Delicata Squash Soup
Maple-Bacon Dumplings, Grilled Sweet Corn, Crème Fraîche
Serves 6-8 people

For the Soup:
2 delicata squash, peeled, seeded and cut into large dice
1 sweet onion, small diced
2 carrots, small diced
1 leek, thinly sliced (white part only)
3 T extra virgin olive oil
2 shallots, finely minced
1 tsp rosemary, finely chopped
2 tsp thyme, picked
1 bay leaf
1 qt. chicken stock
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
2 T chives, chopped (for garnish)
Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

In a large pot, sauté the squash, onions, carrots, and leeks with olive oil on medium high heat. Stir frequently to avoid burning the bottom of the pot. Sauté until caramelized. Next, add the shallots, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook for about five minutes to develop the flavors of the herbs. 

Add the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the pot to release all the caramelization at the bottom of the pot. Bring the soup to a boil then turn down to a simmer. Simmer until all the vegetables are tender. Once the vegetables are cooked through, turn off the heat, and remove the bay leaf. 

Blend the soup in a blender until smooth and adjust with salt and pepper to taste.  Keep at a gentle simmer for the dumplings.

For the Sweet Corn:
4 ears of sweet corn, shucked
2 T extra virgin olive oil
Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Rub the ears of corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on the grill, but not over direct flames to avoid flare-up. (Flare-ups add an unpleasant flavor.) Once cooked through, allow to cool just enough to be handled.  Next, cut off the kernels from the cob from top to bottom. Keep the sweetcorn kernals warm, and set aside.

For the Dumplings:
2 ½ c cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
2 T melted butter
1 c whole milk
2 T maple syrup
1 c bacon, cooked and chopped
1 T parsley, chopped
1 T shallot, chopped
1 T chives, chopped
1 t thyme, chopped

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Add melted butter, milk, herbs, maple, and bacon and gently fold with a wooden spoon until mixture just comes together. Be very careful not to over mix the batter. (Overmixing will make the dumplings dense.) Drop dumpling batter into the gently simmering soup using a spoon, over the surface of the stew. Cover and simmer until the dumplings are cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.

Once the dumplings are fully cooked, ladle the soup into a bowl. Garnish with the grilled sweet corn, and a generous dollop of crème fraîche on top. The soup may be garnished with extra chives if desired. Enjoy.

Stoller Family Estate readies new wine tasting room in Dundee Hills

http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2012/10/stoller_family_estate_readies.html

In Oregon’s, a quest for wine identity pays off.

http://www.sfgate.com/wine/article/In-Oregon-a-quest-for-wine-identity-pays-off-3923421.php

Portland a great springboard for exploring Oregon wineries

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/10/08/2707993/portland-a-good-springboard-for.html

One of the most complete and robust Willamette Valley wine tasting articles I have seen in a bit.  It’s really thorough, and a great read, by Haley Hamilton, Side Dish from D Magazine (Dallas Foodies).

But it covers just about everything you could hope for. Wonderful road sign, to boot. =)

http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2012/10/11/what-to-drink-now-willamette-valley/

Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.com/html/wineadviser/2019269909_pacificpadviser14.html

Chehalem wines tasting as good as ever

Harry Peterson-Nedry planted his Ridgecrest vineyard in 1982 and brought in his first grapes in 1985. The vineyard location, the Ribbon Ridge AVA, is home to some of the best pinot noir vineyards in the country.

Bend Bulletin explores the Willamette Valley Dundee Hill wineries

Enjoy the read!

http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20121014/NEWS0107/210140347/

Of course Willamette Valley won as one of the top wine valley destinations!

Read about it here:

http://www.kval.com/news/local/Willamette-Valley-Named-A-Top-Destination-for-Wine—174677051.html