Balloon Tasting
Last month we managed to both be in town when Domaine Drouhin Oregon celebrated the release of their 2005 Laurène Pinot Noir. Why is this important? Because they celebrate with a balloon ride over the Willamette Valley!
We were the first to arrive, of course.
Beth, fresh from intensive Yoga training, was happy to show off her muscles:
Soon all seven (or was it nine?) balloons were launching.
We did a splash and dash in the Willamette River. I thought we’d just touch the water and rise up, but we actually floated in the river for several minutes. We were amazed and impressed. We had some wine to celebrate.
Airborne again, Beth continued to bliss out.
Jim’s favorite part may have been when I helped squish the balloon back into the bag.
We both pretty much liked the whole trip!
If that wasn’t enough, we have a whole album of pictures.
Other notes:
- We (and the winemaker) recommend that if you have any ’05 Laurène you cellar it several years.
- At the delicious breakfast they served after the balloon ride Jim tasted the multi-berry crisp and told me to learn how to make it. A few weeks later I made one, he pronounced it one of the best things I’d ever made and told me never to make it again.
