Pre-IPNC Dinner at Sokol Blosser With Gruner's Chris Israel

Last Thursday Sokol Blosser Winery, just outside of Dundee, Ore., hosted a pre-event for the 24th International Pinot Noir Celebration Dinner (that annual event attracted the best and the brightest to the Willamette Valley over the weekend to celebrate our god-given grape). Party hosts included members of the Sokol Blosser family including Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser, as well as their mama: the grand dame of Oregon's pinot scene and current state legislative candidate, Susan Sokol Blosser (pictured right with her hubby, Russ Rosner).

The dinner included appearances of some heavy hitters including restaurateur Bruce Carey and Emily Powell of Powell's Books. A dinner of Alpine-inspired cuisine via Christopher Israel and his Gruner Restaurant included pork belly and sauerkraut and pancetta-wrapped quail and was paired with Oregon (from Sokol Blosser, 'natch) and New Zealand wines. Catch more images of the fete by clicking this here link:
· Sokol Blosser Pre-IPNC Dinner Party Pics [Byronbeck.com]