Sip! in Mac

In its 18th year, Sip! McMinnville Wine & Food Classic will be returning to the Evergreen Space Museum, March 11–13.

At this year’s event, 160 vendors will share the unique venue. Oregon winemakers and vintners will not only sample and sell their award-winning wine, but also be on hand to chat with about their product and the intricacies of the trade. Artisans will also dot the event floor with unique works of art, also available for purchase. For the foodie, some of the area’s best chefs in the Northwest will demonstrate their skills.

Tickets are $15 and include admission to the Evergreen Space Museum, plus wine tasting classes — does not include wine tasting fees, which may vary by vendor. First thousand attendees will receive a complimentary wine glass on Friday.

Like year’s past, a wine competition was held prior to the event. This year, 10 judges critiqued 197 wines from 54 Oregon wineries, and approximately 80 wines were awarded medals for their technical quality. The wine-savvy judges included: Steven DeShaw, experienced wine buyer, wine investor and past owner of an Oregon winery; Bill Breitzmann, professional wine appraiser and consultant; Patrick McElligott, 29-year Oregon wine expert, marketing representative for Sineann in Newberg and instructor at Chemeketa’s Northwest Viticulture Center; Michael Dietrich, wine steward at Fred Meyer in Tualatin; Mike Klym, wine steward at Lamb’s Market in Wilsonville; Michael Rone, manager at Nick’s Italian Café in McMinnville; Anthony Danna, award-winning chef with 44 years of experience in fine dining; Ted Farthing, owner of a wine and food marketing agency and former executive director of the Oregon Wine Board and Oregon Winegrowers Association; Linda Lindsay, winemaker at Stone Wolf Vineyards in McMinnville; Darcy Pendergrass, head winemaker at Amity Vineyards.