I am judging & tasting chocolate in Ashland, Oregon. Chocolate. Yep. Judging & tasting chocolate. It is the pied piper of the calorie wagon. Tasting chocolate is not a one size fits all deal. I take this assignment with the seriousness of a policeman writing a traffic ticket. I’m willing to sacrifice to help others.
We’re taking the 5-hour drive up to Ashland. Three glorious days filled with everything chocolate. From the pairing dinner to a hands-on Chocolate Making Workshop this festival has you covered. There are also sampling opportunities from the chocolate makers themselves.
Braving some rainy, snowy weather, we arrive in Ashland in the early afternoon. Landing at the epicenter of the event, I check into the hip and laid back Ashland Hills Hotel. It’s just on the outskirts of town so away from the hustle and bustle of this quiet town. Things heat up every May – October with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival so it may not be quite as laid back but for this visit it is chill. I love this hotel. It’s shabby chic meets tree hugger. It’s an era preserved with Palm Desert funk. Opening the doors to my accommodations, I am swept away by the warm welcome of the Champagne Suite.
The Retro bathroom (think 70’s pink mauve fixtures) has a circular sunken soaking tub for two. It’s surrounded by gauzy curtains. Not to be outdone, the dining room and living room are plush with gold chrome and zebra highlights. And of course, there is a bottle of bubbly chilling.
Later, I prep myself for the hard work of judging the festival and have no idea what to expect. Two other judges are working with me, and we’ve got a list of categories and criteria to consider. I head to our secret judging & tasting room where we sample until we select the winners.
I walk into the conference room as the chocolate samples begin to arrive. I realize I am hungry. Hungry for chocolate!
The variety is eye-popping. We receive one piece each of the chocolate for each category. I can see there are many samples, and I am completely confident we can cover all the territory, no problem.
From the best truffles to the best mix of chocolate & candy, I am sure it will be easy to recognize the winners. Boy, was I wrong!
There is something that happens in at a point of having to eat chocolate for the purposes of choosing an outcome. You see it through to the end. After we’ve scored the first four categories, I am starting to feel like I’ve had my fill. Delicious, imaginative, mouthwatering chocolate. Could this be? I am running out of steam. I never thought judging & tasting chocolate would get the best of me.
Gathering the last of my reserves I power through. Thinking to myself, “I may never be able to eat chocolate again.” It’s all so amazing, and there is so much of it, that the sugar buzz is getting to my stomach. In the end, I am thankful for the opportunity to take part and happy to have had a hand in choosing the winners. While all tastes had positive attributes, below are the winners who stood out from the rest.
The Oregon Chocolate Festival Winners Are!
And speaking of wine, there is also an opportunity to taste some tasty Oregon wine.
Festivals are always great, but knowing the why behind the event and the interests surrounding it is always intriguing. Founded by the Karolina Wyszynska Lavagnino Sales and Marketing Director for the Neuman Hotels, the Oregon Chocolate Festival is a draw for chocolate lovers near and far.
Why & when did you start the Chocolate Festival?
My initial idea behind creating the Oregon Chocolate Festival was to create an annual event that attracts many people in a slower season. March is a time without any major holidays (Feb has Valentine’s, April usually has Easter etc) to boost traffic and hotel occupancy at Ashland Springs Hotel. What else can attract the same way young, old, women and men, from here and there! Chocolate! And so the concept was created. The first year we had only 14 vendors, and now we cap at 50. It has become a recognizable Southern Oregon destination foodie event. ~ Karolina
To the critics who say pairing wine with chocolate doesn’t work… My palate says otherwise. ~The Wine Siren
* The Oregon Chocolate Festival is partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network and will provide 10% of the festival proceeds in 2017 to the Asante’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) located at the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
Alice Tetienne of Champagne Henriot Organic is important, but not necessarily the best. It is but one part of the equation. We have to be
Barodlino has a rich history in both wine and culture. There is no better Rosé that takes the beauty of the region and expresses it than Chiaretto Rosé.
Could it be that this region, today known as the Fastest Growing Wine Region in the United States is the world’s next Napa Valley? This is Idaho Wine Country.
The 55 judges awarded silver, gold and grand gold medals to wines from 25 countries.
At the beginning of March, in the @paysdocigpwines region of Southern France, over 1,200 #rosé wines from across the globe competed for the highly coveted @concoursmondial de Bruxelles medals. The @vinolok_global international Revelation Trophy was awarded this year to a rosé wine from #Italy – Y by 11 Minutes Rosé – produced by @pasquawines in #Veneto. Well done!
The Winners of the International Wine competition on Rosé for 2023 are in:
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international wine competition that takes place annually and is considered one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world. The competition is held in a different location each year, and it attracts thousands of entries from winemakers around the world. The focus of the competition is on identifying wines of high quality that are representative of their region and grape variety.
In recent years, the competition has added a separate category for rosé wines, recognizing the growing popularity and diversity of this style of wine. The competition judges rosé wines on their color, aroma, taste, and overall balance, with the aim of identifying the best examples of the style from around the world.
Winning a medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles can have a significant impact on a winery`s reputation and sales, as it is widely recognized as a mark of quality and excellence. The competition also provides an opportunity for winemakers to receive feedback from a panel of international experts, helping them to refine their techniques and improve their wines.
Winners link is: https://resultats.concoursmondial.com/en/results/2023
Congrats to all the Rose producers who participated!
#WineCompetition #winetasting #rosé #winelover #trendingwine #whattodrink #concoursmondialdebruxelles #paysdoc #montpelier #france #Veneto #winemedals #thewinesiren #wineoclock #winerating #winejudge
When great viticulture is an obsession you chose wisely and well. @vitnerd for @lecole41 on sustainability, great viticulture and award winning passion for vines.
WATCH WITH LINK IN BIO: SADIE DRURY - VINEYARD MANAGER
Sadie Drury is a Walla Walla native who has been passionate about agriculture since her first job of picking strawberries at the age of 12. In 2007, Sadie decided to combine her passion for agriculture with her love for wine by attending the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and pursuing a career in viticulture. In 2008, Sadie started an internship at Ciel du Cheval Vineyard where she moved up the ranks to Assistant Vineyard Manager. Sadie joined the North Slope Management team in early 2013 and took over the reins as GM later that year. She currently manages 6 vineyards including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard. Sadie is the current Chair for the Washington State Wine Commission. She is the 2019 Power’s Sabbatical Recipient, the 2020 Washington Winegrowers Erick Hanson Memorial Grower of the Year, and a 2021 Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.
#WashingtonWine #WallaWalla #lecole #Viticulture #sustainable #Sustainability #Vine #winelover #DrinkSustainable #TheWineSiren #SevenHills #wineeducation
https://www.youtube.com/live/PiWKkhnre94
The Ritz, Paris.
A destination since 1898, the Ritz Paris is one of the most iconic hotels in Paris.
There is no better place to return with a couple of my most cherished friends and begin our dinner and catch up session with an exquisite bottle of Extra Brut
Champagne Barons de Rothschild. Made from Chardonnay 60%;Reserve wines, the majority of which
are kept in their perpetual reserve (solera) 40%,
Pinot Noir 40%,
Grands and
Premiers crus 85%
Dosage 1.5 g/L
Ageing 4 years minimum
Exquisite perlage enhanced by notes of minerality and salinity, the brioche like aromas reveal notes of pear and fig. Delightfully well balanced its arômatic finish satisfies. This beauty is cellar worthy and will reveal its riches for years to come.
The stunning facade has a place in history since 1705. Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the most famous architect of the Baroque period, drew the initial design for Louis XIV.
The luminaries who frequented the hotel were many, Marcel Proust, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Many are the writers and artists inspired by the Ritz in their work as well. Hemingway for The Sun Also Rises and F. Scott Fitzgerald for Tender is the Night. In fact, the hotel’s “Bar Hemingway” was named for the author.
For 💋🍷💋#TheWineSiren a return to the Ritz is a return to the incredible history of Paris and a moment of great drinks and bites with dear friends. From the moment you cross the threshold the inviting aroma and views of luxurious surroundings envelope you.
Do you Ritz?
Photos
1. The Ritz Paris champagne. Pure deliciousness. Notes below.
2. The stage is set at your entrance. Visuals and aroma envelope your senses.
3. Cherished Parisian friends to share the experience with.
4. The stage is set at @barvendome
5. Fresh truffles with French fries
6. Probably the best steak tartare on the planet. Served mild, spicy or extra spicy . Texture and rich flavor abound.
7. Just one of the lovely cocktails served.
8. The vibe at Bar Vendome
9. The Hemingway Bar . Very few seats and always packed.
10. And the regroup at the end of the evening. This is where memories are made.
#Paris #ritzparis #TheWineSiren #champagnerothschild
From Carcassonne to Montpelier the beauty of @paysdocigpwines shines through. I`ll share more on my newest discoveries when I`m back in the US .
The bar @hotelricherdebelleval .... incredible. Have you been?!
#winetravel #winetraveler #thewinesiren #kellymitchell #wine #winelover #ginlover #barsofinstagram #beautifuldestinations #wheretofindme #france #montpellier #justdrinks #cocktailtime
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