A few weeks back I had the pleasure of attending a Wine Tasting that featured Oregon Pinot Noir. The tasting was the Kickoff Event of the new wine tasting season for this particular wine group. Before the group had their first meeting, they decided that this year was going to be different; this was going to be a year when serious learning would take place, a departure from the past emphasis on the Social. It is with that caveat in mind that we charged forward.

In 2011 I went on a riverboat cruise on the River Douro in Portugal. The primary reason for going was to tour the vineyards that produce Port Wine. The tour was a bona fide success. We saw some terrific wineries and drank some really outstanding Port. From that trip I can honestly render the opinion that the Portuguese have every right to lay claim to bragging rights as the worlds best producer of Port Wine.