When the sun sets on Friday evenings, many head to the outskirts of town to enjoy friends, food and wine.
Pinot gris, Pinot Fusion and Rosy Cheeks are just a few of the many freshly corked wines at Sweet Cheeks Winery’s weekly 6 p.m. “Twilight Tasting.” But it isn’t just the sweet and rosy dessert wines or aged elegant white wines that keep the regulars coming back for a drink after dark — the welcoming and laid back atmosphere seems to create an ambiance for all to enjoy.
Sweet Cheeks Winery is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley , and while most other wineries close their doors in the evening hours, Sweet Cheeks stays open until 9 p.m. on Friday nights to offer customers complimentary wine tasting and free samples of gourmet cheeses.
Shortly after Sweet Cheeks opened in 2005, it began to stay open late on Friday’s for late-night tastings.
Employee Sara Evjen said the Twilight Tasting keeps customers coming back.
“We decided to stay open late and hold this event every Friday because there wasn’t any other place out here to enjoy an evening sunset with a glass of wine,” Evjen said. “The reflection of the sunset on the hills out here … there’s just nothing else like it.”
The wooden tables and chairs, dim lighting, live music and locals mixed with newcomers makes for a relaxing Friday evening. Sweet Cheeks employee Sasha Elliott said this event creates an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, and the staff don’t just pour your wine, but really get to know customers.
“We have a nice balance of quality wine and approachable staff,” Elliot said. “When people come in and they are inexperienced with wine, and they don’t know what they like, I really try and get to know what they have a taste for and convince them to open up their palates to us.”
University senior Kristina Banks attended an evening wine tasting with her mom, who was visiting from out of town. She said she considered herself an inexperienced wine drinker, but she was pleasantly surprised at what the Twilight Tasting had to offer.
“We just tried the Pinot gris and really enjoyed it,” Banks said. “I really have no wine preferences — if it is good, then I’ll like it. But the relaxing atmosphere here is still classy without being overdone; I am glad we came.”
As many crowded around the bar contemplating their choice of white, red or sparkling, others brought their own food and sat down to uncork the bottle of their choice. Couples, families and friends sat at the large wooden tables in the center of the tasting room to enjoy an after-dinner snack and live guitar music.
Paul and Helga Spross of Springfield are regulars at the Twilight Tasting, and they said they enjoy the semi-sweet Riesling because it goes best with food.
“We really enjoy the mellow, dry, but also a little sweet taste of the Riesling, and it’s the best to have with something to eat,” Helga Spross said. “Sometimes we will bring in French bread, cheese, or veggies and buy a bottle of wine and we are set.”
Elliott said she has been pouring wine at the Twilight Tasting for a little more than one year now and has noticed several tasting trends depending on the time of year and wine experience of the customer.
“Wine is something very seasonal. This time of year while it is chilly out, many people enjoy the Pinot noir because of its bold and rich flavor,” Elliott said. “However, in the summer, the Pinot gris’ elegant and light taste makes it a warm-weather favorite, and it is the perfect representation of Oregon Wine Country.”
Since the weekly after-hours tastings are open to anyone, the crowds are diverse and
include customers with varying wine experience. Elliott said when it comes to wine
tasting, it is not your age, race or socioeconomic status, but it is how familiar you are with wine that affects your preferences.
“It also depends on the customer’s wine palate and how new they are to wine,” Elliott said.
“Our Rosy Cheeks, our sweet dessert wine, tends to be a favorite of people new to wine. But, as customers’ palates become more accustomed to the taste of wine, people go for the more dry white and red wines.”
For Sweet Cheeks Wine Club member Julie Adler, coming to Twilight Tasting
once a month just is not enough.
“I come to this event whenever I can because it is my favorite way to kick back and relax after a long week,” Adler said. “I love the Pinot noir and the Pinot gris. The prices are reasonable, but it’s the people here that make it great.”
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Twilight wine tasting colors cheeks pink, red and white
Daily Emerald
February 24, 2010
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