Ponzi Blog

Last Minute Gifting

Let them Shop!

Surprise the wine lover in your life with a Ponzi gift card. Use the little blue card online or in the tasting room toward wine, tastings or tours. Purchase a $50 or $100 gift card and we will gift wrap it in a beautiful champagne gift box.

Available in denominations of $100, $50 & $25.

SHOP NOW

How to Set a Formal Table

Formalities and etiquette can often go by the wayside, but taking a little extra time to slow down and make things extra special can be fun, especially during this festive time of year. Why not start with your holiday table setting?

Watch our 2 minute How-To video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make Your Holiday Meal Memorable

Toast to the Season!

An unforgettable holiday meal begins and ends with something special in the glass. From the first libation to the last savored sip, this is the time of year to pull out all the stops.

When guests arrive, fill their glass with something festive and impressive, like the 2014 Ponzi Sparkling Brut Rosé. At the meal’s end, pour a splash of something fun and a bit decadent, like the 2016 Ponzi Vino Gelato. Memorable wines will let even the most basic dishes sing and make any gathering feel like a celebration. Now that’s something to toast to!

Shop our selection of specialty wines.

Tips for Flawless Wine Service

You’ve selected the perfect wine for your holiday meal. What you pour your wine into may come as an afterthought, but selecting the right stemware will enhance the wine and the occasion.

Read our wine service tips and recommendations.

Give the Gift of Variety

Why select just one wine, when you can gift several stunning selections in one. Beautifully displayed in a hand-crafted wooden box, choose from one of our signature gift sets: 

​Ponzi Reserves Gift Set
Ponzi Pinot Gift Set

Or customize your own set with a selection of any Ponzi wine added to a 1, 2, 3 or 6-bottle wooden box. Shop wooden boxes and other merchandise.

One of our favorite gifts is a gently aged Pinot noir or Chardonnay. Browse our selection of library wines online, or contact us directly: orders@ponzivineyards.com

Learn about the beauty of aged wines.

 

Charity of the Month - April 2018: Post 58

THROUGHOUT APRIL 2018, A PORTION OF EVERY TASTING FEE AT PONZI VINEYARDS
WILL BE DONATED TO POST 58.

Post 58 has been selected as our Charity of the Month. This organization is comprised of Portland-area students aged 14-18 who engage in outdoor adventures under the guidance of experienced adults. These outdoor adventures include rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, mountaineering and more in locales around the Northwest.

Their mission is to provide an arena for personal growth and positive social interaction to a diverse group of high school students by creating experiences that foster responsibility, respect and a passion for the outdoors.

Post 58 is a personal passion project of Mia Hamacher. Mia is the daughter of winemaker Luisa Ponzi as well as member and Student President of Post 58. 

"The Post ... has been such a hugely influential and important part of my adolescent life and the lives of many other teens in the Portland area. With nearly 140 current members, and outreach programs through Oregon Foster Services and Janus Youth Programming, the Post provides a uniquely safe and welcoming space, through monthly meetings, with singing, poetry and story sharing, and affordable trips that get teens into the outdoors and encourage independence and accountability." 
– Mia Hamacher, member and Student President of Post 58

We invite you to visit Ponzi Vineyards this month and join us in support of this valuable organization. A portion of every tasting fee will be donated to Post 58.

• Learn more about Post 58.
• Get directions to our Tasting Room, just 40 minutes from Portland.
• Read about our Tasting Room.

Wine Pairing Tips to Match Your Holiday Fare

Since our founding, Ponzi Vineyards has crafted balanced, terroir-driven wines with pairing in mind. These are food wines, designed to enhance meals shared around the family table. During the holidays, good food, great wine and your favorite company come together, creating memorable celebrations. From our table to yours, here are some perfect pairings to try this holiday season:

Shop Now

Generally, it's best to keep food simple when pairing with wine. "Avoid all together - or judiciously use - strongly flavored herbs, spices and vegetables," advises Nancy Ponzi, Winery Founder and author of The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook. Holiday dishes tend to follow these rules, so pair away!

 

Salad and Younger Wines

Creating a memorable salad pairing relies on taking care not to overwhelm the fresher elements or the wines. Try an assortment of mild greens, and pair with younger, lighter bodied wines like the crisp, high acidity 2016 Ponzi Pinot Gris and fruit forward 2015 Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir. Stick to clean flavors in the food and the wine, and keep it simple. Save older vintage and bolder wines for later, featured courses. Nancy's philosophy, "I avoid asparagus, artichokes, chilies or sauerkraut and am wary of Brussel sprouts."

Turkey and fixings with Chardonnay

A complex, structured and well-balanced Chardonnay will enhance all the flavors in roasted turkey and sides, match the acidity of a squeeze of lemon juice and bond with subtle rosemary, garlic and butter flavors. We recommend the limited production single vineyard cuvée, 2014 Ponzi Aurora Chardonnay with your main course. "Lemon balm, straw and white pepper frame this elegant nose, the palate holds true with dried quince, baked apple interlaced with balanced acidity and a touch of minerality," describes Winemaker Luisa Ponzi.

Turkey and fixings with Pinot Noir

It's always a good idea to offer a red option with holiday meals, in addition to the supple Chardonnay pairing suggested above. For a truly special pairing, uncork a bottle (or even a magnum) of the gorgeous 2014 Ponzi Abetina Pinot Noir and add a few mushrooms to your gravy. The structure and tannin of this spectacular Pinot noir will stand up to rich sides, without overpowering delicate turkey sweetness. Winemaker Luisa Ponzi describes, "Spicy notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla on the nose. The mouth follows with bay rum, dark chocolate and cedar notes leading to firm and persistent tannins to finish. Jam packed with everything needed to carry this wine for years." 

CHEESE AND WINE

Whether served as a pre-seating appetizer, palate cleanser or in lieu of a final dessert course, a cheese plate presents an excellent opportunity for wine pairing, giving guests a chance to sip your best wines and find their perfect complements. Preparation is simple, giving you time to focus on main dishes. "Generally look for rich, not overly strong or aromatic wine-complementary cheese," suggests Nancy. "Cheese presents a place to showcase your finest wine." Great wines to pair with cheeses include the bright and balanced 2015 Ponzi Riesling (also available in an elegant magnum) and lush 2014 Ponzi Classico Pinot Noir.  "If you're lucky enough to enjoy a fine Pinot noir (like the 2014 Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve), go for a mellow, rind-washed triple cream."

dessert and Dessert Wine

This pairing is easy! Traditional holiday desserts tend to feature fruits and pie spice. Pumpkin and apple pies keep some of the original sweet-tart flavors even after baking. Pair them with lightly sweet dessert wine, like the 2016 Ponzi Vino Gelato. Just in case there's no room for dessert, this wine stands on its own, a sweet finish to a rich meal. 

Have fun with your pairings and enjoy the conversations they may start. Happy Holidays!

Shop Now

¡Salud! Pinot Noir Auction 2017

The ¡Salud! Pinot Noir Auction is an incredible event, pairing world class, one of a kind Pinot noirs with winemakers and buyers to support healthcare for vineyard workers. Here's a quick recap of this year's luncheon at Ponzi Vineyards. Please join us next year!

Second generation Ponzi Winemaker, Luisa Ponzi, sipped one of a kind Willamette Valley Pinot noirs while catching up with some old friends and members of a small number of second generation Oregon winemakers: Elk Cove's Adam Campbell and Sokol Blosser's Alex Sokol Blosser.

Winery President Maria Ponzi greeted guests and made sure the event was comfortable and fun.

Ponzi Associate Winemaker JP Pierce poured 2017 Ponzi ¡Salud! Cuvee in the winery.

With harvest finished for this year, Ponzi Associate Enologist, Annette, and harvest 2017 intern, Meille, enjoyed a well-deserved evening of luxury, hobnobbing with winemakers and choosing their favorite Pinot noirs.

Join us next year for the ¡Salud! Charity Pinot Noir Auction. Taste one of a kind cuvees, bid and support healthcare for vineyard workers.

Chardonnay- The Ideal Wine for Autumn Meal Pairing

When second generation Winemaker Luisa Ponzi returned to the family winery after her studies in Beaune, France, she brought with her a passion for White Burgundy. When it comes to Oregon Chardonnay, the Willamette Valley offers the ideal climate for this noble varietal to thrive. Ponzi Chardonnays are known for being balanced, boasting beautiful fruit notes and a light touch of oak, making them truly versatile food wines.

Chardonnay's structured yet supple nature, acid and combination of fruit and minerality, can help to bring out flavors in a variety of dishes. Where a bold red may overshadow the sweet and savory subtleties of turkey and stuffing, a finely-balanced Chardonnay will complement and even enhance these dishes. Give it a try! 

Shop Now

Our recommendations for effortless fall food pairing:

While you're falling in love with Ponzi Chardonnay, don't forget to order some Pinot noir too!

Shop Pinot Noir

 

Ponzi Riesling Featured in Imbibe's Taste Test

Riesling is having its day in the sun. Imbibe Magazine featured a small group of Northwest produced Rieslings as "Ideal for the holiday table." With bracing acidity, sometimes a balancing touch of residual sugar and food friendly minerality, Riesling deserves a place at the holiday table. Says Imbibe Associate Editor Penelope Bass, "it’s one of the most food-friendly wines, making it perfect for the holidays." We couldn't agree more!

Imbibe describes the 2015 Ponzi Riesling as "bone-dry and delightfully crisp, with notes of melon, almond and an almost saké-like character." 

Shop Now

DIY Arts and Crafts to Reuse, Upcycle Wine Packaging

Whether you're hosting a holiday party, adding some sparkle to your home for the season or looking for wine-inspired gift ideas, our DIY Wine Craft board on Pinterest has you covered. Click here to see all they ways to upcycle old wine bottles, corks and other packaging.

Need more DIY supplies? Take advantage of our Fall Shipping Special to Stock up on Ponzi wines for the holidays! For 5 days only, November 1st - 5th, 2017, enjoy $15 Flat rate ground shipping when you purchase a case or more (12+ bottles). Use code FALL15 at checkout.

Shop Now

Charity of the Month, November: Willamette Cares Food Share

Throughout November and December, Ponzi Vineyards, Willamette Valley Wineries and the Oregon Foodbank Networks team up to provide emergency food to the most vulnerable in our community, providing meals during the holidays. A portion of tasting fees from the Ponzi Tasting Room in Sherwood, OR, will help feed the people in the Willamette Valley community. Help us spread the joy this holiday season. Come taste and help Ponzi give back! #ponzicares

From Willamette Valley Wine, "It’s our opportunity to share our bounty during the holiday season and to give back to the people of our community. Won’t you join us?"

Learn More