Ponzi Blog
Nebbiolo Will Join Ponzi Vineyard's Northern Italian Varietal Wines
At Ponzi, Northern Italian Varietals are a passion, and part of the Ponzi family heritage. We're one of the few American producers making Dolcetto and Arneis, but now, Winemaker Luisa Ponzi is planting Nebbiolo at Avellana Vineyard. Only a handful of Oregon winemakers are experimenting with this bold varietal, the sole grape in Italian dynasty wines Barolo and Barbaresco. It will be a few years before the vines mature, but we already can't wait to taste the wine!
As Nebbiolo likes a similar climate to the cold weather reds for which Ponzi is known, the new vineyard site will also be home to Pinot noir vines.
Oct 25, 2017 at 1:58 PM
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Visualizing Ponzi's New Hospitality Space with Maria Ponzi
Winery President Maria Ponzi shares her vision for the comfortably luxurious interior of Ponzi's new hospitality space, due to be completed in March 2018.
Oct 25, 2017 at 1:33 PM
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#pzharvest2017 Update - Picking is Finished!
Just before sunrise on September 14, 2017, at Aurora Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains, the Ponzi harvest team was already hard at work picking the first Chardonnay grapes for sparkling wine. #pzharvest2017 was off to a sunny, warm and dry start.
Rains and cooler temperatures soon descended on the Pacific Northwest's Willamette Valley, dropping about an inch of precipitation and delaying Ponzi's harvest.
But warmer, dryer mornings returned and the team worked quickly to get all the fruit into the winery before the unpredictable Oregon autumn brought more inclement weather. From Chardonnay to Pinot gris and Pinot noir, we've gently picked ripe clusters of juicy, flavorful grapes.
Sunrise on the last day of harvest burned off a thick layer of eerie fog. Frost covered the ground, but pickers harvested the last grapes on Ponzi's vineyards. Now that the fruit is in, the winery is busy destemming grapes, punching down lees, pressing and barreling the 2017 vintage. Stay tuned for more updates!
Oct 24, 2017 at 9:36 AM
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Ponzi Harvest Dinner 2017
Ponzi's Harvest Dinner 2017 was a magical evening featuring cozy atmosphere, chatting with two generations of the Ponzi family, a delicious meal and a preview of the 2015 single vineyard Pinot noirs and Chardonnays. Both second generation Ponzi sisters spoke, Luisa presented the new wines and Maria remembered the 2002 vintage.
The evening could not have more perfectly represented indian summer in the Willamette Valley. The clear skies faded into a spectacular sunset!
The dinner itself was an amazing five-course dinner by Winery Culinary Director, Thomas Ghinazzi, with each course perfectly paired with the unreleased 2015 Single Vintage Pinot noir and Chardonnay, plus a surprise library wine: the 2002 Abetina Pinot Noir.
To finish the meal, Chef Tom served a dessert of cheese blintz paired with limited release 2016 Ponzi Vino Gelato.
Please join us next year to celebrate the harvest. Mark your calendars!
Oct 16, 2017 at 1:58 PM
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First Pinot noir pressing of the 2017 season
The Ponzi Vineyards winery team is pressing our first Pinot noir grapes of #pzharvest2017, this pretty red press was originally made in Germany in 1978 and purchased by Dick Ponzi in 1992 when he bought his house at Aurora Vineyard.
The Willmes press had been abandoned by John Scharffenberger, of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker. It seems repairing wine presses was a favorite hobby of the winemaker and chocolatier.
For Winemaker Luisa Ponzi, the press didn't at first meet her standards. So it sat, unused, until 2007, when the winery ran out of room from a particularly large harvest. Luisa dusted off the old press and had to admit she was wrong. It works great!
Oct 13, 2017 at 11:17 AM
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Views for Miles- Hospitality Space Update
The new Ponzi Vineyards Founder's Room at Collina del Sogno, opening March 2018, boasts spectacular views of the Chehalem Mountains. Looking back at the new hospitality space from the Avellana Vineyard with the moon rising, the new build out's sprawling terraces are subtly nestled into the hillside. Portland-based Fogelstrom Design Build’s plan to match the beautiful topography of the surrounding Chehalem Mountains, creates an extravagant place from which to look out without disturbing the natural landscape. The new space is turning out to be perfection!
Here's another vantage point, just behind the pond, looking over the crest of the hill into the vineyard. For reference, the tasting room is just behind the new build out, out of view.
The view from inside the space is stunning. Designed to facilitate sipping, dining and socializing in comfortable luxury, the Founder's Room can accomodate up to 80 guests for a vareity of events; with access to Ponzi wines, delicious meals and views for miles.
Learn more about private events at Ponzi Vineyards >>
To book the new Ponzi hospitality space for your event, contact to Kati Focareto at kati@ponzivineyards.com.
Oct 4, 2017 at 3:13 PM
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2017 Harvest Kickoff
Harvest has come to Oregon's Chehalem Mountains.This season featured a cool spring, a dry hot summer, and this week, intermittent rains. Winemaker Luisa Ponzi explains the vintage and why the grapes are looking great.
Oct 3, 2017 at 2:34 PM
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Harvest 2017 Kicks Off at Ponzi
In the first morning light, the Ponzi vineyard crew was at the stunning Ponzi Aurora Vineyard picking the very first grapes of the season.
The freshly harvested Chardonnay grapes were then brought directly to the winery to be pressed. Ponzi staff pitched in sorting the fruit and Winemaker Luisa Ponzi toasted the new harvest season.
This week, the harvest interns arrived and are learning the ropes in preparation for the season. It's going to be a great year. Stay tuned!
Sep 19, 2017 at 3:05 PM
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2017 Harvest is Upon Us
We’re inching closer to Harvest 2017. The Pinot noir grapes on the vines at Ponzi Avellana Vineyard are almost completely covered in their signature dark plum. The first day of picking is still several weeks away, but the vineyard crew and winery production team are busy preparing. Stay tuned for more harvest updates!
Aug 29, 2017 at 10:21 AM
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