Freelance travel writer, photographer, and videographer Scott Kendall hangs his hat in The Woodlands, Texas — when he’s not jaunting around the globe covering amazing destinations in the U.S. and Europe. The founder, editor, and curator of PlayStayEat.com, Scott recently paid us a visit on a tour of several Willamette Valley wineries and restaurants.
Scott has since published a recap of his Willamette Valley wine tour, “Best Wineries and Restaurants in North Willamette Valley near Newberg, Oregon.” As the smallest producer on his list, it was an honor to host him for a private tasting experience. Here’s what he thought of his Bells Up Moment:
Bells Up Winery has quickly become a favorite of many locals and visitors to Newberg. Don’t miss this charming micro-boutique winery and the friendly folks that run it – Dave and Sara Specter. We especially loved their Titan Pinot noir, the Estate Prelude Rose, and the Firebird Summit View Syrah.
PlayStayEat.com’s Scott Kendall and his wife and traveling companion Julie. All photos courtesy of Scott Kendall and PlayStayEat.com.
We couldn’t help but admire and relate to this lovely couple who talk from the heart about their passions and priorities in life. Dave and Sara told us about the circumstances around their mid-life decision to move from a successful, but unfulfilling career in their hometown of Cincinnati to a new life in Oregon. “If you’re this successful in a career that makes you sick, stressed and miserable… how much more successful would you be doing something you love?”
So Dave left his career as a corporate tax attorney and expanded his hobby of winemaking into an all-in quest to learn all he could about the art of winemaking. After winning two national amateur winemaking awards for his wines, Sara and Dave made the life changing decision to move to Oregon and start their own winery.
Both are music lovers, and when looking for a name for their new venture, they came up with Bells Up. Dave told us that the name Bells Up refers to that anticipatory moment when the conductor motions for his french horn players to lift the bells of their horns in preparation for playing the coming notes with maximum intensity. It seems such an appropriate moniker for their winery, and they carried the musical theme forward in naming each wine they create. For Dave and Sara, they approach each day of their new life with Bells Up and a zest for the coming notes of their life.
A great photo of our Barn Quilt Sign that Sara created a few years ago. All photos courtesy of Scott Kendall and PlayStayEat.com.
