Wine Time Fridays is a weekly wine podcast hosted by Shelley Webb and Phil Anderson, a couple who have shared a passion for wine for nearly 20 years. The pair lives in North Idaho and bring listeners their personal perspectives on wine, life, and travel, featuring a variety of wines from classic regions to lesser-known bottles. In May, they featured several different Oregon producers as part of Oregon Wine Month. Episode 264, “Wine in Perfect Pitch: Bells Up Winery’s Classically Inspired Wines,” featured an interview with Winemaker Dave.
The conversation blended wine, farming, storytelling, and classical music. True to their personal approach, Phil and Shelley go far beyond tasting notes, discussing with Dave how Bells Up uses emotion, intention, and musical inspiration to shape every wine they produce.
Phil opened by setting expectations for listeners: “You’re probably not going to find these wines on your store shelf… unless that place is Bells Up Winery in Oregon.”
Dave explained that the winery is deliberately small and personal. “We only want to take one group at a time,” he said. “We want everything to be very small, very intimate.”
The Bells Up Wines featured by Wine Time Fridays in Episode 264.
Wine #1: 2024 Bells Up Winery Joy Seyval Blanc Brut
The tasting began with Joy Seyval Blanc Brut, a sparkling wine made from a grape few listeners have likely encountered. As Phil opened the bottle, Dave jokeed about its lively personality: “When the pop is coming, it’s usually a shock… we usually say, ‘Incoming!’”
Dave explained that Seyval Blanc is a French hybrid grape well suited to cooler climates but rarely grown on the West Coast. “Probably the best part of it is it’s a grape that nobody else has,” he said. Bells Up’s attraction to uncommon varietals is intentional. “The noble grapes have better PR,” Dave added, “but if you really want the heart and soul of what winemaking is all about, find these grapes that… you’re not going to hear a lot about.”
Wine #2: 2024 Bells Up Winery Rhapsody Pinot Blanc
Next, the group moved to Rhapsody Pinot Blanc, inspired by Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Dave explained that Bells Up wines aren’t about rigid tasting descriptors. “I can’t tell you what you smell. I can’t tell you what you taste,” he said. “But what I can do is talk about how the wines make you feel.”
Phil immediately noticed the wine’s balance, describing “rounded corners… very smooth.” Shelley agreed, noting that the acidity flows across the palate rather than stopping abruptly. Dave explained this is by design: “I want a creamy texture… I want that acid to spread across the palate.”
At 12.4% alcohol, the wine reflects Bells Up’s preference for restraint and drinkability. “If we’re between 12½ and 13 on a white, I’m perfectly happy,” Dave said.
Wine #3: 2023 Bells Up Winery Prelude Rosé of Pinot Noir
The rosé segment featured Prelude Rosé of Pinot Noir, poured into large red wine glasses to emphasize its structure. Shelley immediately complimented the appearance, calling it “beautiful.”
Dave explained that the wine sees significantly more skin contact than many rosés in the Willamette Valley. “I want rosé to be a food-usable wine,” he said. “This is not a throwaway wine.” Shelley reinforced the point with a laugh: “This is not a white Zinfandel.”
Inspired by Franz Liszt’s Les Préludes, the wine balances fruit with texture. Phil remarked on the persistent finish: “Just when I think it’s gone, it ain’t nothing like that.” Shelley added a “sour cherry candy” note, while Dave explained that light tannins give the wine structure and versatility at the table.
Wine #4: 2021 Bells Up Winery Titan Pinot Noir
The tasting continued with Titan Pinot Noir, inspired by Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Before tasting, Dave shared a deeply personal story about his path to winemaking.
“I am a recovering attorney,” he said, explaining his former career as a tax lawyer and the burnout that came with it. A turning point came when Sara’s close mentor was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer. “We realized that life is just too short to be miserable with what you’re doing,” Dave recalled.
That mindset shapes Titan, a Pinot Noir built around consistency and trust. “When people see Titan on a label, they know exactly what they’re getting,” Dave said”
Wine #5: 2021 Bells Up Winery Jupiter Pinot Noir
Next, the tasting moved to Jupiter Pinot Noir, inspired by Gustav Holst’s The Planets: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity. The wine represents generosity, warmth, and expansiveness—qualities reflected in both the music and the glass.
Dave explained that each Bells Up wine is tied to a specific musical personality. “Each of our wines has a personality that we can tie to a specific piece of music,” he said. While still unmistakably Pinot Noir, Jupiter shows a broader, more expressive side of the grape.
Phil encouraged listeners to step outside their comfort zones: “There’s nothing wrong with pouring your Chardonnay or your Cabernet… but try other things.” Dave echoes that advice, urging wine lovers to support small producers and independent wine shops that help expand their palates.
Wine #6: 2021 Bells Up Winery New World Cabernet Sauvignon
The conversation then shifted gears with New World Cabernet Sauvignon, offering a stylistic contrast to the earlier wines. Dave explains that Bells Up approaches Cabernet with the same philosophy it brings to all its wines—balance, intention, and restraint rather than power for power’s sake.
Phil appreciated the wine’s accessibility, noting that it doesn’t overwhelm the palate, while Shelley pointed out how it maintains freshness despite the grape’s reputation for heaviness. Dave emphasized that the goal isn’t to chase expectations. “We’re not trying to make something that shouts,” he explained, but rather something that fits within Bells Up’s broader musical and emotional framework.
The wine underscores a recurring theme of the episode: even familiar grapes can feel new again when approached thoughtfully.
Wine Reviews
In each episode, Phil and Shelley blend storytelling, tasting insights, and their own quirky wine rating system:
- Phenomenal
- Practically Perfect
- Pleasant
- Problematic
- Pleagth (Pitiful and Pathetic)
Here’s what they thought of each of the six wines they sampled during the episode.
2024 Joy Seyval Blanc Brut
Phenomenal | Lively, bright, and instantly uplifting, this sparkling wine feels celebratory without being sharp. It’s refreshing, approachable, and made to be enjoyed from the very first sip.
2024 Rhapsody Pinot Blanc
Phenomenal | Smooth and balanced with “rounded corners,” this Pinot Blanc carries its acidity gracefully across the palate. Elegant and easy to drink, it finishes clean without any harsh edges.
2023 Prelude Rosé of Pinot Noir
Phenomenal | This is a serious rosé with depth and structure, not a throwaway summer wine. The flavors linger, returning on the finish with freshness and poise.
2021 Titan Pinot Noir
Practically Perfect | Confident and consistent, this Pinot Noir delivers exactly what you expect—and does it well. It’s a wine you can trust from the first pour to the last glass.
2021 Jupiter Pinot Noir
Phenomenal | Broad and expressive, Jupiter shows warmth and generosity without losing elegance. There’s a lot happening in the glass, yet it remains inviting and easy to enjoy.
2021 New World Cabernet Sauvignon
Practically Perfect | Approachable and balanced, this Cabernet delivers flavor without overwhelming the palate. It stays fresh and drinkable, showing restraint where many Cabernets go too far.
Sample These Wines
To book your private tasting experience and sample these wines—hosted by Winemaker Dave exclusively for one group at a time—call us at 503-537-1328. We are open year-round, including January-March, when many small producers are closed.
