Janice Sakata-Schultze. Photo courtesy of The Sansei Traveler.
Bells Up was recently featured on The Sansei Traveler, the personal blog of travel writer Janice Sakata-Schultze, in a post titled “Willamette Valley wineries: Going beyond Pinot Noir.” Janice visited the winery with her husband and a friend visiting from Switzerland, and Winemaker Dave enjoyed every minute of showing them around. Here’s a recap of how the visit went.
First Impressions
Janice’s post opens by explaining that she was on the hunt for wines that go beyond the region’s signature Pinot Noir, and Bells Up was exactly the kind of stop she was looking for. She described the visit as feeling less like a formal tasting and more like being welcomed into a friend’s home, overlooking the property’s five acres. It was nearly 100 degrees the day of her visit, or she and her group might have spent the whole afternoon out on the deck.
Janice’s first impression of Bells Up. Photo courtesy of Janice Sakata-Schultze, The Sansei Traveler.
The Bells Up Story (In Case You Haven’t Heard It)
For anyone new to Bells Up: Dave spent years as a corporate tax attorney before he and Sara decided to turn an overgrown plot of blackberries and old Christmas trees into a working vineyard. Today that same property produces Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc, Schioppettino, Zweigelt, and Pinot Blanc — and the winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah too. Janice noted that of the three wineries she visited that day, Bells Up had the most relaxed, free-wheeling energy, with Dave encouraging guests to enjoy the wines however felt right to them rather than by the book.
It was a 100-degree day, so we hosted Janice and her group inside the tasting room. Photo courtesy of Janice Sakata-Schultze, The Sansei Traveler.
What She Tasted
Janice and her group tried seven wines during their visit, all of which are named after classical music works. She enjoyed both Pinot Noir vintages poured that day, but it was the Seyval Blanc, or “Helios,” that really caught her attention. It’s a grape she wasn’t familiar with beforehand, mostly grown in the Midwest and East Coast, and she compared its character to a Sauvignon Blanc, which she called one of her favorite new white wines.
She was also a fan of Prelude, the rosé that Dave pointed out pairs just as well with a holiday feast as it does with cheeseburgers. Janice agreed that’s exactly her kind of wine pairing.
The seven wines Janice sampled during her visit. Photo courtesy of Janice Sakata-Schultze, The Sansei Traveler.
Thank You, Janice!
We are grateful to Janice for including Bells Up in her personal blog roundup and for capturing the laid-back spirit of a visit here. If her post has you curious, we would love to pour for you next! Come find out for yourself why the bell goes up. Call 503-537-1328 to book your tasting today.
Read Janice Sakata-Schultze’s full post, “Willamette Valley wineries: Going beyond Pinot Noir,” on The Sansei Traveler: view the original post here.
Join us for a tasting inside or outdoors (when the weather isn’t blazing hot). Photo courtesy of Janice Sakata-Schultze, The Sansei Traveler.
