Bells Up was recently featured in TravelWorld International Magazine’s Winter 2025 issue, in a piece by travel writer Janice Sakata-Schultze titled “Three Willamette Valley Wineries Wine Lovers Should Know.” Janice visited the winery alongside her husband and a friend, and Winemaker Dave enjoyed every minute of showing them around. Here’s a recap of how the visit went.
Setting the Record Straight on the Name
One of Dave and Sara’s favorite parts of any first-time visit is the moment we get to explain where the name “Bells Up” comes from.
Janice admitted she assumed it had something to do with bells ringing from a tower, a totally fair guess! But as Dave shared with her, the name actually comes from the French horn world: “bells up” is the position where a player lifts the instrument’s bell skyward to project the sound during a big musical moment. It’s a nod to Dave’s musical roots and the spirit Bells Up tries to bring to every pour: a little joy, a little theater, none of the stuffiness.
The Bells Up Story (In Case You Haven’t Heard It)
Janice Sakata-Schultze, courtesy of The Sansei Traveler Instagram
For anyone new to Bells Up: Dave spent years as a corporate tax attorney in Ohio before he and Sara took a trip to the Willamette Valley that changed everything. The couple bought their 10-acre property in 2012, and it did not look like a future vineyard (think blackberry bushes and dead Christmas trees as far as the eye could see). Clearing it and planting the first vines took a lot of persistence, but we are proud of what’s grown here since, including the fact that nearly every wine they make is named after a classical music piece.
Inside the Tasting Room
Dave hosted Janice’s group in the tasting room, right alongside the barrels where the wines age. He poured seven wines for them that day — two whites, the sparkling white, the rosé, and three reds — and made a game of it, having everyone guess which foods would pair best with each glass. That’s really the whole point of tasting here at Bells Up: good wine, good company, no pretense.
What They Tasted
Janice came in hoping to explore beyond Pinot noir, and Dave was happy to show her that range. She was especially taken with the Prelude Rosé, along with two of the whites, Pinot blanc and Seyval blanc.
Of course, the Pinot noirs held their own too. She called out Jupiter for its balance of dark berry flavor and acidity, and Titan for its structure — a wine Dave always says pairs beautifully with salmon or roast poultry.
One of the best lines from the article was Dave’s suggestion that the Rosé Prelude is just as happy next to a holiday feast as it is next to a cheeseburger. As Janice put it, that pairing suggestion “essentially epitomizes the Willamette Valley experience.” Honestly, that’s Bells Up in a nutshell. The wines are meant to fit into real life, not just special occasions.
Thank You, Janice!
We are grateful to Janice for including the winery in her roundup and for capturing what a visit here feels like. If her recap sparks your curiosity, 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 article, “Three Willamette Valley Wineries Wine Lovers Should Know,” in TravelWorld International Magazine, Winter 2025: view the original article here.
