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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2016)
10 // COASTWEEKEND.COM TOUR LOCAL WINE BARS Story by KATE GIESE Photos by DANNY MILLER W With fall just around the corner, it’s a great time to check out wine bars on Oregon’s North Coast — the weather cools down, the crowds start to disappear, and what’s a better way to enjoy autumn color than with a glass of wine in hand. Three popular local wine bars are good bets: WineKraft in Astoria, Vino Manzani- ta in Manzanita and the wine bar at Sweet Basil’s Café. Northwest wines dominate their respective wine lists. Featured are varieties of Oregon and Washington wines (and some California wines, depending on the venue) that are generally regarded as the best in the world. People come from far and wide to experience them. Above: A red wine from WineKraft in Asto- ria. Left: Sweet Basil’s Cafe chef and owner John Sowa pours a glass of wine in the Cannon Beach restaurant’s wine bar. WineKraft in Astoria WineKraft enjoys a great location — on the Astoria waterfront at the west end of Pier 11, just off the Astoria Riv- lax and enjoy events — a real people-gath- erwalk; the view is impressive. While ering spot.” there, visitors can taste up to 34 different April Thorgramson, Kraft’s daughter, wines — whites, reds, rosés, bubbles and also works at WineKraft, helping make her dessert wine. Five different kinds of beer mother’s cherished vision a reality. They are available as well fi nish each other’s sentences. as tasty wine cocktails Every Friday and and, of course, some Saturday non-alcoholic bev- night, they erages. Cheese and have music charcuterie plates starting at may be purchased 6:30 p.m., WineKraft, along with another featuring per- 80 10th St., Ast half dozen scrump- formers like oria The Cellar o tious delicacies Red Beans 1004 Marine D n 10th, to enhance your and Rice and rive, Astoria experience. Howly Slim Hotel Elliott Win Opening its to name two. 357 12th St., A e Bar, storia doors in June Other events The Wine an d 2015, WineKraft run the gamut B e e r H aus, 1111 N. Roose velt Drive, Seas was a dream come from wine tast- ide The Wine Sh true for owner ings and wine ack, 124 N. Hemlo Rebecca Kraft. “I 101 classes ck St., Cannon Beach Laurel’s Cann was a hair dresser taught by som- on for many years meliers to more 263 N. Hemlo Beach Wine Shop, ck St., Cannon and … ready for whimsical offer- Beach The Wine Ba r at a change,” she ings. The latter 271 N. Hemlo Sweet Basil’s Cafe, ck St., Cannon says. “I’ve been include provid- Beach planning this for ing coloring Vino Manzan ita, 387 Laneda A a long time — a books for adults. ve., Manzanit a place where Then, there’s The Winery a t Manzanita, people could Tipsy Painting, 235 Laneda A ve., Man come and drink alternately taught — coming so zanita on good wine, re- by local artists WINE BAR ON THE N S O AND SHOPS RTH COAST rosé. There’s also a small assortment of beers. The list of wines by the bottle is ro- bust and includes reds, whites, champagne, sparkling wine, dessert wine and port. As many as a dozen small plates are on offer with such delicacies as smoked salmon, pate, spanakopita, several different cheese plates and lots more. Two dinner entrées are available every night, prepared off the premises. Lee makes a point of sharing some of the more popular Oregon wines with cus- tomers. “Most people are adventurous that Vino Manzanita way. Often from out of state, Current owner Dixie Lee, they’re always eager to try ‘OREGON, a diminutive brunette, bought wine,” she says. WASHINGTON Oregon Vino Manzanita, located at “I never had any formal AND the corner of Fourth Street training beyond just tast- CALIFORNIA ing a lot (and) traveling to and Laneda Avenue in downtown Manzanita, about ARE ON THE different countries to sample 10 years ago. “It’d been open CUTTING EDGE wine,” confi des Lee. “I go to for a couple of years with a about once a year, IN THE WINE California very limited wine selection even though we specialize WORLD.’ and perhaps a couple of small in Oregon pinot noir. I like plates on offer,” she remem- to carry things you can’t get bers. Today, Vino has remained small but in local stores and feature wines from all viable, serving up to 25 customers inside over. Being such a small operation, any- with additional seating on a back patio thing I offer by the glass I love customers and a few tables out front for use when the to taste. Wine is beautiful because it’s weather permits. natural and a great world to be in.” Visitors can sample fi ve different reds September and October are good and three whites by the glass (well, two months; the wine bar gets a lot of retired whites and a sake selection), as well as two people coming in once kids are back in sparkling wines: prosecco and a sparkling school. Jo Pomeroy-Crockett and Ronni Harris, where participants enjoy wine and come away with a fi nished painting. The Astoria Pub Knitters gather monthly at the wine bar regularly too. WineKraft was a venue for the Fish- erPoets Gathering in February and holds a monthly fi rst Tuesday poetry open mic night. The wine bar will also be a presence at the Pacifi c Northwest Brew Cup later in September. Visit http://winekraftnw.com for details on everything that’s happening.
