Blog, Oregon, Oregon Wine, Packages & Specials, Things to Do In Salem
Equinox in the Eola-Amity Hills 2012 Grand Hotel Package
Come howl at the moon and celebrate the Equinox in the Eola-Amity Hills!
One of the most celebrated wine events in our region is coming March 24, 2012 to beautiful Zenith Vineyards! The 4th Annual EQUINOX brings wineries and fans of the Eola-Amity Hills wine making community together to enjoy delicious tastings and fare.
The Eola-Amity Hills are home to some of the most celebrated winemakers and acclaimed vineyards in Oregon. Come visit the gorgeous slopes and taste the spectacular wines that capture the unique “terroir” of this region. Discover why the Eola-Amity Hills are a hidden jewel in the Willamette Valley.
Plan on an entire weekend out this year! Special rates starting at $129 plus tax for two adults. Rates includes shuttle service to and from the event, hot breakfast buffet and a late check out of 1pm the next day. Note: Shuttle service applies only to guests who have booked the Equinox package. Reservations for the shuttle need to be made at the time of your package reservation.
Extend your visit with us and stay to enjoy many of the Equinox wineries right here in our own Bentley’s Grill!
Click Here to Book this Package
To purchase event tickets, visit www.zenithvineyard.com
Equinox in the Eola-Amity Hills
March 24th 2012 7:00PM to 10:00PM
Where: Zenith Vineyard 5657 Zena Rd NW Salem
31 World Class wineries including: Amity Vineyards; Anthony Dell Cellars; Antica Terra; Argyle Winery; Bethel Heights Vineyard; Bjornson Vineyard; Brooks Wines; Bryn Mawr Vineyards; Calamity Hill Vineyard; Carter Vineyard; Cherry Hill Winery; Cristom Vineyards; Cubanisimo Vineyards; Dobbes Family Estate; Dukes Family Vineyards; Evening Land Vineyards; Grochau Cellars; Holloran Vineyard Wines; Kristin Hill Winery; Lewman Vineyard; Methven Family Vineyards and Winery; Mouvance Winery; Orchard Heights Winery; Redhawk Winery; Rizzo Winery; St. Innocent Winery; Stangeland Vineyards; Toluca Lane; Witness Tree Vineyard, Zenith Vineyard and ZIVO Wines.
Buy: Wineries will be offering the wines you taste at a 20% discount from retail for this night only!
Admission: $40 per person, buy your Admission online – print and keep your receipt as your entry to the event. NOTE: NO TICKETS WILL BE MAILED TO YOU… YOUR RECEIPT, OR EVEN JUST THE NAME OF THE PURCHASER WILL BE YOUR ADMISSION (YOU ARE ON A LIST).
Did you know that Willamette Valley is one of the most romantic places in the Northwest (well, we think so anyway)? Valentines Day is always a favorite on The Salem Block. We asked our staff for their top picks of “The Most Romantic Places” in and around Salem, Oregon and compiled this list. If you want to sweep your Valentine off of their feet, look no further.
Historic Deepwood Gardens – 1894 Queen Anne Victorian Home situated on approximately 4 acres of manicured gardens and nature trails set in the heart of Salem.
www.historicdeepwoodestate.org
Capitol Mall Park/Willson Park near the water fountain- Within the boundaries of the Capitol grounds exist hundreds of varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers providing a dazzling display for all seasons.
www.oregonstateparks.org
The Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill – A charming, five-acre, park-like historic site, with 14 historic buildings and homes. This one-of-a-kind site is picturesque and peaceful with a millrace stream dividing the lush landscape.
www.willametteheritage.org
Minto Brown Walking Trails- This large, 898.9 acre natural park in Salem includes open and wooded areas with many trails for romantic strolls.
www.cityofsalem.net
Bush Barn Rose Gardens/ Bush’s Pasture Park- Lush landscrapes, rich variety of roses, beautiful site filled with romance and history!
www.friendsofbushgardens.org
Salem’s Riverfront Park- 3-acre park located in downtown Salem along the Willamette River…also home to Salem’s Riverfront Carousel.
www.cityofsalem.net
The Salem Block (of course!)- Romance is everywhere here on the Salem Block.
Experience a night of “Grand Romance” at The Grand Hotel in Salem with a Grand Romance Package: includes overnight accommodations for two in your choice of Suite, sparkling cider delivered to your room, fresh flowers, and our complimentary extended Hot Breakfast Buffet. Top off this package with a late check out of 1 pm.
Bentley’s Grill- Open fire pit, elegant atmosphere, nightly specials, Northwest menu, Oregon wine and more….Bentley’s has a full bar and wine tasting in a comfortable lounge making this the perfect “date night” destination.
The Salem Conference Center- A first-class facility ready to host your next event, large or intimate gatherings. The Conference Center offers more than 30,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting space, stunning architecture, art and a professional staff. Stroll through the plaza to see the current Oregon Artists Series exhibit- “Sculpture Now!”.
Just a quick drive away-
Silvercreek Falls- Nestled in the lower elevation of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains.
www.oregonstateparks.org
The Oregon Garden- Located in nearby Silverton, this is a spectacular 80 acre botanical garden and resort.
www.oregongarden.org
Oregon Wine Country- Pinot Noir, Merlot, Riesling, Cabernet, Chardonnay…wine tasting. Need I say more? Plan your wine tasting adventure. www.oregonwinecountry.org
Grand Cru Wine Tours- Offers sustainable Oregon wine tours throughout the Willamette Valley. Also your source for Oregon hiking wine tours.
www.grandcruwinetours.com
Adelman Peony Gardens- 15 acres of peonies, featuring nearly 250 varieties with profound color variation
peonyparadise.com
For more options, check out Ways to celebrate with your Valentine in The Statesman Journal. Share your favorite romantic destinations on our Facebook Page.
With over 400 wineries operating in the state of Oregon, some of us need a knowledgeable guide to help plan the perfect wine tasting adventure. We are big fans of Grand Cru Wine Tours, a Monmouth wine tour company. You will be impressed with their exemplary service and their commitment to sustainable practices.
Owner and Wine Guide Byron Williams and his staff offer their unique knowledge combined with a passion for Oregon wine.
Having fallen in love with Pinot Noir several years ago, I have explored many of Oregon’s wineries. In order to learn more I started working in a winery tasting room and taking classes at Chemeketa Community College’s viticulture center. Grand Cru Wine Tours is my way of sharing my love of Oregon wines with you. - Byron Williams
The company offers a variety of personalized wine tours to choose from; one tour in particular that has received a lot of attention is Wiking- Oregon Wine Hiking Tours that showcase some of the great wines in the region, as well as the beauty that the Willamette Valley is known for.
These Wiking Tours have received a lot of attention!
New York Times – Wiking in Oregon
Polk County Itemizer Observer – Vino and a View
Grants Getaways – Off Road in Wine Country Article
To learn more about Grand Cru Wine Tours, visit them at www.grandcruwinetours.com or call (877) 98-Pinot
Fall is the perfect time to go wine tasting in Willamette Valley and we invite you to take part in the 2011 Thanksgiving Weekend Harvest Celebration! More than 150 wineries will open their doors to kick off the winter wine tasting season.
Festivities include tasting of new releases and older vintages, barrel tastings, specialty foods and sales of limited quantity wines. Some wineries have live music and tasting fees vary by winery.
Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday weekend by reserving the Thanksgiving Weekend Harvest Celebration 2011 package at The Grand Hotel in Salem. Tour the valley’s finest vineyards and wineries and end your adventure with us for a night of relaxing bliss.
This special package will be available November 23-28, 2011 and includes:
· One night stay in a Deluxe King or Double Queen
· Early Check-in at 12 noon
· Four wine tasting passes per guest
· Special offers on wine at Bentley’s Grill from participating vineyards.
· Complimentary hot breakfast buffet
· Late check-out of 1pm
Rates start at $189 plus tax and are based on two occupants. Additional guests add $50 plus tax per person. The Willamette Valley is rich with diverse vineyards so if you can, spend an extra night and explore the entire region. We offer additional nights at a special rate of $109 plus tax per night, based on double occupancy.
Wine passes are valid at these participating wineries:
Firesteed
Eola Hills Winery
St. Innocent Winery
Johan Vineyards
Left Coast Cellars
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Duck Pond Cellars
The Four Graces
Ponzi Wine Bar
Argyle
Redhawk Winery
Bethel Heights Vineyard
Sokol Blosser Winery
Witness Tree Vineyard
Cristom Vineyards
Cubanisimo Winery
Visit www.grandhotelsalem.com to view a complete list of amenities and features at The Grand Hotel in Salem. We look forward to hosting you!
Stompers and Swabbies Compete in last year's Grape Stomp
Ever looked at your feet and decided they were a little too clean? Could maybe use a little color? Or perhaps you just miss the feeling of smooshing things with your toes? Well, Willamette Valley Vineyards has the cure for your toes’ woes.
The 21st annual Willamette Valley Vineyards Grape Stomp is coming Sunday, September 24th-25th!
Teams of two compete in this fun-filled event. You and a friend decide which one of you likes to squish things with their feet more, and that person becomes the stomper, jumping, running, and pushing the grapes into juice. Your partner is the “swabby” responsible for guiding the juice through the hole in the barrel and into the jug. So grab a foot friend and get stomping – the winner gets the glory of competing in the World Grape Stomping Championship in Santa Rosa, CA on September 30! Yeah, that’s a lot of grape stomping, but you could win a trophy and the right to call yourself the worlds best grape stomper!
Tickets are $10 and include a free wine glass and tasting.
There are only a few remaining reservations available, so call 1800 344 9463. Or, try your luck and just show up on September 24th.
- Where: Willamette Valley Vineyards, 8800 Enchanted Way SE, Turner OR
- When: September 24th-25th, 11am-6pm
Summer is drawing nigh but there is still plenty of time to tast the season’s best! Take in the views, drink up the pinot, and celebrate Labor Day weekend at the picturesque local wineries that surround The Grand Hotel. Starting September 3rd and extending through the holiday weekend, there will be numerous open houses and tastings, as well as a few special packages that include food and live music!
Here are some of the highlights for the coming holiday:
When: September 3rd, 4th, and 5th, from 11am-5pm
What to Expect: Live music, tasting, appetizers, and homemade sausages and tri-tip from the BBQ
Cost: $15 tasting fee includes all the food and festivities plus a souvenir Redhawk Wine Glass
When: September 3rd, 4th and 5th, from 12-6pm
What to Expect: Live salsa music and dancing, tapas, tasting, souvenir wine glass and a gift certificate raffle for those who purchase the “Afternoon Package”
Cost: $20 for Afternoon Package covers tasting, tapas, and raffle ticket, $10 for tasting only, $8 for tapas plate
Other area vineyards that will also be holding special events for the holiday weekend include::
Cristom Vineyards
- Open House with tasting room hours 11-5pm
- www.cristomwines.com
Pudding River Wine Cellars
- Open House with tasting room open 11-5pm
- http://www.puddingriver.com/
Cherry Hill Winery
- Tasting room open with special hors d’oeuvres.
- www.cherryhillwinery.com
- Tasting Room Open house
- www.orchardheightswinery.com
For more information about locations and to plan your excursion to one of these wonderful vineyards, check out http://www.winesnw.com
Event Spotlight:
Pairings – A Celebration of Oregon Wine, Cuisine & Music
Friday, August 26, 2011 (5pm- 9pm)
Grand Hotel Salem & Bentley’s Grill have joined Hart of the Garden to sponsor Pairings - A Celebration of Oregon Wine, Cuisine & Music at the Oregon State Fair on Friday August 26, 2011. This is the 4th year we have sponsored the event which features pairings of Oregon’s finest wines with cuisine from Oregon’s Top chefs.
Those who attend will also be treated to a musical tribute to Ray Charles hosted by Patrick Lamb, featuring an ensemble of Oregon’s best talent! Where else can you go and hear great music and get all the wine sampling and food you can eat and drink… and get admission into the State Fair!
Pairings – A Celebration of Oregon Wine, Cuisine & Music will be held in the beautiful Hart of the Garden at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $50.00 and include Fair admission; Cuisine prepared by outstanding Oregon Chefs; Tastings from fabulous Oregon Wineries; Musical Entertainment, Commemorative wine glass. Visit oregonstatefair.ticketforce.com to purchase your tickets.
With more than 9,000 things to do, see and taste, the 2011 Oregon State Fair is too big to miss. We can honestly say there is nothing else like it (that we know of) in the state of Oregon!
The 2011 Fair will feature top notch Entertainment, Attractions, Exhibits, Food, Carnival Rides (of course!), Competitions (like the popular STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series) and much much more.
Featured Events:
- “Pairings!” A celebration of Oregon’s wine, cuisine and music—Friday, August 26, 2011, 5 pm – 9 pm
- Il CiRCo’s Viaggio—Friday August 26-Monday September 5, 2:00 & 7:30 PM
- Cheap Trick—Saturday August 27, 2011 8PM
- SessionFest with SouLiv, Ozomatli, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Thursday September 1st, 2011 7:30P
- The Band Perry—Friday September 2nd, 2011 8PM
- The Judds —Saturday September 3rd, 2011 8PM
- Selena Gomez and the Scene—Monday September 5th, 2011 4:30 PM
Tickets for all events are now on sale. Visit oregonstatefair.org/concerts for info.
Too-Big-To-Miss 2011 Oregon State Fair Details
DATES: August 26-September 7, 2011 (Labor Day)
LOCATION: Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem Oregon
HOURS: Sundays-Thursdays: 10 AM – 10 PM Fridays and Saturdays: 10 AM – 11 PM
GENERAL ADMISSION:
Adults (ages 13 – 64): $7.00/advance, $11.00/gate
Seniors (ages 65 & over): $3.00/advance, $6.00/gate
Youth (ages 6 – 12): $3.00/advance, $6.00/gate
Group Pricing (50+): $5.00
Ages 5 and under: ALWAYS FREE
Parking: FREE
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching and The Grand Hotel in Salem is the perfect place to begin your Memorial Day Wine Weekend! There are a vast array of specials and open houses to satisfy all types of wine lovers. Check out these fantastic open house events in the Salem area:
- Willamette Valley Vineyards invites you to an annual Blind Tasting Competition! Blind taste and match world class Pinot Noir to it’s respective Appellation, including a Domaine de le Romanèe Conti. General admission is $10 and includes a Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glass, as well as hors d’oeuvres & live music!
- Cubanisimo Vineyard’s Memorial Day Weekend Celebration features live music, dance lessons, and delicious Cuban Food ($10 entry fee, $5 tapas).
- Redhawk Vineyard and Winery has wine & barrel tasting, delicious food, live music & a lovely view! $10 fee includes tasting, BBQ tri-tip, homemade sausages, smoked salmon paté, and more!
- Left Coast Cellars Open House Event features new releases, delicacies from the cafe, live music and great weekend-only prices on wines. $10 admission includes a logo glass.
- Johan Vineyards boutique winery offers handcrafted wines from the certified biodynamic estate vineyard. Take in gorgeous views, light snacks & live music. Admission $10 w/glass, $5 refunded with bottle purchase.
Back at the Grand Hotel, take advantage of a late checkout by booking one of our luxurious packages, and ease into the shortened work week feeling relaxed and refreshed.
Two dozen Oregon wineries + eight amazing caterers + live music+ one lush hotel package = one spectacular night out!
The Grand Hotel in Salem will join forces again with Eola-Amity Hills to provide guests with an unforgettably elegant evening celebrating our regional wines! Our event sold out two weeks before the date last year and our guests loved the chance to taste wines and discuss the vintage with most of the key principals of the Eola-Amity Hills winemaking community.
Special rates starting at $119 plus tax for two adults, shuttle service to and from the event, hot breakfast buffet and a late check out of 1pm the next day.
Enjoy fantastic sweet and savory bites to complement your wine tasting experience from some of the best restaurants and caterers in our area!
BOOK NOW by going to our reservations page or calling our reservations line: 1-877-540-7800
When: March 26th, 2011 7:00PM to 10:00PM
Where: Zenith Vineyard 5657 Zena Rd NW Salem
Wines: Amazing wineries that will be pouring include: Amity Vineyards; Antica Terra; Argyle Winery; Bethel Heights Vineyard; Brooks Wines; Calamity Hill Vineyard; Carter Vineyard; Cherry Hill Winery; Cristom Vineyards; Cubanisimo Vineyards; Domaine Serene; Dukes Family Vineyards;Evesham Wood Winery; Holloran Vineyard Wines; Lewman Vineyard; Methven Family Vineyards; Redhawk Winery; St. Innocent Winery; Stangeland Vineyards; Toluca Lane; Witness Tree Vineyard and Zenith Vineyard
Eight different caterers serving amazing gourmet food and live music complete this event to remember! Visit the official Event Page for more information!