Mix Master: Creating a Wine Just for You
Urban Wineworks

I’m a 4-5-1, but the ladies across the table are clearly 3-3-3’s…the guy at the end of the table who’s been talking most of the time is more of a 6-3-1. After an hour of blending Merlot, Cabernet and Cabernet Franc in beakers and glasses in front of us, it’s becoming pretty obvious to all of us that trying to create a single wine to please everyone is next to impossible. Each of us likes something different—some more of the oaky, smoky fruit of Cabernet Sauvignon, others the lighter, more acidic Merlot, and others, the bold, peppery taste of Cabernet Franc. Mixing together different ratios, like my blend of 4 parts Merlot to five parts Cab Sauvignon and just a hint of Cabernet Franc tastes just right to me. But clearly, everyone’s got a different idea of “just right”, as the women opposite me dump in more and more Cabernet Franc for a meaty, beefy blend that frankly scares me a little.

Urban Wineworks offers this custom blending class a few times each week, teaching a little bit about each grape varietal to begin with, and then letting attendees experiment to their heart’s delight with different blends until they come up with a perfect “cuvee”, or  blend of red wine that is then bottled.

The wineworks, which also offers tastings of their own Bishop Creek Cellars wines, was designed to bring the vineyard to the city—allowing people to not only taste, but to get their hands on the process of winemaking and blending to help demystify wine. The winery also offers a year-long program that allows students to go out into the vineyard, choose when to pick the grapes, monitor the grapes after crushing and even assist with bottling. Think of it as your own personal vintage.

• Urban Wineworks: 407 NWW 16th Ave., Portland. 503.226.9797. For a schedule of tastings and classes, www.urbanwineworks.com