Celebrating 13 at Timberline and the Silcox Hut Winemaker's Dinner

Our wedding day in the Raven's Nest at Timberline Lodge

The happy couple 13 years later!

 We were married at Timberline Lodge 13 years ago on a bright, sunny day in April.  Every year we celebrate that day by returning to the Lodge to spend the night and snowboard the following day.  Over the years, we have also combined it with David's birthday celebration and shared the weekend with him and some of his friends.  They got to stay in the dorm rooms on the first floor and we stayed up in our own room : )

This year it was just Mark and I and we timed our overnight stay with something new that Timberline Lodge started this year, the Winemaker's Dinner. www.timberlinelodge.com
 
We shared the unique and creative dinner paired with eight different wines with 20 other wine lovers  at 7,000 ft. at Silcox Hut.  The Silcox is an old historic hut that originally housed the chair lift at top of the original Magic Mile lift.  When the lift line was moved west to it's current position, the Hut fell into disrepair.  It was rescued by a group called The Friends of Silcox Hut, renovated, and listed on the National Historic Registry.  It was used as a warming hut for climbers for awhile, but as our host said "You can't make any money off of climbers".  Currently the Hut can be reserved for weddings, receptions, meetings, and overnight stays.  In fact, we celebrated Mark's 50th birthday there with 22 of our friends.  It is definitely a magical place.

The cat waits outside the Hut.

The evening began with a ride up to the Hut in a bright yellow snowcat.  It was stormy with white-out conditions, so there was no view. We arrived and mingled while tasting the first of eight featured wines by Chehalem Wines in Newberg. http://www.chehalemwines.com/

The first pairing was the 2009 Chehalem Wind Ridge Vineyard Gruner Veltliner.  It went perfectly with the Beet Juice Fed Kushi Oysters Raw on the Half Shell.  I am not a raw oyster fan, but I slurped one down, and it wasn't bad!   The wine was on the sweet side,  but yummy.

We took our seats at the long, rustic table in the main room of the Hut. Look at all the wine glasses! One of the best things about the dinner was meeting the others in the group.  There was a broad range of ages and backgrounds which made for interesting conversation.

The first course was Volcanic Salt Cured Oregon Rockfish.  It was served with the 2009 Chehalem Dry Riesling Reserve.  I'm not usually a big Riesling fan, but again, it tasted great with the food it was paired with.

 Second course was Torchon of Muscovy Duck Breast with Duck Gizzards Confit.  First, let me say I am not a Duck fan, (you know what I mean!), and most definitely, not a gizzards fan.  The way the Duck was presented was sausage-like and very tasty!  I was tricked into eating gizzard...I hadn't looked at the menu and I thought it was a mushroom.  It was delicious and buttery.  The two white wines served with this dish were the best yet.  2008 Chehalem INOX Chardonnay and the 2008 Chehalem Ian's Reserve Chardonnay (named after the winemaker's son who passed away).  The Reserve is one I will be looking for to buy for our wine rack.

 We sat across from the Wine Manager at Timberline Lodge, David.  The winery was represented by the owner, Harry Peterson-Nedry who has been making wine since the 1970's.  His winery was the first on the Ribbon Ridge.

 Next, we were served the main course, Applewood Bacon Wrapped Oregon Lamb Loin.  I usually avoid lamb on the menu, but gave this a try.  It was a little rare for me, but the bacon wrap gave it a good flavor.  My favorite part of the dish was the cute little Fava Bean Leek Croquette.  The winemaker paired this dish with two reds...2008 Chehalem Wind Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir and the 2008 Chehalem Stoller Vineyard Pinor Noir.  They were both excellent.  The side story here is that Timberline's Executive Chef, Jason Stoller Smith (who was preparing the dinner for us) is married to a Stoller daughter from the winemaking family.

 Then, of course, you have the cheese course!  Juniper Grove Creamery Tumalo Tomme with Landjaeger and Apple Salad.  So good with dried cherries and hazelnuts.  Served with another yummy pinot noir, the 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir.

 Finally, dessert!  Lemon Panna Cotta.  My favorite dish of the night!  Served with the 2010 Sext Riesling.  Perfect compliment to the soft lemon flavor of the dish.

So, now we have had wine poured into all eight of our wine glasses of all different shapes and sizes.  I paced myself and had just enough of each wine to get a good taste, yet still be able to stand at the end of dinner! The dinner was a great experience for me to try new tastes that I usually don't try.  And how can you beat the surroundings?

The amazing fireplace.

 The evening ended with a snowcat ride back down to Timberline Lodge where we had a room for the night.  The staff at Timberline always leaves us a small bottle of wine and shortbread cookies to share in honor of our anniversary.

 Morning dawned clear and blue with the new snow outside our window shimmering in the sunshine.

 We had brunch in the Cascade Dining Room at the Lodge.  I had great scrambled eggs, tasty potatoes, and always a must for me at brunch, BACON!

Mark headed out to snowboard with a couple we met at the dinner, and I rented snowshoes ( I left mine at the cabin).  The weather was absolutely perfect, just like the day after our wedding 13 years ago.  Look at how much more snow there is this year!

2011

1998

 Another great visit to Timberline.  Hopefully, they will have the Winemaker's Dinner Series next year and we can experience another great winery.