Category Archives: Food & Wine

Hi friends! Maija here being sappy as possible, because today is my wedding anniversary!

Many Laurel Ridge regulars know that my husband Jeff and I got married at the winery – which, to me, means I got married on the farm where I grew up. It was such a lovely day filled with warmth, tenderness, joy, and a lot of food & wine. In reminiscing, I couldn’t resist sharing just a few photos of our special day. Now please excuse me while I go grab a box of tissues.

 I was not the stereotypical girl portrayed in popular culture who always envisioned her wedding day. In fact, when it came time to planning the wedding, Susan and Kira actually planned and executed a lot of the details. And I have to say it was the best wedding gift I could ever have received.

While I could never choose a favorite part of my wedding (hello! Marrying my husband was obviously the highlight!) I was absolutely obsessed with my cheese spread. The food was actually one of the only components of our wedding that Jeff and I cared about. When it came time to plan our cocktail reception, we knew we wanted guests to arrive and be offered a glass of our delicious Rosé of Pinot noir.

We also couldn’t stop dreaming about an epic cheese board to pair with our happy hour wine selections – Rosé and our Pinot noir Cuvée. We knew both of these wines would be easy, crowd-pleasing selections to offer guests and would definitely pair well with a spread of cheeses, nuts, crackers, bread, fruit and more. It took me about ten minutes to figure out where my bridesmaids had disappeared to once I saw the cheese board had arrived. It was such a treat to enjoy and something we hope our guests loved as much as we did!

Up next – I’ll share some Oregon Wine Country wedding inspiration with our menu and how we paired our Pacific Northwest-inspired wedding menu with our delicious Willamette Valley wines. Stay tuned!

Maija

p.s.

I know many had to delay or cancel their dream wedding plans due to Covid-19. I empathize so much with having to navigate such a stressful, costly endeavor. I share this post with levity, I hope it brings you inspiration and joy. Cheers!

This is a post in our Summer 2020 Wine Jam series! Jam along with us all season long as we transform our abundance of fruit into some delicious treats that are more versatile than you’d think. Today, we’re continuing our summer harvest with…blueberries! Continue reading →

Perfect wine pairing: 2016 Pinot noir Cuvée

Wine jams are simply amazing and I would even go as far as to say life changing. They are as elevated as you want them to be or as simple as you need them to be. From the delightfully elegant brie en croute to a grown-up pb & j, this is a versatile, do-it-all type of recipe. The Pinot noir in this recipe adds a delicious complexity to the jam, bringing out earthier notes and adding an undertone that is mellow but distinctly unique. Continue reading →

Charcuterie boards are a way of life for us here in Oregon wine country. An epic charcuterie board is easy to do, but it does require a bit of planning. Don’t sweat it, though. By following these simple guidelines, you’ll become a pro in no-time. Continue reading →

Perfect wine pairing: 2015 Pinot noir Cuvée.

This recipe was inspired by hot summer evenings when you just can’t. bring. yourself. to cook. Now, I totally understand… making a homemade salad dressing is the first thing you scratch from the to-do list on a busy weeknight. But, I promise you, Continue reading →

Suggested wine pairing: 2016 Barrel Select Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley AVA

Leftover wine is a rare occurrence in my household but when I have an extra splash from a bottle that’s been open a few days too many, I get to cooking. This recipe is all about nuance and depth. Calling for a full cup of Pinot noir, the result is a bowl of blueberry crisp that is warming, comforting, and delicately spiced.   Continue reading →

Suggested Wine Pairing: 2017 Barrel Select Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley AVA

There is nothing I love more than a fresh, zesty salad that adds that light, refreshing element to even the heartiest meal. When I’m back home at my family’s vineyard in Carlton (a teeny wine town in the heart of Oregon’s wine country) there is no shortage of fresh, organic, local produce – perfect makings for any salad! My favorite Caesar Salad Dressing recipe is a delicious one that I spent a summer perfecting, and make all of the time as my standard go-to. In today’s world it sounds tedious and time consuming to make your own salad dressing from scratch, but it is well worth effort. You will be so happy to have this in your repertoire- trust me! Continue reading →

Memorial Day Weekend means one of my favorite things has arrived – strawberry season! One of my other hobbies (aside from wine tasting!) is berry picking! Here in Oregon, we are so lucky to have so many beautiful U-Pick farms right in the Willamette Valley – there are so many options! Most of the U-Pick Strawberries here will be a fraction of what you’d pay in store, and infinitely more tasty, as you’ve gotten to pick them at the peak ripeness! Every year, the first week of June finds me with a sunburn and an abundance of strawberries. So, you’d better believe that I’ve become a master at finding the best ways to use leftover berries in unique ways! Continue reading →

Featured wine: Laurel Ridge 2016 David’s Tableau Vivant 

Do you need an awesome snack that pairs with at home hangouts, pet photo sessions and binge watching reality TV documentaries? This quarantine during COVID-19, has inspired us to add homemade popcorn to our repertoire and lucky for you, we have taste tested and can assure you, it is Laurel Ridge wine approved!  This truffle pop is delicious, easy, wine friendly and I can almost guarantee, your grocery store won’t run out of popcorn kernels during a hoarding crisis. Continue reading →

Suggested Wine Pairing: 2018 Estate Chardonnay, Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Willamette Valley

Salmon and I have always had an interesting relationship. Delicious? Absolutely. Time consuming and tedious to prepare? …sometimes. Fish can be so intimidating. Between recipes that call for extensive deboning, to recipes that call for some pretty extensive knife skills to remove the skin, salmon had just never felt accessible to me. What if I ruined a beautiful piece of fish?

Continue reading →