Page 84 - SOM_FALL_2020_FLIPBOOK

neck of the woods | theatre
f ea tu r e | wine clubs
BELLE FIORE WINERY

Belle Fiore Winery typically creates events around their wine releases—
tastings, music, dancing, outside seating, and food presented by their
fantastic culinary team, often hosted at the chateau for Signature mem-
bers. But that was then.

Since release events can no longer include large numbers, the winery
now hosts several staggered stagings in the barrel room and on the
terrace. They recently did a Covid Winemaker Dinner with stations
for barrel tastings and a private dinner, with music. Their space easily
allows social distancing, and as always, people are encouraged to step
outside and enjoy the view.

Shannon Wester, Wine Club Manager, told of an unexpected benefit of
Covid-19. Visitors from out of town have tasted Belle Fiore wines and
become club members. She said the winery is shipping out caseloads
weekly, people having happy hour on their own patios. “It’s a cool time
to be in the industry,” says Shannon. Naturally, she looks forward to
when crowds can once again gather, but for now she’s delighted with
people supporting local businesses and being able to create quality
wines for them.

DANCIN VINEYARDS

DANCIN Vineyards normally hosts a private two-day wine club release
party with two wines and delicious food. Covid-19 changed all that, so
they turned the seated event into a drive-thru experience with wine and
a take-and-bake meal to enjoy at home. The June event culminated with
the Oregon debut of Kiara Brown from NBC’s “The Voice,” and a sec-
ond-night performance for the general community. Out-of-town mem-
bers could livestream the concert through Facebook. The September
celebration will also be a wine and food drive-thru event, including
another evening with Kiara Brown.

With our current mostly at-home existence, people especially appreci-
ate kindnesses, and the DANCIN team felt blessed by one club mem-
ber’s expression of gratitude [excerpts]: “As we drove up to the check-in
station, I kept saying ‘this is so cool!’ You and Cindy and your team were
the proverbial Good Samaritans. You met us on the side of the road,
cared for us and gave us food and drink. You and your team found a way
to create community when we've all been told to stay away from each
other. I can't think of a greater act of kindness or encouragement in
these troubled times.”

82 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | fall 2020