February 2025
All you need is love, and wine! 
Happy February!
Even though it’s still very chilly outside, there’s love in the air. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a glass of your favorite wine and share a toast with someone special.
Whether you’re planning a romantic trip to our beautiful McMinnville Tasting Room, or looking to surprise your loved ones with a bottle of their favorite wine, there’s plenty to love here at Chris James Cellars. Let’s celebrate love, great wine, and togetherness this month!
Visit our McMinnville Tasting Room any time to enjoy our fine wines while relaxing in the heart of historic downtown McMinnville. Open daily:
– 12 pm – 6 pm Sunday – Thursday
– 12 pm -8 pm Friday – Saturday
(The Estate Tasting Room will be closed until the beginning of April)
Wine Club Members:
Spring Wine Club release is coming in March, so remember to keep an eye out for those Wine Club Emails coming to your inbox soon!
Ship-to Club will start shipping in April due to cold temperatures.
ALSO, SAVE THE DATE:
Our Spring Wine Club Release Pickup Party will be on March 15th at the Erin Hanson Gallery.
Indulge in the joy of wine, snacks, and music with your fellow club members, and feel free to extend the invitation to up to 3 guests per member. To ensure your spot at this delightful gathering, kindly RSVP by completing the provided survey by 3/10/25.
Please RSVP HERE.
(PLEASE ONLY RSVP IF YOU ARE A CLUB MEMBER)
FEATURED EVENTS
Wine Club Share!
McMinnville 3rd Street Wine Club Share (Wine Club Members Only)
February 1st – March 31st, 2025 || Downtown McMinnville
Attention club members! Join us during February and March as we share member privileges at 14 of McMinnville’s finest wineries! 
Enjoy 2 complimentary tastings per passport/club membership and receive club member savings on wine purchases!
We have also partnered with Cypress Restaurant and Bar, who will have a special for passport holders.
The Boutique Retreat and Douglas on Third are both offering a 15% discount (with your passport/club membership) on bookings during the club share event, so make a weekend of it!
Not a member yet? No problem! It is easy to join online to start enjoying our wines and events.
Stop by the McMinnville tasting room to get your passport!
Portland Seafood and Wine Festival
March 1-2|| Portland Expo Center, Sat: 12pm-8pm || Sun: 11pm-4pm
Chris James Cellars will be at the 19th annual Portland Seafood and Wine Festival. Come visit us and enjoy our award-winning wines!
The Portland Seafood & Wine Festival is a delicious celebration of the region’s finest seafood and wines, bringing together top local vendors for a weekend of tasting and fun. It’s the perfect event for foodies and wine lovers alike to explore the best of the Pacific Northwest’s culinary scene.
Enjoy fresh Oregon seafood (during the peak of Dungeness Crab season!) as well as wine, craft beers, cider, & distilled spirits as you browse 175+ booths of wine, food, crafts, and more! Over 40 of Oregon’s finest wineries (plus ales, ciders & spirits) offer you tastings of their very best.
The fest is preceded by one of the Northwest’s most prestigious wine events, the Portland Seafood & Wine Festival Wine Competition presented by ilani. Vintners from across Oregon submit their finest in hopes of being named among the best. We then make them available (for tasting and for purchase) at the festival.
This is a family-friendly event! Live entertainment, face painters, balloon artists and so much more
Refund Policy: Ticket cancellations before December 4th are eligible for refund.
Recipes
Recipes to look for this month on our website:
Cabernet France Caramelized Onion Sauce
Charitable Giving Wine
We’re appreciative of your ongoing support with our Wine Releases paired with our Charitable Giving Wine program! For over a year now, each month we have successfully raised funds to support our local nonprofit organizations while showing off our featured wines!
Featured February organization: YCAP (Yamhill Community Action Partnership).
“Advocate for people in need by providing access to resources and tools to strengthen communities in Yamhill County.”
The Yamhill Community Action Partnership (YCAP) was founded in 1980 as part of a nationwide network of social service agencies designed to help improve the lives of low-income people and strengthen communities. We assist the residents of Yamhill County, diligently focusing on four primary service categories: Housing Stabilization, Energy Services, the regional Food Bank, and Youth Services.
Featured February wine: 2020 Cabernet Franc
Profile notes: Aromas of raspberry, blackberry bramble and bell pepper, with flavors of raspberry, cherry, bell pepper and chili pepper.
Available: At both tasting rooms and online
Cost: $42/ bottle — $15 / glass pour
How you can support:
- Visit the Tasting Rooms or purchase online all month long
- Purchase Bottles: 10% of the featured wine will be donated
- Glass Pours: $1 per glass pour will be donated
- Taste the 2020 Petit Verdot before you buy on our wine flights all month long!
Weekly Events
- WINE WEDNESDAY: Join us every Wednesday for a midweek treat at our McMinnville location! Enjoy a new wine flight as our menu switches over on Wednesdays, as well as drink specials (see below).
- B.Y.O.G (Bring your own games): Every Friday! Round up your friends, or just stop by to enjoy the environment. Every Friday at our McMinnville location, from 5 – 8 pm we offer our space for an evening of games, wine, and light fare!
No reservation needed, our tables will be first come first served
Drink specials: $3 off Glass Pours, and 15% off bottles
Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps
July 14-21, 2025 | 7-night river cruise | AmaSerena
Join us as we once again set sail with AmaWaterways. In July 2025 Chris will be wine host for the “Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps” cruise! The cruise includes 7 nights on the river with an optional 2-night stay in Amsterdam beforehand, and optional 3-night stay in Lake Como, Italy afterward.
Please reach out to Nicole Zima (nicole@sailawaygrouptravel.com) for more information or to book your room.
CITIES & SIGHTS
Amsterdam -> Cologne -> Rhine Gorge -> Rüdesheim -> Ludwigshafen -> Heidelberg -> Speyer -> Strasbourg -> Lucerne -> Basel
YOUR JOURNEY ALONG THE RHINE RIVER
Discover fairytale castles and historic vineyards as part of this Rhine River cruise showcasing the wines of the Rheingau and beyond. Start by exploring the canal-laden city of Amsterdam. Then it’s off to Germany, where you’ll discover the grand city of Cologne and the winemaking hamlet of Rüdesheim. Enjoy cruising through the UNESCO designated Rhine Gorge, where 40 castles are strung like pearls along the river banks. Cross the border into France’s Alsace region in enchanting Strasbourg and take in spectacular panoramas of the Swiss Alps. This itinerary is truly a dream come true.
EXTRA INCLUDED FEATURES ONLY ON WINE CRUISES
• Special tours and tastings at local wineries and private cellars
• Learn about winemaking in renowned vineyards
• Onboard wine pairings with award-winning cuisine
• A wine host will lead tastings and discussions
