January 2026
Happy New Year from Chris James Cellars!
We welcome the New Year with a sense of gratitude and excitement here at Chris James Cellars. January is a time to celebrate fresh beginnings while reflecting on the moments and milestones of the past year.
As the vines rest and the cellar settles into a quieter rhythm, we raise a glass to the year behind us and turn to the future with anticipation for the new and exciting vintages to come.
Here’s to 2026 being a great year with fantastic wines! 
The Carlton Estate is closed for the winter season, but you can come visit us at our downtown McMinnville Tasting Room for a cozy tasting on these cold and rainy winter days.
McMinnville is open 7 days a week.
Sun-Thurs: 12pm-6pm
Fri-Sat: 12pm-8pm
The Carlton Estate is now closed for the winter season. We will see you there again come Spring!
FEATURED EVENTS
McMinnville Wine + Food Classic Tickets On Sale NOW!
March 13th-15th || Evergreen Space Museum
- Friday, March 13th — 4pm to 9pm
- Saturday, March 14th — 11am to 8pm
- Sunday, March 15th — 11am to 5pm
Join us at the McMinnville Wine and Food Classic 2026!
Treat your friends, family, or yourself to a weekend of Oregon wine, food, and fun.
Sip, Savor, and Soar at the 2026 McMinnville Wine + Food Classic!
Get ready to wine taste your way through a world of flavor and flight at one of Oregon’s most iconic events! Held inside the awe-inspiring Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, the McMinnville Wine + Food Classic is back and bigger than ever in 2026!
For the first time ever, both the Aviation and Space Museums will be open during the event! That means more room to roam, more to explore, and yes — you’ll be sipping some of Oregon’s finest wine right under the wings of the legendary Spruce Goose.
Recipes
Recipes to look for this month on our website:
Charred Vegetable Ragu with Barbera
(A comforting vegetarian dish for those cold winter nights.)
Featured + Charitable Giving Wine
We’re appreciative of your ongoing support with our Wine Releases paired with our Charitable Giving Wine program! For over two years now, each month we have successfully raised funds to support our local nonprofit organizations while showing off our featured wines!
Featured January organization: Safe Homes for Children
“We believe families can be most successful when they feel supported and empowered, and don’t have to face a crisis alone. Safe Families for Children hosts vulnerable children and creates extended family–like supports for families through a community of devoted volunteers who are motivated by compassion to keep children safe and families together. Our vision is to create a world where children are safe, and families are transformed through radically compassionate communities.”
Featured January wine: 2020 Barbera
Profile notes: Aromas of cherry, cured meat, black pepper and dried herbs. It delivers flavors of plum that are met on the mid-palate by notes of dried herbs that lead to a finish showing hints of black pepper.
Available: At both tasting rooms and online
Cost: $45/ bottle — $16/ 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 202o Barbera 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
Gems of Southeast Europe
November 9-16, 2025 | 7-night river cruise | AmaBella
Join us as we once again set sail with AmaWaterways. In November 2026 Chris will be wine host for the “Gems of Southeast Europe” cruise! The cruise includes 7 nights on the river with an optional 2-night stay in Vienna beforehand, and optional 2 nights Bucharest or 3-night stay in Istanbul afterward.
Please reach out to Nicole Zima (nicole@sailawaygrouptravel.com) for more information or to book your room.
CITIES & SIGHTS
BUDAPEST -> MOHÁCS -> VUKOVAR -> BELGRADE -> SCENIC CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES-> VIDIN -> ROUSSE-> GIURGIU
YOUR JOURNEY ALONG THE DANUBE RIVER
Touch history in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you sail along the exotic lower Danube. Celtic fortifications, medieval towns and grand cities, along with the natural beauty of pastoral landscapes and the Danube’s famed Iron Gates, showcase the best of eastern Europe.
Nature lovers will relish the opportunity to bike through Belgrade’s sprawling Kalemegdan Park. Wine connoisseurs will have a chance to taste history from the centuries-old wine-growing hills dating back to the Romans in Croatia. Be treated to the flavors, sights, sounds and cultures of this diverse swath of the continent.
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
- Owner, farmer, winemaker for Chris James Cellars, Chris Barnes, will lead tastings and discussions. And, of course, Beth will also be there!
