Thanksgiving & December 2024
Thanksgiving Cheers from Chris James Cellars!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from Chris James Cellars!
It’s time to focus on family, friends, and the joys of the holiday season. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support and loyalty. Your love for our wines has made this year something truly special and we are so immensely grateful.
We hope you choose to take us with you to your holiday gatherings and parties (in the form of your favorite wines!), to bring a little extra cheer to those you cherish the most.
From all of the team here at Chris James Cellars, we wish you, and your loved ones, a joyful and bountiful Thanksgiving that is filled with warmth, laughter and the perfect glass of wine!
Here’s to a wonderful Holiday Season! 
Estate Tasting Room Will close after December 1st!
This is your last chance to visit us at the estate before we close it down for the winter.
The Estate Tasting Room in Carlton, will be open this weekend November 22nd-24th; and next weekend, November 29th -December 1st. Fri-Sun, 12pm-5pm.
After that the Estate will be closed for the Winter and will reopen in April.
You can also visit our McMinnville Tasting Room any time of year 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
FEATURED EVENTS
Savor the Season: Holiday Passport
November 29th-December 31st || McMinnville Tasting Room
This holiday season, treat yourself to a festive wine-tasting adventure with our Holiday Wine Passport!
Starting on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend and continuing through the entire month of December, you can explore 8 local boutique wineries, enjoy exclusive discounts on wine flights, and experience the joy of the season with every pour.
Perfect for holiday gift shopping, family visits, or a cozy, wine-filled escape this holiday season!
For the start of the Holiday Wine Passport each winery will be offering small bites to accompany their handcrafted wines this Thanksgiving weekend!
Here’s How It Works:
1. Pick Up Your Holiday Passport – Grab your passport at any of the participating wineries to kick off your tasting journey.
2. Visit 8 Wineries – Your passport grants you access to discounted wine flights at each of the 8 featured wineries.
3. Enjoy the Best of the Season – Taste a curated selection of wines from the region while discovering new favorites and seasonal specialties.
4. Exclusive Discounts – Each winery will offer special pricing on their wine flights ($10) and wine purchases throughout the promotion, so you can taste more for less! Purchase a bottle to earn a stamp at each winery. Collect 5 or more stamps to enter to win a sip-able prize.
Participating Wineries:
● Chris James Cellars
Open Daily 12-6PM (Fri. & Sat. 12-8PM)
645 NE 3rd St. Ste. 1A, McMinnville, OR
●Garibaldi Cellars
Sat. 2-8PM & Sun. 12-5PM
303 NE 3rd St. McMinnville, OR
●J Wrigley Vineyards
Third St Tasting Room:
Fri. 4-8PM
303 NE 3RD ST, McMinnville, OR
Vineyard Tasting Room:
Mon.-Thurs. 11AM-3PM & Fri.-Sun. 11AM-4PM
19390 SW Cherry Hill Rd. Sheridan, OR
● Denison Cellars
Sat. 11AM-5PM
NW Cru Wine Bar:
325 NE Evans St. McMinnville, OR
● Lundeen
Thurs.-Sat. 12-6PM & Sun.-Wed. by Appt.
475 NE 17th St. McMinnville, OR
● Terra Vina Wines
Thurs. 2-7PM, Fri.-Sat. 12-7PM, & Sun. 12-5PM
585 NE 3rd St. McMinnville, OR
● Patton Valley Wines
Fri.-Mon. 12- 5PM & Tues.-Thurs. by Appt.
801 SW Baker St. McMinnville, OR
● Ocelli Cellars
Fri.-Mon. 12- 5PM & Tues.-Thurs. by Appt.
801 SW Baker St. McMinnville, OR
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway with friends and family, or simply looking to explore the local wine scene, the Holiday Wine Passport is your ticket to a memorable, festive experience.
Don’t Miss Out!
Get your Holiday Passport today and start your festive wine-tasting journey. Raise your glass to the season, one sip at a time!
Downtown Hillsboro Sip and Shop
December 7th, 2024. 3pm-7pm || Le’Stuff Antiques, Hillsboro
Join us atLe’Stuff Antiques for the 4th annual Hillsboro Downtown Sip & Shop!
Then stroll amongst the other 12 shops, area wineries, and breweries to get some of your holiday shopping done!
There will even be a few non-alcoholic libations along the route to keep you sipping strong!
This year’s event features:
- Wine beer and mocktail tasting scattered from 2nd Ave to 3rd Ave on and off Main St.
- A ‘Spot it’ Scavenger Hunt to deliver a bonus for shopping with merchants.
- There will be multiple raffle drawings for gift baskets for completed passports. Attendees only need 7 stamps to enter, and no purchases are required.
- Wine Concierge – courier will take purchases along the route to the designated pick-up locations at White Birch Design Co. or Dee’s Divine Finds.
The passport includes:
Complimentary tastings a shopping bag and a logo wine glass while the supply lasts. The shopping bag includes swag from participating merchants plus more promotions.
Get your Sip & Shop Passport before Nov 30 for only $17.50*.
*$22.50 after 11/30.
Refund Policy: Ticket cancellations before December 4th are eligible for refund.
Recipes
Recipes to look for this month on our website:
Dark Chocolate Red Wine Truffles
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 December organization: McMinnville Kiwanis Club.
“Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers, dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.“
Featured August wine: 2020 Petit Verdot
Profile notes: Aromas of violets. With flavors of black plum, dark chocolate blackberries and hints of leather on the finish.
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
