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  • ร—
    Urban Bliss Life ยป Travel ยป Wine Country ยป Wine Tasting Birthday Weekend

    Published: March 16, 2016 / Updated: May 28, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

    Wine Tasting Birthday Weekend

    Go Big or Go Home.

    That's how I like to live my life when possible, and when relevant.

    Take birthdays, for example.

    Last month, I had a fabulous week-long birthday celebration filled with lots of delicious food and wine moments with amazing friends and family. While we go wine tasting often, considering that we live on the edge of Oregon Wine Country and I write about food and wine for a living, going wine tasting for a special occasion is still truly a treat.

    Here's a quick look at one of my birthday weekend activities!

    The wineries

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    On the Saturday after my birthday, I had made reservations for a group of friends to go wine tasting at two of my favorite local wineries: Hawks View Cellars and Soter Vineyards.

    I am a member at both wineries, and visit both as often as possible. You might think that I would want to try something new for my birthday. But this is a time when I want to visit a place I know I can rely on high quality. High quality wine, winery staff, and enough space for my rambunctious friends to chat, laugh loudly, and fully enjoy the wines.

    Hawks View Cellars and Soter Vineyards always deliver when it comes to accommodating larger groups and having a consistent offering of amazing wines. Plus: they are just awesome people.

    Hawks View Cellars

    Hawks View Cellars La Baleine Release

    We kicked off my birthday wine tasting just a few miles away from my house, at Hawks View Cellars in Sherwood, Oregon.

    You can read more about Hawks View Cellars in several posts on this blog: learn more about their history & wines, tasting room, La Baleine wine release party, a special dinner with Irving Street Kitchen, and more.

    One of the things I love most about wine tasting at Hawks View, besides the fabulous wine and the wonderful people, is that you can call ahead if you have a large group (which you should always do at any winery if you have a group of six or more anyway, out of courtesy to the tasting room staff) and reserve the fireside table.

    Also, I love that you can bring in your own food.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    This is what happens when you ask a group of moms to bring some light snacks! And, I took this photo before more food was set out. Related: I have the best food-loving friends!

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    My friend Heather brought these beautiful and divine birthday cupcakes from Kyra's Bake Shop. I love Kyra's because they make a variety of gluten-free baked goods, including some cupcakes that are also dairy-free/vegan that actually taste amazing.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    We tasted through Hawks View's current wine tasting menu, which includes my favorite 2014 Oregon Pinot Noir, and then Manager Dan Mages was gracious enough to give us a tour.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com
    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    Dan made the tour a lot of fun, gave everyone a great glimpse of their wine making process and the wines, and was gracious enough to take a photo of us in the barrel room.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    Dan also had the brilliant idea to have my friends sign a large bottle of my favorite 2014 Oregon Pinot Noir. What an awesome keepsake!

    Hawks View Cellars is one of the few wineries I've visited in which I would highly recommend almost all of their wines. From sultry Syrahs to crisp Chardonnays to luscious Pinot Noirs, I've loved pretty much everything I've ever tasted here. Before we left, I purchased a few Pinot Noirs, a Syrah, and the large 750ml 2014 Oregon Pinot Noir pictured above.

    Thanks for helping make my birthday so special, Hawks View!

    Soter Vineyards

    After Hawks View Cellars, we moved on to our appointment at Soter Vineyards.

    Soter Vineyards Oregon winery

    Note: the photo above was taken on a different day, but I wanted you to see the beautiful main tasting room building.

    Soter Vineyards is located in Carlton, Oregon, and is open to the public by appointment only. You can reserve tasting times at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    What I love most about wine tasting at Soter Vineyards is not just their amazing wines and gorgeous views, but that they truly make wine tasting here a full experience. Your group gets a private tasting with one of the tasting room staff, either in the main building or in one of the private cabins.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    It is an incredible experience in which both experienced wine professionals and those brand new to wine tasting can appreciate. The intimate setting allows you to feel comfortable asking any questions you can think of, and you don't feel rushed because you're not lined up at a tasting room bar elbowing for the tasting room staff's attention to keep the tasting moving. This is how wine tasting should be, in my opinion: intimate, at a relaxed pace, where you are allowed to fully appreciate the wine in a gorgeous setting with good friends - and a wine expert to help guide you.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    Soter Vineyards is where I tasted my first $150 bottle of wine three years ago, and where I fell crazy in love with the 2007 Proprietary Red Napa Valley Pinot Noir of equal pricing on this birthday celebration. Go big or go home, right?

    Thank you, Soter Vineyards, for providing my friends and I with an incredible birthday wine tasting experience!

    Bridge City Limos

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    Special occasions call for special ride. Nobody should have to worry about making it to & from wineries or back home safely after a big day of wine tasting.

    In full Go Big or Go Home style, I arranged for Bridge City Limos to take our group wine tasting.

    If you are in Oregon's Willamette Valley and you have a special occasion of any kind - birthday, wedding, prom, anniversary, bridal shower, you name it - I highly recommend Bridge City Limos. They came at the recommendation of my friend Cynthia, and I loved working with them for this special day.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    We took their White Lincoln Town Car, which seats up to 10 people and normally goes for $100 per hour.

    My friends commented on how well-kept and clean the limo was. It was super comfortable, and came equipped with glasses, ice coolers, bottle chillers, and a sunroof.

    We popped open a bottle of J Winery's Brut, which I picked up on my recent trip to Sonoma, and enjoyed that on our way to Hawks View Cellars. PS: if you're waiting for the info on the Rodney Strong Vineyards sweepstakes I hinted at in my most recent Sonoma post, I'll have all the details starting in April!

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    Nick was our driver, and he was great to work with before and during the wine tasting tour. He and I made arrangements over email and over the phone a couple of weeks ahead of time and he was great about suggesting locations, timing, and going over what was included. The day of wine tasting, he called to let me know he was on his way. When we were at our first location, he was great about coming in to give us a heads up that it was time to get going to the next location so we wouldn't be late for that appointment.

    Birthday Wine Tasting in Oregon with UrbanBlissLife.com

    Best of all, Nick was accommodating, cordial, and ensured our rowdy group (I may or may not have been the rowdiest of the bunch... but hey, it was my birthday!) got to each place safely and on time.

    Bridge City Limos also has available:

    • a six-seater black Mercedes limousine ($110/hour)
    • a 12 passenger stretch white limo ($125/hour)
    • and a 24-person party bus ($250/hour).

    Give Bridge City Limos a call at 503-765-9367 or email info@bridgecitylimos.com, and tell him Marlynn from Urban Bliss Life sent you!

    Wine Tasting Birthday Weekend

    All in all, this beautiful wine tasting weekend was one of a few fantastic birthday celebrations that spoiled me with good food and great wine. And, most importantly, amazing friends and family. I feel very blessed to have these people in my life, and I embrace every opportunity possible to celebrate with them. Go Big or Go Home!

    If you've never gone wine tasting before, you can check out my beginner's wine tasting tips.

    You can also check out my recommendations for top wine tasting spots in Oregon in my Girls' Weekend Wine Tasting Guide and my Memorial Day Weekend Wine Tasting Guide, and then check out my features on wineries and restaurants in Oregon, Washington, and California Wine Countries.

    Have you ever gone wine tasting and/or rented a limo for your birthday? What's your favorite Go Big or Go Home moment in your life?  

    Many thanks to Bridge City Limos for the complimentary limo featured in this post. As always, all opinions and photos are my own. I only write about products, places, experiences, and services I personally enjoy and believe you all will too! 

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Glen Main says

        September 02, 2016 at 9:30 pm

        Looks like you had so much fun on your birthday. Oregon is one my most frequent places to go to for wine tasting -- always a great experience. The cupcakes, the amazing shots, and the picturesque vineyard is just perfect.

        Reply
      2. Kyra says

        March 21, 2016 at 4:18 pm

        Happy birthday Marlynn! It looks like you ladies had an amazing time!

        Reply
      3. Renรฉe โ™ฅ The Good Hearted Woman says

        March 17, 2016 at 7:35 pm

        Just how does one make her way onto your exclusive "ladies going wine tasting" list? Because this looks like so much fun! We've been wine tasting in Carlton a couple of times, but haven't been to Soter Vineyards yet - we will have to check it out.

        Reply
      4. Willow says

        March 17, 2016 at 12:19 pm

        What a great way to spend a birthday! When I lived in California I toured some wineries, but that was many years ago. Maybe it's time for a California road trip...

        Reply
      5. Robin Giordano says

        March 17, 2016 at 12:11 pm

        I've been dying to visit the North West! Oregon looks like it has some seriously beautiful places to see! Soter Vineyards looks like a must see. I love when vineyards make it a whole wine tasting experience. :)

        Reply
      6. Dia All The Things I Do says

        March 17, 2016 at 11:25 am

        I love wine! I went on a wine tour with some of my friends from college a year ago and it was such a great time. Hope to do another soon. Happy late birthday!

        Reply
      7. jenni says

        March 17, 2016 at 1:16 am

        WOW. Seriously, go big lady! What fun!? I love that you took a limo out wine tasting. The rates are actually quite reasonable for that size. The whole event looks like a really fun party. Happy belated bday!

        Reply
      8. Jennifer L. } Modern Chic says

        March 17, 2016 at 12:09 am

        Wow this looked like a great weekend. It's always fun to go for a wine tasting. And those cupcakes looked amazing.

        Reply
      9. Leah says

        March 16, 2016 at 7:03 pm

        Looks like it was a lovely time! I love wine tastings, and it's made even better with friends!

        Reply
      10. Rachel says

        March 16, 2016 at 6:28 pm

        This is so awesome! Love the idea of going to a winery for a birthday celebration. This place looks especially awesome being able to bring your own food in! What a great spread!

        Reply
      11. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

        March 16, 2016 at 6:18 pm

        Happiest of birthdays to you Marlynn! It looks like you had an amazing time. I really need to make it out to Soter - I've heard such amazing things about their wines. Cheers to you!

        Reply
      12. Lindsay says

        March 16, 2016 at 6:14 pm

        Looks like the perfect way to celebrate! Wine sounds fun but those cupcakes look even better!

        Reply
      13. Kelley says

        March 16, 2016 at 5:03 pm

        Happy birthday! Looks like you had a fantastic time!

        Reply
      14. Catherine says

        March 16, 2016 at 3:59 pm

        Leave it to you to have that amazing spread at a winery! Also, I LOVE Kyra's. They are fabulous.

        Happy birthday, Marlynn! I'm glad you got to celebrate big! :)

        Reply
      15. katie says

        March 16, 2016 at 3:46 pm

        I absolutely LOVE wine tasting and this looks like such a fun trip! Hope you had a great birthday :]

        โ€‹xx katie // a touch of teal

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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