Tango and Terroir

By Paula Bandy Malbec has always carried a sense of movement. Born in Southwest France. Reinvented in Argentina. Malbec now thrives across our state’s varied landscapes¬– from Southern Oregon’s warm days and cool nights to the high desert edges of Snake River and the structured power of the Walla Walla Valley. It is a grape shaped by migration, adaptation and rhythm. Each spring in Portland, Malbec’s tempo becomes tangible. Striding into its fourth year, Malbec in the City has become one of Oregon’s most distinct wine gatherings. Founded by Argentine-born Juan Pablo Valot, known as JP, co-owner and winemaker of Valcan Cellars, the event places Malbec at center stage. And it does so with unapologetic energy. This is not a quiet, fussy tasting. Picture downtown energy meeting vineyard intention. Bold reds poured alongside live tango. Think structure, spice, dark fruit and music moving through the body as it does the entire room. “Here in the U.S.,

by Hilary Berg · source ↗