ABOUT OUR MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT

Each year, beginning in January and running through the month of March, we endeavor to find out what is the best Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley of the year.

In order to arrive at this daunting goal, we do a series of 10 evenings of blind tastings that pit Oregon’s best and most iconic Pinot Noirs against each other.

Our guests come into the wine bar and they are served a flight of 16 wines In 8 blind pairs. Each taster is asked to simply compare and contrast each pair of wines and vote for their favorite of each pair. At the end of the evening we tally up the votes and the wines that get the most votes move on in the bracket.

It takes us 4 weeks to go through the round of 64, it takes us 2 weeks to get through the round of 32, and then at that point we taste the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four, and the Championship Round in separate successive weeks.

The Tasting Fee for each night is $50 which is a smoking deal for the quantity and quality level of wines that are served. It is a rare and unique opportunity to taste some of the best wines being made in America, all in one sitting.

We learn so much about ourselves, our preferences, and the nature of the wines each time we taste and you are invited to be part of this unique event!

Simply drop in at Backcountry wine tasting room at 1080 SE Division Street between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. each Friday during the March Madness series, and you will be seated with a set of 16 wines to taste through.

Results are posted on Saturday morning on our Instagram page, @backcountry.wine.tasting.room

If you have any questions please call the tasting Room at 503-914-4107.