Farm Blog

Not to be missed art, food, wine and truffles !!

2012-01-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

I'll be having an art opening with all the new paintings I've been posting of late and a few more... The art opening is Friday Jan 27th at the The Hilton Eugene as part of the opening reception of the Oregon Truffle Festival !

If you would like to attend the festival there are still a few tickets left for the weekend experiences and immerse you self in food, wine and truffles for a weekend!

Big Table Farm will be partnering up with Chef/Owner Jason French of ned lud and pairing our wines with this special lunch on Saturday! check out this menu people!

truffled white bean purée, flat bread crackers
celery root, truffled remoulade, hazelnuts
truffle roasted hen legs, braised and charred leeks, jus
vanilla and truffle panna cotta, marsala syrup

(hazelnuts from our old vine pinot)

Lots of snow at the farm today!

2012-01-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

They are snug in the barn now : )

another painting

2012-01-09T23:26:00.000-08:00

'green grass and ham'

Happy New year!!

2012-01-08T22:24:00.001-08:00

Hi All I've been way behind the 8-ball with posting I'm sorry I'll get that camera in my pocket again and get you some nice farm photos and more news of what's going on at big table! - I've been catching up big time on all kind of things. Brian and I had a VERY quiet holiday which was sooo welcome - 2011 was a good year looking back but whew it was full... here's snap shot ...

I've also been in the studio here's a new painting just finished tonight the photo could be better it's a bigger painting on canvas and is for a show I'm doing in a few short weeks as part of the Oregon Truffle Festival - I'm the featured artist - Which is VERY nice : ) thanks OTF!!

In Farm news my niece Eliza is visiting which has been lovely she's been working on her art and helping around the farm as well.

And just when I was running low on chicken food - we received a wonderful farm gift from our friends at Ayers Creek of about 700lbs of organic squash which are being enjoyed by the chickens and some as a treat for the cows!! yup who knew?! cows LOVE squash...

(just some of the loot)

and thanks to a very dry winter to date - the boys are still working there way around the lower pasture.. which normally this time of year is far too wet for use - it's quite a luxury to not have to slog up that hill quite yet .... So all in all things are rolling along - I'll be posting more info on the truffle festival in a few days I'm just getting my web site up to date with all the new paintings and then will be doing an official show announcement : ) - in the mean time hope you day hold some peaceful moments - cheers! Clare

I leave you with a photo of curley the bull who had his sex-cation at big table farm this summer/fall - we are crossing our fingers that he got all four girls knocked up for the up coming spring calving season... : ) which will bring our heard up to 12 bovine!!

hunkering down and being still

2011-12-16T18:11:00.001-08:00

As the shadows get longer and the days shorter we head quickly to the longest night... - The mist was heavy of the farm yesterday which happily means the week or so of very cold 'hose freezing' weather is breaking for a while at least. We sit by the fire with the dogs a lot these days it's really nice to rest. To celebrate the light we cut two trees and filled them with lights to make up for the lack of it in the sky... One for the front of the house and one for the inside : ) when trees are plentiful you can be decedent with them ! Happy Solstice week - May you find a peaceful slowness...

the goat likes this idea...

gotta love a man that gives you a rifle for your birthday~

2011-12-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

Thanks baby : ) - 'the wife'

New Paintings -

2011-11-30T17:33:00.000-08:00

I just finished some new chickens for Christmas stockings! I'm offering a holiday special - one chicken is $200, 2 Chickens are $375 and three are $550. As an added bonus I'll pack and ship the birds to you for free! (ups ground) ... the chickens come mounted on dark gray painted blocks ready to hang.

(they are all the same size 7.5 x 7.5 out side dim. with the block they are mounted on and the painting it self is 6" x 6")

(if you are interested in other paintings look over there > on the right on my flicker site)

SOLD ^

SOLD^

Come visit us and get your Big Table Farm Wines!!

2011-11-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

Join us November 25-27, 2011 for the 29th annual Wine Country Thanksgiving event.

11am - 5pm If you are in the area the Thanksgiving weekend, come out and visit Big Table Farm!

We are excited to introduce you to our newly released wines. Clare will be showing new paintings as well. Please use our web site for directions to the farm.

Seems like this fall everything has happened just in its right time, from the weather during harvest to fermentations and finding mushrooms.

In keeping with that the Riesling and resonance have come together just in time for the big Thanksgiving Wine Weekend . We held these two wines back from our fall release as they were just not quite ready. They have come together beautifully and are ready to enjoy, of course, if you cellar these wines they will mature even more. We are excited to share this year's Resonance; it's quite elegant and the Riesling is beautiful with great acidity like last year. 2010 was a cooler year producing elegant, lower alcohol wines.

The 2010 Pinot Noir Resonance Vineyard was fermented with native yeasts, 75% whole clusters, and aged sur lie in 30% new French oak for 10 months. The aromatics display brambles, cola and red fruit with vanilla and oak. The mid palate is sweet with licorice, spice and brown sugar. This wine has balanced acidity that carries the wine through to a long finish. The label on this wine is a grown up version of last year's new-born calf illustration.

The 2010 Riesling Brooks Estate Vineyard features a drawing of a chanterelle gathered last year from our woods. This wine is barrel-fermented in neutral oak, fermented completely dry, and aged sur lie with batonage for 10 months before bottling without fining or filtration. Aromas of white flowers, hints of caramel, toasted almonds and lemon greet you, and transitions into a mid palate of lemon along with a rich coating mouth feel. The smooth-texture is nicely balanced with a bright acidity and spice. This wine was not cold stabilized which means, if you leave it in the fridge too long, tartrates (a harmless sediment) will form creating 'wine diamonds' -please take note.

Despite some initial fears about the 2011 harvest, the fruit came in perfectly ripe from our beautifully farmed vineyards. The Resonance vineyard has proven itself yet again this year as a stellar site with the fruit coming into the winery at 24.5 brix; not too shabby for a 'lean year'.
This harvest was punctuated by a wonderful harvest meal here at the farm.

It was a small 'thank you' to our amazing cellar crew and volunteers who helped this harvest season go beautifully. The meal featured the bounty of our farm along with porcini mushrooms, fresh picked just an hour before from our woods - look for these porcini on next year's Riesling label.

Finally, right on time just as the last ferments got rolling, Robert Parker's "The Wine Advocate" scores for our '09's came out giving us a nice little boost as we went into the final week of winery work. We are grateful for the scores we received:

Riesling 91pts  
Cattrall Brothers Pinot Noir 93pts 
Resonance Pinot Noir 92pts 
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 92pts

Thanks for all the interest in the 2009's; yes, they are sold out but this is your chance to get the 2010 wines. That way when they hopefully start to get attention you can know yours are tucked safely in your cellar..

you can click here to order wine if you can't make it for the big weekend!

A day off from the winery

2011-11-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

Harvest has gone beautifully this year but full on like every year .. but a great vintage for us for sure - more on wine on another post this post is about meat! more specifically pork ...

I've had this day on the books for a while so I avoided the winery yesterday and left Brian and crew to barrel down pump punch and stomp.

The day started out really nicely it was a beautiful morning on the farm which I got to enjoy always a good start to the day to not have to rush through chores as this is my favorite part of each day.

At a very civilized hour my friends Linda and Kathleen showed up and we processed 45lbs of Big Table Farm pork into 4 kinds of sausage, plus scrapple.. : )

It was very fun and with three capable ladies workin together it really was pretty darn painless so much so that we got to enjoy a leisurely lunch on the grass and took a walk to the back field mid day enjoyed the sunshine and picked up wind fall apples... Thanks Kathleen for the beautiful corn soup! It was a lovely day and I'm so lucky to count these women among my friends!!

the sausage features sage, fennel and apples from the farm and garlic and red pepper flake, fennel, garlic and shallots from Ayres Creek Farm ...

Tip - If stuffing sausage into casings it too much work and equipment you can always get ground pork and flavor it your self and put it into rolls and freeze it... this makes such a nice handy breakfast meat : ) there are so many recipes to choose from and it's pretty fun to flavor your sausage and taste through out the process till you get it right...

another day of grapes!

2011-10-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

We processed 10 tons yesterday and another 10 or so today! whew... I'm tired just typing that : ) -- we've been sooo lucky with amazing people coming out to help see my friends Kathleen's blog for yesterdays photos and here are some photos from today -- Big Thanks to everyone that has come out so far!!!

Laura, Kathleen, Gina, Tera, Alex and Alacia -- and of course the core crew Mila, Lester, and Katie... and thanks to Tom Boyer for the grape hauling!!

The Wertz Vineyard - Coury Clone planted in the 70's - Brian found this diamond in the rough cvinyeard back in 2007 it's our second year getting this fruit and it's a great site he found!! We Get Pinot Noir and our Pinot Gris from this site : )

The Cattrall fruit came in on the famous truck - featured on the '09 Cattrall -- ! Thanks Tom and Bill BTW the 2010 truck is pretty fine too ; )

Thanks to all from Big Table Farm!! here's to 2011!!

Full swing!!!

2011-10-26T22:53:00.000-07:00

Well harvest has started - we brought our first grapes in last week and will be bringing in all the rest by Friday!! Every thing looks amazing we are very excited this year!! we've had amazing help so far !! - thanks to all who have come out!

Other than the grape harvest Mila has helped me bring in and press 15 gallons of apples juice which is now all caned and ready for winter!! Big Thanks to Chris and Amy of Square Peg Farm for the use of there beautiful press!!

Then of course it's not fall with out the pumpkin patch plow!! thank you Duane and his beautiful Shires!!

The cows on there new pasture : )

and the lovely Mila relaxing post carving! Happy fall

The Last two days of freedom before harvest started

2011-10-19T23:28:00.000-07:00

No words necessary to describe this magical trip with my girl friends and my horses ...

This trip was inspired by Mila - Thank you Mila for bringing so much joy to our lives and to our farm !!

MIX the Oreogonain's food magazine printed a beautiful spread!!

2011-10-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you Danielle and MIX Magazine!!

Click to read about an epic dinner here at the farm with some of Portland's best chefs!!!

Thanks gentleman - for making it so amazing!!!!

click here to read the whole story!!

photos by Clare Carver and Taylor Schefstrom

BIG GIANT Thanks go to our friends aka collaborators !!
I love you guys!!!

John G for the pasta, for flying up for the meal and for being YOU!
Chris DiMinno of Clyde Common
Rebecca and David Padberg of Park Kitchen
Jason French of Ned Ludd
Lester and Sara - 'the glutan free cowgirl'
Matt and Angie - Love and Squalor Wine
Kurt and Natalie of Beaux Freres and Lemelson
Johanna and Laura for the flowers!
Chris and Amy of Square Peg Farm

so much happening on the farm so little time to post!

2011-10-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

First off thank you to all that have placed your orders for our fall wines! The 2010 wine release has been very successful and the wines have been very well received - If you haven't gotten yours yet drop us a line and we'll ship them off to you!

The garden has been great this year Brian has lead the charge with beautiful beans, winter greens, potatoes and root vegetables among other things... I grew the broccoli, tomatoes, onions and cabbage and herbs and a few other odds and ends...

The animals are all doing well on the fall pastures which are lush and green and full on a second crop of white clover... we have also integrated our goats in with the cows to create a 'flerd' (flock and heard) that cooperatively graze! : )

Brian smoked Don and man is he tasty ! all the fall pork and chicken is safely tucked in the freezer... which is COMPLETELY full so everything else that comes in needs to be dried or canned from here on out...

Hence lots of canning is happening... about 40 Quarts so far and still more tomatoes and apples to go! We're lucky in some ways the grape harvest is so late gives us a chance to fill the larder.

I picked up only a small portion of the apple harvest - more still to go it's a beautiful crop I'm hoping to can apple juice...

all the wood is all stacked!! which was done with a lot of help from Mila who is a lovely young German woman who is staying with us this fall she has been a HUGE help on the farm not to mention a real pleasure to share our days with...

finally some shots of Mr Levi who is growing up beautifuly !!

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Till the next post happy fall!! cheers ...

Presenting Our first 2010 wines!!!

2011-09-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hello to all from Brian

We hope this finds you well, having enjoyed a fabulous summer and ready to try some of our new wines! As summer winds down and we look forward to harvest we are excited to share the first of our 2010’s with you.  We had a wet spring (even the native Oregonians were complaining) that eventually gave way to gorgeous summer. Our July 2nd event with Outstanding in the Field here at big table farm was surreal. Nephew Zander helped whip the place into shape, the weather could not have been better and the food was exquisite – thanks to Ned Ludd and the OSIF crew! And to all who joined us for that magical evening!  We are eagerly looking forward to participating in the Oregon truffle festival the last weekend of January 2012, if you are available please come join us, it promises to be amazing!  Thanks to all who have made their way out to say hi – we always enjoy the visits! We are eagerly putting all in place in preparation for harvest, keeping our fingers crossed for more nice weather. If you are in the neighborhood please let us know and we will be happy to taste some wine and show you what we are up to. If you are out for the thanksgiving weekend be sure to include us in your itinerary, please stop by and try our new wines!

Farm news –  
Clementine’s pup Levi is no longer a puppy, he is HUGE- 9 months and 90+ pounds, not what we were expecting. He is however a very sweet dog and after the initial excitement of meeting you his manners do get better. We had two bull calves and one heifer calf born this spring, Freddie, Jessie and June (named after our recently dearly departed friend) Thanks to ideas from Kevin Chambers we have figured out an ingenious and simple way to compost the poop from Clare’s horses – consequently our veggie garden is doing remarkably well. We also have discovered dung beetles in the cow poop! Very exciting! I will get Clare to take some poop pics and post them on her blog. For next year’s calves we have borrowed ‘Curley’ an Irish Dexter bull (picture’s on Clare’s blog, he’s impressive!) from fellow/mentor/better grass farmers Sean and Jerre Dodson. We picked up Curley mid August so if he has done his job we should start seeing more calves (hopefully 4!) next spring. Broilers are in the freezer and Don and Roger (pigs) are also on ice and in the process of becoming ham and bacon. They were some of the best looking pigs we have had here (immortalized on the Willamette Valley pinot label!). Clare butchered our half of Don at Portland Culinary Workshop, I am looking forward to some bacon!

Honey! Laura and Clare harvested honey from the first hive that Laura brought out last spring – the hive made it through the winter and thrived this summer – producing honey for us and leaving enough to get the bees through this coming winter. Our kitchen was sticky from top to bottom after they collected, but the results are stupendous, bright, floral and not cloying (must be all the weeds we have growing around here!) Clare continues to work with her team and they are finally proving to be somewhat useful, between the compost and dragging a few things around I’ll let her keep them for another little while.

The wine!  
2010 was the coolest summer in 50 years capped by a wet September, BUT.… October was amazing! Sunny days and cool nights gave us just what we needed to ripen at the last minute. Harvest was crazy- it started and finished in a matter of a few days. The wines have been exciting from the beginning - open and accessible with fruit and amazing spice but still retaining a core of acidity and tannins that will keep them interesting well into the future.
We have continued to source fruit from the same vineyards as last year (Resonance, Johan, Cattrall brothers, Brooks and White hawk) and added a couple more that we think have made fantastic wine – the Pelos Sandberg vineyard in the Eola Amity hills and Wirtz vineyard just north of Forest Grove, both bottled as single vineyards. We have decided to release just three wines that are showing well now (despite their youth) after much tasting and deliberation. The Brooks Riesling and Resonance vineyard Pinot noir will make their debut just before Thanksgiving.

2010 Pinot gris Wirtz vineyard – unless you have seen the actual Pinot gris fruit you wouldn’t guess that the grapes are a rosy grey (gris) color when ripe. We have decided to utilize this aspect of the grape to make a wine that is a little bit different than most. The grapes were gently fermented on their skins for a brief time to add some color and texture to the wine, and then pressed and finished fermenting to dryness in neutral french oak barrels to soften and round out the wine. The results are a very complex wine that has characteristics of both a white and the striking tannins of a red. Orange peel, watermelon, wet asphalt greet you, the rich pallet of red fruit and spice is framed by firm tannins and balanced acidity. This wine, as well as the rest of our ten’s, is definitely a food wine. Bone dry, malolactic complete and bottled unfined and unfiltered. 125 cases, 28 dollars Label: Orchard and Fescue grass of big table farm

2010 Willamette Valley Pinot noir – a slightly larger production than last year and more contributing vineyards have made this wine very approachable now – it has great fruit and spice that carries into a rich mid-palate, more spice, fruit and cola linger and keep me coming back for more. It is a very complete wine. Bottled to 203 cases, same price as last year. 38 dollars Label: Don and Roger of big table farm

2010 Pelos Sandberg vineyard Pinot noir – I joke that Don Sandberg knows each one of his vines by name. Don spends more time in his vineyard than any one else I know, he works with the crews and looks over their shoulders and shows them exactly what he wants. Don epitomizes the saying that the best fertilizer is the farmer’s footsteps, and so when he offered us the opportunity to purchase several acres of his fruit we unhesitatingly said yes! The resulting wine (and label) is a testament to his diligence; ripe red fruits, expansive, lush pallet and a lingering finish of perfect tannins and fruit. Simply delicious. Bottled to 146 cases, 45 dollars -- Label: Don’s hoe

2008 White hawk vineyard Syrah – since this wine was released last spring we have had a few complaints that it is so yummy that the whole bottle was single handedly consumed and we have consequently been blamed for some slight hangovers. Well we aren’t going to stop making the best wine we can, so… I’m not sure what to say other than we still have a few cases left if you want to find out what all the whining is about. 48 dollars

We always enjoy meeting new people, introducing our latest wines and showing what we are up to. And of course catching up with old friends is always a pleasure, so if you are out this way, please let us know! Or we will happily send you some wine – call, email, snail mail, whatever works best and is easiest, we look forward to hearing from you! Cheers! Brian and Clare

You are welcome visit the farm to taste by appointment, or just visit our web site. Yes we are even on Facebook. www.bigtablefarm.com

Hi John!! nice job guessing!!! You got pretty dang close on the pig weights!! where you a farmer and you didn't tell us ; ) - we've got a bottle of Willamette valley with your name on it!!!

cheers! Clare

PS - Don really was the bigger pig - the actual weights on the pigs were 288#'s for roger and 306#'s for don -- John Lewis is our winner and get's a bottle of Willamette Valley!!! Congrats John thanks for playing...

Back home

2011-09-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has sent there thoughts and prayers this past week. The sadness of my dad's passing last week was sweetened by the amazing family time that came as a result - I haven't felt this close to my siblings and mom in years. Brian took care of the farm while I was gone with the help of Milena a young woman from Germany who is staying with us for a bit.

On a farm note I did slaughter the pigs last week before I left and will be announcing the results to the "who's the bigger pig contest" tomorrow!! : ) Check out my good friend Kathleen's blog story 'roger and me' she documented her journey through buying a pig from me getting to know it and butchering it herself - pretty cool she also involved me in the butchering part so I got to butcher my own as well. It was a great process that I will now be able to offer to next years pork buyers - more on that in the next pig blog post!

So it's back into farm life for me the pace of the farm, animals and daily chores brings my heart so much peace.

Our story beautifully told!!!

2011-08-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to Jeremy, Elaine, Joe and Jamin and Outstanding in the field - we are deeply grateful for your part in our story!

BEES = HONEY!!!

2011-08-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

Today the lovely Laura came out and we collected the honey from the top box of our first hive!! it was so exciting!! - I got to help out holding the knife, brushing off bees, handing her stuff and finally getting to wear the bee netting my sister gave me.. : ) --- I took LOTS of photos for you all and thought I'd give you a step by step of the whole process...

Laura gave me a very specific supply list and I got all the stuff together we needed.

She arrived with bee suit and smoker and all the knowledge!

First step was to visit a bit then we headed out and Laura suited up and lit the smoker...

We headed for the hives... she smoked the bees just a little bit as they seemed pretty calm...
first she took off the top roof part and then the 'insulating' box that is full of straw ..then she preyed open the hives and took off the box we were gathering...

then there was some clean up of the comb on the hive we left so she could put the hive back together.

then Laura started the process of pulling out each bar and comb and scraping off the comb into the pail all while trying to not crush or piss off bees in the process I helped by brushing off bees and opening and closing the lid to keep the bees out of the comb we collected.

After we were all done we put the empty box where the bees could go back over the next 24 hours and collect any left over honey and take it back to the hive... then after that Laura re-assembled the hive and the bees seemed to settle right back down...

The next step was to take the comb back to the kitchen where we crushed it up with a potato masher and then started the straining with this clever home made honey strainer system using tape screen and two mason jars with lids : )

we also saved a bit of the comb with honey still in it ...

total is a little over a gallon of honey!! pretty exciting!! BIG HUGE THANKS to Laura!!

who's the bigger pig

2011-08-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I like to do a little Blog contest just for fun to draw out all the lurkers.. : )

This time the winner get's a bottle of the about to be released 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot as it features Don and Roger our current pigs.

Brian named these pigs after Don Draper and Roger Sterling .. so the question is who is the bigger pig... Don or Roger...

courtesy of AMC - Mad Men

My opinion of the TV version is that while Don Does seem to get more women in the sack Roger seems to be a bit more misogynistic about it.. all that being said your guess is to tell me the live weights of these pigs pictured below.. I slaughter on September 6th and will measure them for final weight then... hint I slaughter usually between 275# - to 300# but these boys are both bigger pigs than anticipated...

so type your weight guess in the comments section below one for don and one for roger... I'll announce the winner after the slaughter. Happy guessing...

yesterday evenings painting

2011-08-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

This one is a little bigger at 11 x 14" ... I will never tire of this lower field - which is good since I live here : )

sneak peek

2011-08-22T22:37:00.001-07:00

We are gearing up to bottle in a few short weeks I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at the new line up of label art I've been working on that you will be seeing on the 2010 wines. The wines are just gorgeous we are very excited to get them out to everyone!!! Also as you can see there are a lot more new vineyards in 2010 that you haven't seen before! ... We'll be doing the release in September (and some in April) and you'll get the full scoop then! ...

reducing my dependence on foreign oils ...

2011-08-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

yesterday was 'gamblin day'... nope not on the 'rez' ; ) -- gamblin is a local portland company that makes beautiful hi quality oil paints a world that I still have a lot to learn about.. but I'm expanding my knowledge and going local thanks to my new friendship with robert gamblin and his crew - many of whom are painters as well as paint and color masters!! ... we had a paint out yesterday at the farm .. and it was dreamy!! Here's the photo version of the day! (thanks to Pete for many of the photos)

8" x 11"

8" x 11"

6" x 7.5"

6" x 9"

ps - all these recent paintings are for sale send me an e-mail if you are interested.

Robert gave me this beautiful painting he did at the farm I was honored.

and to top it all off I finished up the day by doing some harrowing with the boys! what a day...

a painting from this morning

2011-08-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

8" x 11"

The light is changing as summer marches on. Happily I carved out a bit of time early this morning to paint... We've been having more incredible summer weather and we are taking full advantage of it!!

more bull

2011-08-15T22:41:00.000-07:00

Curly is clearly accepted into the herd.. let's just say the girls dig him! ; ) and poor Jessie just can stomach this nonsense...

the new bull!!

2011-08-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

The pigs are growing and we have a new bull - His Name is Curley and despite is stature he's quite sweet!!!

this is a very nice post about the current pigs on my friend kathleen's blog!

Thanks Duane for loaning us yer truck!!

Nothing says summer like ice cream... and friends

2011-08-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Post IPNC we had the pleasure of our Atlanta friends Kristie and Charles... those southern folks know how to party... If you haven't made custard based hand cranked ice cream really it's totally worth the effort... had to share the photos from a lovely summer evening with friends..

me enjoying the drink and Levi the drips!!

winemaker dinner with the county fair pig...

2011-08-05T07:17:00.001-07:00

We will be doing a winemaker dinner at the Original in Portland next Tuesday 7pm August 9th -

We will of course be pouring Big Table Farm wines with each course!

The Original invites you to climb the floating stairway up to there mezzanine, where they will prepare a meal revolving around two things - homegrown Pork and Pinot.

The Original visits the Washington County Fair, where they hand-choose and name the pig for Pig and Pinot II.

And this year’s menu features, for starters, deviled ham and spam served with sweet pickles and warm pretzels.

Then you graduate to a second course of kuala-prepared pork, ribs and ham hock succotash with baked pineapple, before moving on to a second second course of sweet ‘n’ sour pork loin, green bean casserole, mac ‘n’ cheese and applesauce, all of which is fried, even the apple sauce in—your guessed it—pork fat.

And what dinner four-course meal would be complete without a slice of bacon-latticed apple pie paired with a scoop of maple bacon ice cream?

The first course of Pig and Pinot II will be served at 7pm, Tuesday, August 9 - $65. Make your reservations by dialing 503.546.2666

so lovley!

2011-07-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

a super nice post by Alexis! :) to go with Jeremy's exquisite photos below

https://outstandinginthefield.com/bus/on-the-road/

more beautiful photos

2011-07-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

I just got these photos of the Outstanding in the field event here at the farm form the very talented jeremy fenske - Thank you Jeremy and Elaine for sharing your art with us!

the chef - mr jason french!! run don't walk to Ned Lud!!

Some photos from the James Beard Dinner

2011-07-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

I just received some beautiful photos from the James beard dinner .. just had to share!! still remembering that meal with a huge smile !!! nice work chris!

also as a extra bonus I have an art show at the james beard house which is still up ! : )

'Life on the Farm in Willamette Valley'

and a write up on the JB blog here! : )

Sunday Morning

2011-07-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

I went to church this morning
I put on my Sunday best and laced up my shoes
I walked down the sloping hill to the entrance
As my feet hit the soft earth the rhythm of my prayer began
My first intentions of love and gratitude went to my community
Fellow farmers, winemakers, chefs, eaters, artists and lovers
As this community surrounded me, the rain started in a chorus of affirmation
The soft road curled in front of me, my steady breath grounded me in the gratitude for my own farm
The cows quiet company, the horses patiently and intensely sharing and giving
the chickens in there daily symphony and gifts, and those raucous pigs.
I turned half way and headed back like mass this was a duration that seemed to match stamina
Heading back to home I think of family of my father in mexico fighting cancer
I think of my community of siblings all of us holding him close.
All I have pours out back up the driveway like the last hymn at the recessional when you dig deep and belt out the final chorus
The finish is here on my porch where I can sit and enjoy this Sunday morning with deep peace and gratitude watching the soft rain

work and reward

2011-07-07T08:59:00.001-07:00

Right on the heels of the big event we have 17 tons give or take a few bales of hay to bring in (7 from our field and 10 from the neighbors). This means driving around a field strewn with bales picking them up loading them into the truck driving to the barn stacking them and then going back and doing it again and again and again : ). The bales are not too heavy about 65lbs each so that's about 30 odd bales to the ton. We did the work over the course of a few days and had help from our neighbor Joe and two friends Johnathan and Andrea - Thanks guys - as usual our community came out of the woodwork to help keep the farm going.

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It's a great feeling to have the winter hay in the barn.

As a bit of a reward -- yesterday evening I went out to enjoy the beautiful evening light and look at the garden and visit with my man a bit who was also enjoying his evening in the garden ... we chatted walked around and actually slowed down and enjoyed the farm... Then we then had an impromptu diner on the new fire pit built by the OSITF crew ... We enjoyed one of our chickens and some much needed gin and tonics!! it really was perfect celebration of all the work of the last few weeks and a bit of re-kindling of our friendship, partnership and love ... as my friend maia says ..enjoying the life we are working so hard to build... : ) cheers to the moments we can just sit and relish in summer.

brian's beans popping up : )

the first photos from 'the event of the year!'

2011-07-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

We and our farmer friends grew it and fermented it - the amazing Outstanding in the field folks organized and built it ned lud prepped chopped and served it up!! What a meal!! What a community!

I'm not sure where to begin so I'll just start with some of the first photos to come in ---

Thanks to my brother Joseph, Peter and Mike McCune for the nice shots!!

setting up the table

how many mac's do you count - the OSITF staff has a lot to coordinate when on the road!

The amazing Ned Lud Crew!!

Everyone is ready!!

The guests arrive from as far as Florida and DC in all kinds of vehicles!

'Chef' nice job Jason!!

the farm tour was a lot of fun to share!

the dinner was epic and the guests really got into the post meal farm work!!

the bus leaving the next day I look forward to some day seeing in my driveway again!

tackling cows

2011-06-30T08:04:00.001-07:00

So most people have a cattle shoot and a proper set up for 'working cows' that means the cow hand is not actually handling the cow - well not here at big table farm we call Duane and he brings over some stiff drinks and a rope we all head out to the pasture...

We herded the cows into a corner Duane roped each one and then he and Brian body tackled the calf down then I jumped in there with a syringe clenched in my teeth for tetanus shot and clamp in my hands for the gonads (poor boys!) -- then Laura gave them a squirt of mineral in the mouth and we're done.. what a team!! it was kind of fun actually .... now if we had more than a few cows to do - which will happen next year I think we may need a proper set up but for now...this was the old school down home way of castration ... sadly no pictures my hands were full!!

lots of busyness on the farm!

2011-06-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

Our meat birds will be freezer ready by the end of this week and the new ones arrived a few days ago! new peepers are always fun....

My nephew Zander has been at the farm working for a few weeks now and has done more than his share of weedwacking... we're eagerly anticipating the Outstanding in the Field meal this Saturday.. I'm pretty sure ticket sales are closed ... It's going to be a very special meal you know I'll be posting lots of photos!!

A neighbor farmer is cutting our hay this year we cut this past weekend hoping to hay monday but sadly got some rain so now we may be bucking just before the event... we'll see that's farming for you... maybe we should make that part of the farm tour - go out and pick up a bale! now that's an authentic experience! : )

And last but not least I FINALLY got over to duane's for a long over due visit with him and got to the drive team he's got over there right now for some training... they are belgin halfinger crosses and I must say it felt like cheating on my boys!

This is Kate and she's hummer in a larger and female form ... I'm in LOVE!!!

To those coming this weekend we can't wait to see you ... happy summer!!

NYC was AMAZING!!!

2011-06-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

I got in on a red eye to JFK a little bleary eyed early in the am Wednesday - but I was feeling no pain as I was VERY excited to be in New York and about pile into a car with four adorable chefs (poor me) and head straight to the Stone Barns Center up in the beautiful Hudson Valley. I had a meeting with a pig and some cows and the Clyde Men in turn needed to get into the kitchen and get choppin' for the big meal the following night at James Beard ... (I KNOW that's a hell of a lot of name dropping in my very first run on sentence but you all should know me by now) ....

decidedly not the city this is Stone Barns in the Hudson Valley

The weather was perfect. I peeked in the kitchen said my hellos and politely RAN outside to tromped all over the farm!! Then I found me some farmer men and followed them around till they invited me (ok ok I volunteered/invited myself) to hop in the pick up truck and go to a near by property and help them set up some cattle panels and move some cows I was in HEAVEN!!!! : ) the property was out of a story book -

The boys in the SB kitchen!

PDX hits the Stone Barns Kitchen!!

Doing come 'poo' research for Big Table's Gardens!! : )

So after a few hours I had to tear my self out of the cow pasture (literally!) and beet feet to the train at to make my first appointment and a whirl wind tour with our new distributor in NY ... ( who is ROCK star BTW) we hit some big names that I can't say yet. He asked me to wait till all the wine got dolled out till I made public the VERY fun list of placements in NYC (lots of Michelin stars on this list people : ) The day of tasting ended with me making a call to brian asking if we could double our allocation to NY as we needed more wine and I'd seen less than 1/2 the folks our distributor wanted us to see... NICE problem to have!!

Then that first night we had a FABULOUS meal at Public (and just as s teaser yes they will have our wines in about a week ; ) loved the 'som' and his adorable bow tie.... anyway I digress... day two another whirl wind tour of more fabulous top NY restaurants...

first course of the Chef's tasting menu at Public!! yummy with Torbrek woodcutter white thanks Benj!

heading uptown baby! : )

Oceana - amazing wine list loved the som he's a martial arts master too -- me+swoon

After day two a full and fun day pouring Big Table Wines and glowing and grateful with the enthusiasm folks had for them I zipped back to the ACE hotel. (also super hip BTW)- put on my saucy green dress and off to the James Beard House -- Chris DiMinno did an amazing job with a knockout menu and perfect pairings with our wines!! the evening was epic!!!

just a tease -- Barrel Aged Negroni, Northern Pacific hay-cured Salmon, Rye Panzanella, Big Table Farm 2009 Cattrall Brothers Vineyard Pinot Noir, “Stew” of wild mushrooms and Big Table Farm egg yolk, Seared Foie Gras in ash, smoked apple, crispy tesa, Roasted Venison, wild Oregon Berries, Pine, Fifth Course: Big table Farm 2007 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah, Olympic Provisions chocolate charcuterie, Salt and pepper shortbread, Oregon nuts, Oregon artisan cheese....

then a 'little' after party at the Beagle ok I rolled into bed quite late (thanks to Lisa for hosting me at her fab pied-à-terre in the village on night two!! -- Then a lovley brunch and now on the plane home... pinch me!!!

the view from my room sooo NY!

not the farm that's for sure!!

perfect eveing light tonight

2011-06-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening - I just had to share! happy summer everyone ....

The final calf of spring !! and She's perfect

2011-06-08T21:58:00.000-07:00

Josephine had her calf today and it's a little heifer and she is perfect, healthy and beautiful - we are thrilled to have a heifer and most especially by our favorite cow both for her confirmation and her fabulous disposition. Still working on her name it's gonna have to be a good one!! It's a good day!

Also my nephew Zander is out working with us on the farm for a bit. He's a great guy! : ) and the garden is finally gonna get in .. today was the spreading the last of the compost! yippie!!

Jesse, Haley's bull calf born just before memorial day, is doing great! more photos of him coming too!!

Big Thanks and some new wine reviews!!!

2011-05-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

Wow!! Memorial day weekend was awesome - so many fabulous wine lovers came to the farm and took home wine we had our best weekend ever both from number of folks visiting and sales! Thanks so much to all!!!

Special thanks go to our friends that helped get ready and keep things humming all weekend!- Amber, Laura and Sarah you guys are the BEST!!!!

---------------------------------

Also we got some rockin' reviews and scores form Gary Vaynerchuk !! thanks Gary!!

2009 Big Table Farm - Willamette Valley - Pinot Noir - 90 Points

Gary's tasting notes

Top soil, dirt... we're talking straight up earth aromas are what hit you right on the nose. I mean, really heavy, heavy soil components. A little musty mushroom, and a touch of a potato popping out of the ground on the nose. On the palate, this wine really shows its pedigree. Fresh and vibrant, weaving subtle cranberry and black raspberry fruit with an intriguing creamy mushroom soup flavor. The structure and finish is long, strong and persistent. Look for this wine to last another 10 years but drink happily now while pairing with Terrine Au Foie Gras.

2008 Big Table Farm - White Hawk Vineyard - Syrah - 90 Points

Gary's tasting notes

Smokey burnt cedar and cigar box aromas are met by ripe raspberry and chocolate covered strawberry on the nose. Elegant red fruit is surrounded by coconut and leather flavors on the palate. While those flavors are interesting, it's the balance of this wine and the overall structure that make it a real treat. Look for this wine to last another 10+ years, and it will pair tremendously with everything from sophisticated pigeon dishes, down to simple BBQ ribs. Many of Cali's Syrah producers should take a good, hard look at this wine because they're making Syrah slightly more interesting again... dare I say, even a hint of Northern Rhone character despite its sweet, new world fruit.

-------------------

In farm news the new baby calf is doing GREAT we named him jessie -

Come on out Memorial Day Weekend!!

2011-05-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

Come on out to the farm this weekend for our spring release! - Just like last year we will be introducing our newly released wines - get 'em while they are still here!!

We'll be open 11am - 5pm Sat, Sun and Mon
(please refer to our web site for detailed directions - you'll need 'em)

time away from the farm...

2011-05-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

May turned out to be an unexpectedly busy month for me - I went to Ca to be with my friend June who at 88 passed away - June is a very special woman in my life - she was my adopted grandmother ... she was a strong, and straightforward woman who spoke her mind and often forgot the filter... she was a tough business woman and had a big soft heart I loved her and was honored to be at her side on her last days and moments on this planet.
I raise my martini to you June !

June at the top of the hill at Big Table Farm

Big Thanks to Julia for helping me at the plowing and for being so supportive and dealing with horses when we were done so I could get on the road to be with June... also thanks to Sarah and Laura for coming out and visiting the boys while I was in ca - what an amazing group of women in my life!!

In the mean time back at the farm spring was exploding all over the place!

nothing but a big old pile of sh__t

2011-05-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

we went out yesterday to check the bees and to our delight looks like they might call that hive home!! - that's a lot of polination for our garden and farm as well as a lot of honey!!! yippie - big giant thank you to laura!!!

then we wandered over to see how our manure pile is cooking along... we turned it over with some layers of some organic straw a month or so ago. When we did this we also put in some 'chimneys' brian made out of drain pipe with lots of holes to create air flow in the pile. This is to speed up the aerobic activity.. and it's working great - nice job brian on the great idea!! I'm very excited to put this on the garden!!

so all inspired we went to work on turning the second pile and adding pipes to that too!!! that's some good shit!

The dogs and horses were a generally useless part of this project but they sure did enjoy the sunshine as did we!

things are buzzing around here

2011-05-02T20:32:00.001-07:00

The weather was beautiful this weekend we got the cows moved up to the very top of the hill for one more week of grazing then they will come down to eat around the house and hopefully have there babies!! (except for mr freddie who came early)

We also moved the laying hens to there next spot ... I thought you might want to see a little play by play of moving the bus!

1- lock up the birds the night before after one too many glasses of wine it's always a draw to see who get's that job

2 - hook the bus up to the tractor and move to new spot

3 - level bus with handy adjustable legs
4 - put up fence (always a discussion here about exactly where the fence goes)

5- give them back there ramp to get in and out

6 - the BEST part is opening the door and watching them run out 'en masse' they are so excited to be in a new spot

gotta love that sight!

In the mean time the meat birds are growing fast and LOVING the sunshine too...

hubs is happy about that!

I also took advantage of the super nice weather to try out my 'new' plow which I just got from a great guy who is my draft horse club .. it's a beautiful old John Deere plow that he restored and then duane fitted with some more bits for me. So Sunday was it's first trial run I worked up the spot the pigs were in last year that still hadn't recovered so it was a perfect application - I'm gonna plant something fun here not sure what yet some kind of feed / root crop for pigs I think just to bring it full circle... plowing on big table land with my own team ... man a pretty great day that was!!

before plowing

after plowing - next harrow and seed !!

the boys just before we started

the boys after plowing - they got some grass as a treat!

my new plow!!

And last but NOT at all least our original bee hive divided and swarmed and landed only about 10 or so feet away from that original hive.... I called Laura (abotu 5 times) and she instructed me to place the new box close and see if they go in on there own... let's just say they didn't' get the memo - so she graciously offered to come on out and catch the swarm and put them in the box .. they are in there tonight .. there not coming and going yet so the jury is still out but I'm hoping they decide it's a good home!

1 - the swarm

2 - clare trying to make the box easy to see!

3 - brave Laura getting the first 'group' into the bucket to then be 'dumped' into the hive

4 - she is making this look easier than it is...

5 - a few stragglers

getting some 'encouragement'

a close up of last years hive still thriving!!

Laura and Davey before the swarm catching - thanks guys!!

(farm note to self first blooms right around april 20th plum then pear the 23rd - the latest year yet)

two new employees of Big Table Farm

2011-04-24T09:00:00.001-07:00

remember that post about our fabulous friends the Abneys in Atlanta.. well I'd like to introduce you to Big Table Farm's first full time sales staff in the south!! ... Ellie and Daisy

they'll be working for straight kibble commission on sales, with long term affection insurance and snack benefits. There will be no employment contract as there loyalty in with out question.

bees and butter

2011-04-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

my beautiful new hive to ad to the garden (design and build by the lovely laura)!! put your order in now for next year!!)-- now to see if the other hive splits and makes two!! so exciting!!!

last years hive (another one build by laura) is BUZZING : ) if all goes according to plan which is really my LAST expectation as that never happens on a farm the old hive which is thriving will swarm this spring and 1/2 the hive will stay home and grow and the the other half will look for and find this new home laura built!... we put it were I have seen swarms the last two years as they really try to build hives in my house : ) voila two hives from one : ) ...I'll keep you posted...

Had to show you the color of the butter I made from my raw milk farmers grass fed cows -- who's milk and cream I LOVE!!! ... : )

just for fun

2011-04-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

a video clip of the plowing!

video of a false start : )

and one of me blathering

it's feeling like spring

2011-04-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

we are starting to see some very sunny days and the other day I went out side at lunch time and every one soaking in spring...

eggs are in PLENTY!!

the broilers are chirping away - come July there gonna be YUMMY!!

all the pasture is looking the best it's ever looked - so exciting to see it getting better each year!

I'm still waiting for the fruit trees any minute now they will be exploding...

the bees are flying and collecting pollen as fast as they can...

and mr. big paws is growing up fast and bigger than his mom already...

happy spring!!

Blissed out

2011-04-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty blissed out this morning -- the boys and I and my big old family of friends and fellow horse farmers were all out yesterday in McMinnville together it was such a great day... The event it's self was very successful we had about 1500 visitors come and watch the plowing competition and enjoy this day of celebrating old time farming! Big Thanks to the McMinnville News register article and the video and article by Torsten Kjellstrand, The Oregonian they both really helped promote the event!!

In gratitude and memory -

So there was a moment during the event when I was just standing there letting the horses rest and I looked around me. Friends standing in witness grinning and sharing... and standing next to me was Laura, Julia and Sarah -- these women have all been part of this journey each in her own way. I looked down the long row of horse farmers who I now know and call friends with their teams all at different stages of plowing there plots ... it was a stunning site all those gorgeous animals working - time literally did stand still. In the distance at the other end of the field was Duane my mentor and adopted family - he was working his team expertly down the row I was so grateful and proud of all the work and growth that he has walked with me through.This is 3 years ago at this same place - to my right was Lisa Hube a horse farmer who is now a friend she is a woman I would like to emulate in so many ways - she was helping one of her 'students' plow and was there if I needed her... but for reasons I won't take any credit for... all she did all day was look over at me ans smile broadly! My day was also punctuated by several old timers, who were not plowing, coming over to give me pearls of wisdom... subtleties of finishing your rows, turning your plow and fine adjustments all helping me to take this to the next level of art - It was a truly special day - yesterday as I worked with my horses we were a team there was one mind working between the three of us.... so many times that day I caught a gimps of what can be - not one of us broke a sweat and all three of us finished the day happy. So after a long journey of heart break, hard work, ER visits, casts, and literally being dragged through the mud I felt like it was all completely worth it and I felt so honored to be knitted into this community -- I truly felt like I was not me alone accomplishing a 'thing' It was all of us together weaving a living story.

This coming weekend!

2011-04-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

(Duane and his beautiful team - photo thanks to jess)

This Saturday come see some horse plowing in McMinnville!

Saturday, April 9, at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center - from 10:30am – 3:00 pm, with a parade of teams at 2:00 pm. Cost is $3 per person, free for kids 12 and under. 11275 SW Durham Ln., (corner of Hwy 18 and Durham Ln.), just west of McMinnville. www.yamhillcountyhistory.org Bring the family and come on out!

(thanks for the photo jess)

So Saturday I took my boys over to duane's house to get ready for this coming weekend and try out my new plow - and let's just say I felt far less than ready for lots of reasons that would take way to long to explain here ... but we'll just have a go at it and just have fun -- so this coming Saturday I'll be at the Yamhill County History Museum with about 18 other teams in a plowing competition. In addition to watching the draft horses work the ground, there will be sawmill, blacksmith and horseshoeing demonstrations, pioneer kids’ activities, music, food and lots of old tractors on display... should be a very fun day

in the mean time around the farm it sure is looking like spring.. the grass is going bananas! Freddie is doing well and the daffodils are out in full force - which is so very nice...

Last but not least my washer stopped working last week right after we got home (when of course I had lots of laundry to do) and my handy husband took a look at it for me and found the culprit all these things where lodged int he drain... uhhh mummm -- well ... I guess I need to be better about emptying pockets before i chuck things in..

thankfully it's back up and running... so most items where easily identified but there was one that was a bit of a mystery I'm pretty sure I figured out what it is and I even think I know who owns it ...

but I'd like to make a bit of a game out of it with the winner getting a bottle of Big Table Farm wine - so your job is to identify the object below in the comments ...
(hint --you can see the scale of it above it's in the upper top left side of the plate)

look over there >>>

2011-04-01T09:35:00.001-07:00

see there on the right and down a bit -- in that little flicker slide show I FINALLY updated the current paintigns I have available in my studio - and took down the ones that are sold ... wow almost on top of things -- cheers and thanks for looking...

Spring Release Letter just went out!!

2011-03-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

If you didn't get Brian's release letter I don't have your e-mail just drop me a note clare at bigtablefarm in the mean time we have just released two new wines - Thanks for all the support and enthusiasm... Cheers - Clare

The Wines!

2009 Willamette Valley Pinot noir. Like a shy child this wine is peeking its head around the corner and is ready to be introduced. The fruit is mostly from the Johan Vineyard about 20 minutes south of McMinnville. It was the last pinot we picked at the end of October - it is a cool site and was relatively unaffected by the warm spell in September. Yields were carefully managed by friend Dan Rinke to just 1.4 tons to the acre. The wine was fermented with native yeast, about 75 percent whole cluster, aged in french oak for ten months with one new barrel, and two used. The whole cluster aspect of the wine is prominent in the spicy aromatics of wet brush and smoky mole, with cherry fruit underneath. The palate is balanced between a core of umami and dark fruit and tannins that cleanse and compliment food in a hand in glove sort of way. Pumpkin the pig graces the label. Unfortunately we just have 92 cases of this wine. 38 dollars, let us know if we can send you some!

2008 Syrah – White Hawk Vineyard - 2008 was a warmer year with lower yields in California, creating an opulent wine that is drinking well now! Clare and I opened a bottle the other night to make notes and before we knew it the wine was gone and we hadn't even eaten yet (or made any notes) - slightly dangerous. All natural ferments with 50% whole cluster, 40% New French oak and after an elevage of 14 months, it was ready to bottle. The label has returned to a calamitous set of knives, forks and spoons. I hope you find this wine as delightful as we do. 168 cases produced, 48 dollars.

home from Atlanta

2011-03-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

Brian and I went to Atlanta for a wine auction last week - it was to benefit the High art museum in Atlanta and it's one of the top wine auctions in the country and now I know why! (btw way my photos of the trip didn't happen due to camera failure so you'll just have to imagine most of it)

We were hosted by our friends in Atlanta the Abney's who as I kept saying treated us like rock stars from the minute we touched down... it's kind of a blur at this point but we arrived Wednesday evening to a driver that picked us up form the airport and brought us to our host's home a beautiful house in a very old neighborhood in mid town Atlanta. Let's just say we hit the ground running as that night they hosted a small 'informal' dinner party for close friends to meet their guests - brick oven pizzas and lamb! it was gorgeous and there place happens to be on the cover of this months food and wine!- pretty snazzy!

this is Kristie making pizzas there on the spot for her guests she's a superstar! (my photos are pretty bad I'm sorry!)

Charles Abney - just a doll! love the crushed up beer can next to the fancy decanter : )

This is not the Abney's home but this is another one form the 'hood' it was so beautiful and the weather was full on spring time! Some happy guests

Day two was an industry tasting during the day and a winemaker dinner that evening with one of Atlanta's top chefs (Anne Quatrano) again hosted by the Abney's! crazy and beautiful and soo yummy ...

The tables before the wine maker dinner - the after shot was blurry : )

Friday it just kept going and I'm not going to boar you with every last detail but sufficed to say we ate and drank a lot and just had an amazing time. Thanks to our new distributors in Atlanta got introduced to some of the best restaurants in town that all picked up our wine which really was amazing again I'm grateful.

for those of you that live in Atlanta you can find our wines at ~ Bacchanalia, Miller Union, Cakes & Ale, Rathburn Steak and Five & Ten

Saturday afternoon was the actual wine auction which was attended by some pretty darn serious wine and art lovers. It was an amazing party we donated and were lucky enough to be in the live auction with our lot of 12 mags and painting and brunch at the farm for 6 people.. and to my utter awe was auctioned off for $10,000 yup not a typo... it was kind of nuts and totally flattering... crazy - so then yet another dinner for our last night... Sunday a sleep in and gorgeous brunch again thanks to our hosts and they took us to the airport Sunday afternoon ...wowzers... it was quite a whirl wind and other worldly --

the tasting before the auction

Miller - Union great meal there sat night!

but now I'm back on the farm and fully grounded again as I'm back in the spring rain, doing chores and picking up all those spring eggs and working on our web site updates for the spring release letter - ahh reality...

special thanks also goes out to our friends Julia and Michael who watched the farm for 5 days while we were off partying in Atlanta.

Well I'm back to being just me in my drafty farm house and dirty chores - but man it was fun to live a super glamorous life for 5 days!

Mark you calander!! July 2nd 2011

2011-03-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Coming this summer!! ...

Outstanding in the field will be at Big Table Farm!!

The super fabulous chef and good friend Jason French of Nud Lud will be cooking the meal - we will be featuring our wine, products from our farm as well a few of our other farmer friends including our very good friends Chris and Amy of Square Peg Farm - This will be a meal to remember and the event of the summer here at the Farm!

Jason has graced our farm several times before cooking meals and he has the lay of the land and I know will really make it special!!

I'm sure the smoker will be enlisted in some way...

Details: Outstanding in the Field dinner at Big Table Farm. Saturday, July 2, 4 pm; $180 per person. Tickets go on sale Mar. 20 on the Outstanding in the Field website.

I wonder which field will sport the big table... humm

a glass of wine and a farm tour - what could be better?!

Big Table Farm is going to the James Beard House!!!

2011-03-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

so the James Beard Foundation is kind of the foodie version of the Oscars - They invite chefs to cook at the James Beard House in New York City and administer the annual James Beard Foundation Awards, which recognize and honor excellence among chefs and others working in the food and beverage industry. So Chris DiMinno the Chef of Clyde Common here in Portland is doing a meal June 16th and has invited us to pair our wines with his meal!! it's a great honor to pour our wines at this very prestigious place and for it's dinner guests along side of Chris' great cooking! so I'll be flying back for the meal - does any body have a couch for me to sleep on in the village - I promise not to take up to much room. And if your in NY book it should be a great meal!!!

just cutness!!

2011-03-07T13:50:00.001-08:00

not about art, horses, wine or the farm

2011-03-05T19:09:00.000-08:00

Just had to share I got my brown belt today in Shaolin Kempo -
been at this a while now and totally love it...

A little early

2011-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

The first of our spring calves was born this morning!!! Thank goodness it's not raining at the moment - althought it looks pretty brooding out there.. he's very cute and VERY early - we bred the cows in August to get late spring babies - but looks like ginger was bred before we got her - so here we are with a calf a couple months early... I noticed her bagged up a few days ago and knew we were close... I'd prefer to have the cows closer in to the house when they are calving so I can keep an eye out but we'll just have to hope he's is tough little guy as they are way up on the hill ...

2011-02-27T12:13:00.000-08:00

I find myself behind once again on blogging ... but this girl said it's ok because I was busy scratching her... ...

Sooo I got home from the food justice conference re-energized by both the conference as well as the visits to my farmer friends - I got to see Lisa of Sweet Well Farm and got to see the farm and evening milking and share a meal at her table... I left with my arms full of her raw milk dairy products and humbled once again by a farmer - her hand made camembert was truly amazing!!! - I also had the honor and delight to visit my friends Tyler and Alecia at Afton field who graciously hosted me over night I got to wake up to a farm breakfast, good company and baby lambs which really can't be beat!

Lisa and one of her teams...

Tyler and Alicia

This is Vandana Shiva it was such an honor to meet her at the Food Justice conference.

I was graciously hosted by the confrence in this very nice hotel room.

It was pretty thrilling to see my painting projected and reproduced all over the conference : )

The art show at the conference was really well done and a terrific group of participating artists.

And last but not least the snow and levi looking very cute and kissing the cows instead of herding them... happy spring.. may it come soon...

La Weekly!

2011-02-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Big Thanks to Jenn Garbee a writer for the LA Weekly this is a link to her article

Big Table Farm: From Pigs to Prosciutto + Really Great Pinot Noir

Nicely written Jenn thank you!!

Under the Wire

2011-02-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

I got the last two paintings done for the art show this weekend!!

Thanks to my brother Joseph for for the inspiring conversation that got me thinking about having Josephine to look right out of this painting... : )

The show is in Eugene at the Food Justice Conference hosted at U of O

breaking the silence

2011-02-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hi !! I'm back - I'm sorry I was gone for a bit but I have a very good reason - I've been in the studio getting ready for an art show this coming weekend down in Eugene at a Food Justice Conference hosted at U of O ... here's a little preview of what I'll be showing...

From The weekend

2011-01-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

Christina took some photos and even a little video (below) this weekend of driving the boys thought I'd share...

a little help from friends!

2011-01-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

So last week was a rough week I got very sick with the flu and felt like my world was crashing in around me between the puppies that have taken over my life and the farm chores that weren't getting done. Like animals needing fresh pasture and things being generally muddy and gray...

I started feeling better Friday afternoon and it was none to soon for brian ...
Then Saturday the sun came out like I haven't seen it in a long while !! it was fabulous !! So friday I was able to get my ponies in a new pasture although it did take about 6x's as long as it should have with still being a bit sick... then sat we got the chickens moved and the first pup (Rudy) went to his new home (a great home at that) so at this point things were definitely getting better!!!

Then sunday some friends show up and help us get the goats to a new pasture with lots of their favorite food blackberry! man are they happy now!! It's so nice to have new fresh enthusiastic help on the farm makes it not seem like such drudgery! so now all the animals are on new fresh pasture and we have one less puppy I'd say a great weekend!

I even got to work the boys with christina who helped my move the goats! Thanks guys! and here's to what looks like will be a dry week!! yippie... now to get the dude and lilli into good homes spread the word if you know of one!!

Tuesday night out with Big Table Fam and Ned Ludd!!

2011-01-18T09:55:00.000-08:00

it's a 'wine salon' in other words an open discourse with winemakers and industry folks ... pairing our Riesling, Both '09 Pinots and our '07 Syrah with Jason French's brilliance in the kitchen! it will be a very nice evening... industry $35 non $55 e-mail jess at nedluddpdx for more info

I seriously can NOT finish a book

2011-01-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

First reason for my inability to finish a book is I don't have any time for reading these days with runnign a farm, winery and graphic design business and secondly I'm the worlds slowest reader - more often than not if I do read it's non fiction (cooking or farming related) and I climb into bed with every intention to read for a bit and 99% of the time Brian peals the book off my face... so when my sister in law sent my a novel about some writer gone farmer although I was touched I have VERY low expectations of ever actually reading said book... so when I was packing to go to LA with Brian I tossed it in my bag just for kicks...I started reading on the plane ride down and read about 1/2 the book!!! and I think I cried or laughed on the plane 5 or so times I pity the person who sat next to me who I can't remember because I was reading! (there was certainly NO time for reading once we got there) but I was actually looking foward to ghe flight home too keep reading... and much to my own shock and brian's too I finihsed that book on the flight home... I was a slobbery mess as I walked off the plane finishing up the last pages in the jetway (which I won't spoil for you) -- so I'll just say I felt more than just a little simpitica with this woman and LOVED this book and highly recommend it ... thanks sally and alex xxx c

thanks to my family

2011-01-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

They farm sat for us !! sooo Brian and I got to get away for the weekend (it's been since around this time last year we were both off the farm together - it was a wine tasting event but it was off the farm and both of us at the same time and in a hotel room and two count 'em two nights out with just the two of us.. it was lovely! and much needed... in the mean time the pups and the farm were in the care of my sister in law brother and there two beautiful kids... I don't think anyone suffered lack of love...

puppy update

2011-01-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

Rudy is now sold. Congrats Rudy I'm excited about your new home. You are welcome to come back and visit. xx

our catahoulas puppies are for sale (sniff sniff)

2011-01-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

The Puppies are finally officially for sale - It was so hard to chose but we have settled on Levi. (please contact me - clare at bigtablefarm dot com - for serious inquires regarding owning one of these very special pups - there pedigree can be seen here)

there are three dogs available - Lilli, Rudy and the Dude (I assume the new owners will re-name)

Lilli - Is the smartest pup in the litter IMO - she's a spit fire - I think she will do well as the queen of her castle.. I think she will make an excelent working dog with her energy adn quick thinking.. she's also very sweet and I think will be a VERY loyal dog. I'd like to see this dog go to someone who has owned working dogs.

This is Rudy - He is hands down the sweetest of the four dogs and the most loving and people oriented - He's the biggest dog of the litter and VERY laid back and beta - He's a comfort seeking lover and will be a wonderful pet.

This is the Dude - He's the dog I almost kept - He's also very people oriented. He's smart and athletic I think he's a dog that will rise to just about any occasion. He's got eyes that look right through you. He's smart but seems like he will be very eager to please and nice to train.

This is Levi who we will be keeping here at Big Table Farm - We think he will be a good working dog.

the Prince

2011-01-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

The 'prince of pinot' is Rusty Gaffney and he writes a very well regarded pinot only newsletter called the PinotFile and he has written some very nice reviews of our wines over the last year and he has just included us in his end of year "All American" list these are his top eleven wines (ten producers) coming out of Oregon in 2010!! Big Thanks again to Rusty!

Once again very grateful to be recognized for our work and most importantly we hope you are enjoying the wines!!! here's to more great wines in 2011...

http://www.princeofpinot.com/article/1001/

Big Table Farm Resonance Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 94 cases, $45 Rich, deep, brooding dark red fruits with a savory underpinning of chanterelle mushrooms, loamy earth and cardamom spice. This wine has impressive intensity on the mid palate, a pillowy texture, and a finish like a three hour movie you don’t want to end. Still a little closed, seemingly possessing more hidden charm waiting to get out. Cellar this wine for at least two years for ultimate gratification. Love the low alcohol (13.1%). A very heavenly and sensual pleasure.

the other wineries in the top 10 line up!! congrats to everyone!!

Antica Terra

Carabella

Lange Estate

Laura Volkman

Lenné Estate

Privé Vineyard le nord

Shea Wine Cellars

St. Innocent White Rose

White Rose Estate

4 years and counting...

2011-01-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011 - This is the official 4 year anniversary of this blog we are now entering the 5th year of blogging - so wait does that make this my 5th year anniversary??

This morning I woke up to a new year, cute puppies (and husband) and the heard of elk in our back field... I headed out for a closer look and also to actually run them off that field as we've spent a lot of time and money on that field and it's to wet for any livestock this time of year domestic or wild... so they needed to move along... They let me get surprisingly close I seriously think they know when you don't have a gun I of course was armed only with my camera.

in honor of the anniversary post thought I'd re-post some observations from those first few months of living here at Big Table Farm (posted jan 1 2007 - title 'you know you live on a farm when...') amazingly most still hold true! I did take the liberty to make some 2011 additions...

On transportation
- you get really excited when you see the bull dozer on the road it means your getting new gravel and less potholes...2011 I've learned to buy the cheapest tires possible as you go through about one set per year on gravel
- when you give directions to your place you give mileage from when you hit the gravel road not streets to turn on...2011 the GARMAN is WRONG dont' trust it on gravel roads or you may end up hopelessly lost in the back woods of Oregon.
-You give serious thought leaving home during a big storm because you may come home to getting out the chain saw before you can get down your road... 2011 and you wonder why you still don't own a 4 wheel drive vehicle
- You realize the two tone paint job from the dirt road on your car is here to stay... 2011 YUP
-You never thought you’d be driving you hybrid with shotgun shells rattling around behind your seat…2011 and you car would permanently smell like a barn
- when you make a trip “to town” you make it count! 2011 and it's a good idea to get off the farm at least once a week and see beings on two feet
- Your husband puts his rusty old jeep in the front yard and you really don’t care - 2011 - the jeep has been upgraded to a second rusty vehicle and you now think it's charming - hell you liked it so much you did a painting of it

On Heat
- The wood stove is king ... 2011 and insulation is the prince.. no wait my husband is the prince for putting it in!
- Splitting wood is fun the first few times … 2011 and a PTO driven wood splitter is an excellent purchase
- You learn the maul is NOT where you go for shoes it’s what you use @ 7am on a Sunday morning when the fire burned down too far for a big log and you need some kindling… shin guards are recommended - 2011 you get all your wood split and stacked and in the wood shed in the SUMMER!

On Power and other modern conveniences
- When there are 5 houses in your canyon and the other 4 have generators take note because the rest of the county gets turned on long before you do. 2011 - the generator is very good insurance
- You learn when you loose power it’s not heat that’s the problem it’s water most well’s require power !! who knew ... 2011 water filters are good when you have a well and wells do need maintenance... and brown water coming out of your tap before you are about to have 10 people over for dinner makes things fun... and I won't even start on the brand new septic system Brian and I put in!
- The mail lady knows your dogs name and nags you about the “accessibility” of your mil box due to the road being washed out... 2011 and she literally hikes through snow to bring Christmas presents.. and the ups guy well just saw him at the bar in town (the one horse tavern) when we stopped in for a beer... yup we know him well...
- Going on-line for internet faster than the phone line consists of driving up the gravel road and parking where I get cell coverage and looking like a spy as I work on my laptop in the car. 2011 satellite my only option for decent internet ain't so bad after all and now we have wi fi in the house.. bonus no passwords necc no one is close enough to poach...
- The wood stove IS also a very valuable cook surface ... 2011 and I will say I've mastered the stock pot
- Hot water bottles are one of man’s greatest inventions... 2011 humm I may go get some water going for one right now...

Other things I’ve noted
- It’s quiet... I mean really quiet! 2011 - not as quiet now as I've acquired lots of animals that like to remind me of there presence every time I walk outside
- I can see sky from every window... 2011 and who's gonna clean these stinkin' windows anyway?
- Our friends still visit which is amazing!-- 2011 - still true... thanks to all for the company love and friendship!

I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous 2011... cheers!

more pupies...

2010-12-30T12:10:00.000-08:00

I took some more 'formal' photos of the pups had to post - I'll post something other than puppies soon I promise...

'Rudy'

'Lilli'

'Levi'

'The Dude'

thanks!

2010-12-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the good advise and moral support - I got it DONE the desk is CLEAN!!!!! I'm now heading off to the mac store to get the new one set up!! yippie!!!

So with out further ado the puppies are back!!!

merry christmas!!

2010-12-26T12:10:00.001-08:00

hanging out with the pups and my hubs on christmas eve

looking for moral support

2010-12-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

ok so I rarely admit weakness.. ie last blog post was all about great wine reviews, puppies and rainbows.... so reality check... like the rest of the world I fail at lots of things... LOTS of them.. a big one for me is my desk!! I'd love to have one of those dreamy graphic designer desks that you see in catalogs with things all neat tidy and put away making you think the girl that works at that desk is totally on top of her shit and goes for a 5 mile run every morning... sighhh... but we'll case and point that is NOT my desk OR my life.....

I have a goal that I'm looking for accountability and moral support on... the time line is by the end of the year the goal is to clear my desk!! sounds easy right well you havent' seen my desk.... just for reference here's a very UNGLAMOROUS shot !!

yup no photo retouching that's it in all her glory.... (btw for those of you who might not know this I design wine lables hence all the bottles on my desk I do like my wine but I'm not a total lush : )

part b of the story.... you see I bought a brand spankin new shiny mac with all the fancy software months (yes that's multiple) ago... and I'm still using my crappy almost dead pc in fact the mac is still in the box!!!... well my goal was clear my desk and then get my new computer hooked up... I won't let my self hook up the new machine till the desk is cleared and then I can start the new year FRESH!!! so .. why you ask am I so lame! what's sooo involved in clearing the desk... well mostly sort mail, pay a bunch of bills and write a bunch of invoices and generally catch up with a bunch of current projects that each individually don't need too much time but in totally amount to a mountain of time.. and what am I doing instead ... blogging... ok enough procrastination... I will post my next post with a clear desk and conscience!! THAT'S IT!! wish me luck here's goes nothing... I'll be back in a few days!!!

puppies, ponies, pigs and prince of pinot in that order

2010-12-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

Went caroling around our small town saturday wit duane and the girls good times!

We slaughtered our fall pigs and de-haired meme which is always a process... but the procuitto is worth it!

This was a rainbow the morning of slaughter...

The Prince of Pinot gave us some very nice reviews in his latest issue abotu which we are quite pleased!!

Here's a link to the full article and write up on the 'prince of pinot's' web site

2009 Big Table Farm Cattrall Brothers Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc, 100 cases, $45. Label features a grape delivery truck owned by the Cattrall Brothers, a 1947 Ford. From the oldest certified organic vineyard in Oregon, planted in the 1970s. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of cherries, strawberries, red roses and sandalwood. Delicate but tasty core of red fruits with strawberry flavor at the forefront and toasty oak and baking spices adding interest in the background. A charming wine with admirable balance that is drinking nicely now. Very Good.

2009 Big Table Farm Resonance Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., 190 cases, $48. Label sports picture of Haley the cow with first calf born at Big Table Farm spring 2010. Pommard, Wädenswil and Dijon 777 clones. Fermented with natural yeast, some pigeage, and aged sur lie in French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately deep garnet hue in the glass. Boisterous and alluring aromas of dark, rich Pinot fruits that just won’t quit. Delicious attack of dark berry jam with ever changing additional layers of flavor that include anise, lavender and Asian spice. This is a wine of discovery, revealing more interest with each sip. The tannins are reigned in making for approachability now and the succulent fruit is hard to resist, but this wine will get better with cellaring. Fabulous goût de terroir.

VERY happy me

2010-12-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

Saturday was my birthday- I write this not to solicit Happy Birthday wishes but to share and thank my very sweet friends for the fabulous day... the day was PERFECT!! it started with chores and a leisurely morning then friends started arriving mid morning and the bloody Marys started flowing.. then there was a hike up to the woods while me and a few girl friends played with horses... then we went in side where there was egg nog made my the lovley laura with BTF eggs and fablouse raw milk from charlotte! ... dinner was chicken and pork from Big Table and veggies from square peg farm... and all prepped by many hands but masterminded and chefed (if that's a word) by Mr Padberg of Park Kitchen ... It was an amazing meal and a very special evening of treasured friends, great food and puppies!...

we were not short of drink...

a thank you also goes out to Duane and Diane who collaborated on this super thoughtful gift -- if you look closely between my two horses there's a leather harness keeper that is festooned with our logo made from some vintage flatware Diane found which I'm sure took some doing as it had to be child size to fit the heart ... thank you two... totally wonderful!

Here's a close up : )

till next year ...

Other people's blogs : )

2010-12-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

This past Thanksgiving weekend was so much fun we had such amazing, fun, interesting people come out... It was GREAT - I guess when you live this far down the gravel road it weeds out folks that don't have a little "Chutzpah" and a good sence of adventure especially when they see my hand made wooden sign and and pull into the drive way of a farm looking for wine...

Here are some fun posts from other folks' blogs that wrote about the weekend ... It was fun to read an account other than mine I hope you enjoy it too.. it's also fun to see other peoples photos they are also always different from my perspective....

Panther Creek Cottage Blog

Running Towards Eden Blog

Chasing The Tarahumara Blog

this blog post is not specifically about t-day weekend but is a WONDERFUL story about Big Table Farm written by one of my favorite foodie blog writers Kathleen Bauer of the Good Stuff Northwest Blog

oh and speaking of other people taking photos and in the spirit of other peoples input to this blog post ... here's some photos from our new friend Gabriel who helped us this weekend...

Big Thank you!!!

2010-11-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

Wowzers - what a weekend - puppies, pinot and pork... thank you one and all who came out and tasted and took home wine!!

The Riesling is all gone and folks put a sizable dent in the inventory of reds as well...

We are grateful and tired.. so without further ado I present the warm fuzzy puppies to help sooth you into your post thanksgiving week!

come share thanksgiving weekend at the farm...

2010-11-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

We'd love to see you this weekend ... as would the cows.

Friday Saturday & Sunday 11 - 5pm

This Thanksgiving weekend we are celebrating the 2010 harvest, all the wines being in barrel and some great reviews and press that came our way this fall.

there's a great winery map here
and directions to the farm are on our web site

All our current releases will be available to taste. This is one of only two weekends in the year when you can come out to the farm without an appointment and taste the wines and take some home for the holidays. Brian will have the smoker fired up and we will be pairing the wines with his irresistible fresh smoked pork belly, homemade bread and an assortment of beautiful cheese.

hope to see you this weekend - Clare and Brian

Here's a snipit of just some of the reviews out there.. I've posted more press and reviews on our web site...

94 points - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocates Oct 2010 - 2008 Pinot Noir - Resonance Vineyard

94 Points and Top 100 Wines of the year - Nov 2010 – Wine and Spirits - Wine and Spirits names it's picks for top 100 wines internationally for 2010 -- yup Big Table Farm Pinot Noir !! not bad company .... Williams Selyem, Flowers, Evening Land...

93 points - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocates Oct 2010 - 2008 Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley

94 Points and Best Buy - Oct 2010– Wine and Spirits Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

The Pinot File - "truly exceptional"- Pinot Geek Icon

The San Francisco Chronicle - (one of 13 wines chosen out of 80 Oregon Pinot Noirs)

The Oregonian - Nov '10 - 2009 Big Table Farm Brooks Vineyard Riesling - "One of the best white releases I've tasted from Oregon is this bottle of bone-dry Riesling from Big Table Farm."

The 2008's are all sold out but the 2009's are beautiful and now's the time to get them before they're gone - For those of you on this list that live out of town of course you can order wines and we can ship them to you.

we got a light dusting of snow today

2010-11-23T18:45:00.000-08:00

the farm was peaceful ... and the puppies snug by the fire and those cows are working the 'full fuzz'

family and more pups

2010-11-20T18:58:00.000-08:00

I know you will be totally sick of puppy pictures after about a month so I will try not to post too many ... this pile was hard to resist...

My cousin peter and his lovely wife Jerrilyn and some very good friends of thier's came out last weekend for a lovey visit!! Miss Clementine who was days away from giving birth was a saint I think she was practicing being a patient mom with these sweet babies!!

Clementine --- "ummm Jer PLEEZE DON'T move your leg "
Jack "I like this guy we could get into some real trouble together!!"

Jack "humm how can I get my mom to get me a dog"
Clementine --- " oh man how many pups I'm gonna have to give birth to... sigh"

Jack "oh what pretty ears you have -- what happens when I pull on it"
Clementine --- "those pups are going to be way worse at least he's pulling my ear they will be pulling my tits"

Jack "ummm soft dog soft mom this life is pretty nice"
Clementine --- " how can I work her so I can just stay on this couch all weekend"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We took a short walk around the farm and despite the wet weather ....

Kaoru - being very brave for having never been around a cow came into the pasture and gave the bull a pat :)

PUPPIES!

2010-11-17T14:44:00.000-08:00

Miss Clementine featured in several magazines and on countless videos had her main show today!! 4 beuatiful puppies!!

This is the beautiful sire

And the 4 beautiful pups!!!

She's nursing the pups as I type this and I can hear them sucking... sooo cute!!!

nice job mama!!

note on pups - after they have all been vet checked and tested a few pups will be for sale more info on that will be coming soon ... if you'd like to see miss clementines pedigree and some info on the breeding it can be found on her and her sires breeder page El Dorado Catahoulas...

Four critics choose the best bottles for the holiday!!

2010-11-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

The Oregonian featured our riesling today! : ) feeling pretty darn grateful AGAIN!!

2009 Big Table Farm Brooks Vineyard Riesling ($28): I always enjoy having a richer-style white wine on the table for Thanksgiving, as it seems to pair well with all of the side dishes but, more important, really allows the turkey itself to shine. One of the best white releases I've tasted from Oregon is this bottle of bone-dry riesling from Big Table Farm. Frankly, they had me with the gorgeous chanterelle drawing on the label, but I really wasn't prepared for what was inside the bottle. Winemaker Brian Marcy likes to push the envelope with his winemaking. By using long maceration on the skins, he's extracted amber colors and textures that those enamored by off-beat whites might appreciate. But the wine isn't oxidized, even if it tends toward an orange hue. It offers hazelnut and pine, apricot and honey. There must be some magic in those Eola-Amity hills adjacent to the Brooks winery, where the old-vine fruit for this bottling was procured. -- Darryl Joannides

http://www.oregonlive.com/wine/index.ssf/2010/11/seasonal_selections.html

and just in case you were worried about next years Riesling label .... this is not even all of the mother load of chanterelles that our friend David came out of our woods with while he was here at the farm hunting it was an embarrassment of riches and gives me plenty of fodder!!

Houdini and "A.F.L.E." (that's for you michael)

2010-11-16T08:58:00.000-08:00

This morning was 'another ____ learning experience' on the farm!

We headed out at about 6am to the pasture where we had set up round pen panels a few days before for the bull and have been feeding hay in there to get the cows all accustomed to the panels .. so we could have a nice easy load when it this morning came and the time for us to move red boy off the farm ... now I will say this is NOT the first time we have loaded a cow in a trailer in fact we where feeling like we were pretty darn prepared ...

- had the trailer backed up to the panels - check
- had the doors set just right so we could close them as soon as the bull loaed up -check
- had the holding pen lashed down with t-posts just in case the bull tried to go under the panels - check
- had hay in there so everybody was calm and comfortable- check...

so not once, not twice, but three times we got the bull in the holding pen the other cows sorted out and three friggin' times he decided that going under the panels that are lashed to t-post pounded into the ground was better than going into the trailer! ... hummm -(still not sure how that guy fit under there and manged to lift up the whole darn pen and get under) ...

.... after that last time red boy wasn't going anywhere near the holding pen and was giving us some serious stink eye... and Brian and I needed to walk away and calm down and think... being amped up around cows is just a bad idea they are sooo sensitive you need to be very calm... so we thought about things.. and went back and flipped the panels upside down!! nice thinking brian - it was pure genius!! this way that top bar was on the ground and he couldn't get his nose under there and lift up the pen like he was doing! and there's no more spot for that bull to squeeze his big head ... and so this time with in a very short time we got he and haley into the trailer .. now she was not invited to prineville with the bull so with a little luck and good timing we sorted her out of the trailer with out loosing red boy who's new name is Houdini! so by 8:55 am one bull in the trailer!!! and I was ready for a drink!

an evening walk...

2010-11-09T17:28:00.001-08:00

So I went out side to do the evening chores and that same elk heard was in that same field having there evening snack... see them back those little dots there in that back field???...so I decided to finish throwing hay and take a walk in there general direction to see if I could get a little closer to take better look and maybe snap a photo ..... that being said the fact that I'm using a marco lense in low light my hopes were not high... so forgive the bad photos and just imigine me in full rain gear trying to sneek up on these creatures.. oh and with a dog at my side.. NOT!!!

so I head down the fence line of the cow pasture -- swish swish swish go the rain pants .. and the dog who I've told to heal is whining of course as she would LOVE to chase them!!

so it's only matter of time they see me and decide to head for higher ground...

there are some very pretty bulls in the bunch

so I head up a very steep hill to catch another peek now it's swish swish swish and pant pant pant... oh the dog well she's still whining...

I think they might just maybe have seen me : )

yup there they go...

so I turned back and headed home where there was a warm fire and dinner that is a little easier to get my hands on.

A kitchen sink post..

2010-11-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

The final bins of grapes have been sorted - fermented and pressed into barrel - Both Brian and I are running on empty at this point and READY for our long winter's nap!! but it was a great harvest and so many friends came out the help. The grapes looked beautiful! and the wine looks like it will be another great year! Especially for Pinot! Big Thanks for all the love and support this year during harvest!

Back at the farm - I've been holding down the fort best I can with out the man around ... It's another year of not doing as much as I'd hoped in terms of canning and doing all the fall things that need doing .. but well at the end of the day there is just me and that has to be good enough... I did take an hour or so to take a walk up the big hill to remember as my friend Maia said ' to enjoy this life we are working so hard to build' ... took some shots of the boys in the beautiful fall light and the canyon and the woods which I haven't walked in in quite a while!

I also finally spotted the heard of elk - they seem later this year although I've been so busy I could have easily not seen them - as I was often doing chores in the dark on both ends of the day this harvest.

I did take time last Sunday to work with the boys!!
Laura come out and we had some fun hooking the boys to the cart!! This is the farm cart that will now be pulling things around the farm like a manure spreader (as soon as I find a nice used one for the right price - that is).. this team has been such a great adventure it's pretty darn exciting to have a working farm team that I'm training from the ground up - with lots of help of course!

And last but not least in wine news.. more big facy press as if the Parker scores weren't enough we got some nice lovin' up by wine and spirits magazine!! NICE!!

I feel like things are really taking hold this fall - like this whole crazy plan of ours .... the farm, a winery, and our new life in Oregon might just work... I'm feeling tired but pretty darn hopeful

on a personal note... Brian and I have worked together as a team this year like never before I feel like we have grown so much in our partnership and with just a little bit more time we might just see some returns on paper fingers crossed... but in the mean time I feel like we have worked our asses off and laid a really solid foundation for our farm our buisneess and our relationship... and just hope that the finishing work just get's more fun from here!!! so here's to you Brian! and here's to enjoying life, improving our world and making art ...

so here's the press ... that combined with last week Parker scores is clearly helping me feel all happy about things...

Wine and Spirits names Big Table Farm in the top 9 (yup that's right NINE) wineries to watch for 2010 again internationally!!!

Wine and Spirits names it's picks for top 100 wines internationally for 2010 -- yup Big Table Farm Pinot Noir !! not bad company .... Williams Selyem, Flowers, Evening Land...

on that note I'm going to go down stairs and pour my self a glass of Riesling.. : )