On Wednesday, May 21, we're so excited to announce that Kathryn and Chris Hermann of 00 Wines, one of the most acclaimed and sought-after projects in the United States, are coming to the mezzanine for a masterclass in which they'll present their groundbreaking Willamette Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They are also leading proponents of the "Black Chardonnay" winemaking style, a method popularized by Coche-Dury that uses oxygen exposure at the outset to produce structured, ageworthy wines.

If you've tasted these wines, you know that the reviews and acclaim they've received are very well deserved. The cost of this seminar is $50 and a $20 credit at the store will be extended to each guest for a future purchase. Seating is limited and special pricing on the featured wines will be made available only to attendees. We hope you can join us on the mezzanine at 6pm on Wednesday, May 21 for this special evening.

More about Chris and Kathryn:

Inspired by his father’s European roots and passion for Oregon terroir, first-generation US citizen Chris Hermann and his wife Kathryn craft Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from vineyards on both sides of the Atlantic under the 00 Wines label. From the moment Dr. Richard Hermann immigrated to the Willamette Valley in the 1950s, the region’s beauty and ecological diversity captivated him. He settled in Corvallis, where he taught botany and forestry at Oregon State University, cementing his status as a world-leading expert in Douglas Fir genetics.

Richard’s obsession with the Willamette Valley’s coniferous giants was matched only by his fascination with the region’s rapidly growing wine industry. A connoisseur of fine Old World wines, he loved that he could find equally compelling bottles in his new home. Richard and Chris studied the wines of local Pinot Noir masters like David Lett of Eyrie Vineyards and John Thomas of the Thomas Vineyard, growing increasingly convinced that the gently sloping hillsides could match France’s iconic appellations in producing incredible Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

But simply drinking the Willamette Valley’s finest wines wasn’t enough: The duo endeavored to craft their own, so they founded 00 Wines. Each zero represents the cyclical nature of winemaking, the renewal of the land and the Hermanns’ never-ending pursuit of winemaking excellence. Two infinite circles, reflections of each other, just like the winery’s endeavors in both the US and France. Now run entirely by Chris and Kathryn, 00 Wines produces wines from biodynamically and sustainably farmed vineyards in the Willamette Valley, plus small-lot projects from Grand Cru sites in Burgundy and Champagne. In just a few short vintages, they’ve established themselves as a benchmark among sommeliers, collectors, and winemakers alike.