Winemaker Erin Percheron leads second annual tasting showcasing Van Duzer Corridor terroir
SALEM — Cozy Taberna’s May 14 winemaker dinner brought a family-owned Van Duzer Corridor winery back to downtown Salem for the second consecutive year, with Andante Vineyard, an award-winning producer nestled in the rolling hills of the Van Duzer Corridor AVA producing small-batch wines on a 15-acre estate.
Winemaker Erin Percheron, along with owners Joe Allan and Karen Saul, guided guests through five wines across four courses prepared in partnership with Andante, demonstrating how marine sedimentary soils and coastal winds create what Saul called their “secret sauce.”
“I’m so happy and grateful that you invited us back, and it’s Oregon month, too, so it makes it extra special to be here,” Saul told attendees.
From Attorneys and Physicians to Winemakers
Allan and Saul’s path to winemaking began with an unlikely start. Allan, a retired ENT physician, grew up in a family culture that forbade wine. Saul practiced law for 27 years in Portland before deciding she “wanted to be outdoors, wearing jeans and boots, getting dirty and growing things.”
“We bought our property in 2010, and we kind of bought it blind,” Saul said. “Farmers said it wasn’t farmable. So, we tested it, and they said, ‘Well, you know, it’s pretty good for grapes.’ So, we took classes, and here we are.”
Andante is LIVE-certified Salmon-Safe and was awarded the Hero of Salmon award in 2022 for implementing farming practices that protect water quality.
The Dinner Experience
The evening began with Blanc de Blanc bubbles before guests experienced four courses: 2023 Aligote with albacore crudo, 2022 Ardea Alba Sauvignon Blanc with braised rabbit, 2023 Cabernet Franc with spiced duck breast, and a dual pairing of 2021 Reserve Pinot Noir and 2021 Blanc de Noirs with chocolate hazelnut truffle and strawberry tart.
The presenters emphasized how the Van Duzer Corridor AVA’s cooling winds from the Pacific Ocean shape their wines. “We have marine sedimentary soils, but we’re also in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, so we have wind,” Saul explained. “That’s kind of our secret sauce.”
The Winemaker’s Journey
Before the final course, Saul introduced Percheron with a detailed portrait of winemaking excellence, describing five essential qualities: courage, confidence, collaboration, chemistry, and creativity.
“I was also thinking about ballet,” Saul said. “A talented dancer just makes it look so easy. And Erin will bring us these wines and say, ‘What do you think?’ And I think, ‘Oh, wow. That’s beautiful.’ And you forget about the thousand decisions that went into making that wine along the way.”
Percheron joined Andante in 2020, received an official Winemaking Certification from UC Davis, and was promoted to Head Winemaker in 2021—the same year she became a mother.”Imagine that,” Saul said. “We’re going to do that and then you’re going to take on all this responsibility, too. She did it. She did it beautifully.”
Saul teased upcoming high wine scores for Percheron’s work but couldn’t reveal details due to publication embargoes. “My lips are sealed. But she’s really getting some nice accolades.”
Andante produces under 3,000 cases annually from estate varietals including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Aligoté, and Gamay Noir.
Information about upcoming Cozy Taberna winemaker dinners is available at https://www.thecozytaberna.com/winemaker-dinner.
