If you’ve been here for a minute, you know that supporting women in wine is a huge passion of mine. So when I see someone amplifying women in food and wine, they have my full attention.

If you’ve never heard of Cherry Bombe, they’re an incredible media company that publishes a gorgeous quarterly print magazine, produces the Radio Cherry Bombe podcast, and throws some of the most inspiring gatherings for women in hospitality I’ve ever seen. Every spring, they host their Jubilee summit in NYC filled with chefs, food writers, entrepreneurs and visionaries. I had the privilege of attending last year alongside 17 women from Portland (including the late, great Naomi Pomeroy), where we heard from legends like Ruth Reichl and Madhur Jeffrey.

This summer, Cherry Bombe hit the road for their Summer Tastemaker Tour, a series of special evenings across the country to inspire community and joy. In an exciting turn of events, one of the five destinations was the Willamette Valley. Even more exciting was that asked me to speak on the evening’s panel!

I was so honored to join three other talented and lovely women who are shaping Portland’s food scene: Olivia Bartruff of República, Maria Pisha Duffly of Gado Gado, and Kari Shaughnessy of Hayward.

The event took place at Inn The Ground—the stunning new luxury B&B in Carlton that sits on the 400-acre regenerative Tabula Rasa farm (owned by Brenda Smola-Foti, who I had the privilege of interviewing on my podcast). They also own the James Beard-nominated McMinnville restaurant Grounded Spirit and, newly opened, The Pub. (Portland Monthly actually published a great story on the group this week, if you’re interested).

A shuttle picked us up in Portland and delivered us out to wine country, where we were greeted with crisp Adelsheim Blanc de Blanc bubbles and farm-fresh berry spritzes. The stress of the city quickly faded in direct proportion to the bubbles consumed and hugs from friends. And then the real excitement started…

In what can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, winemaker Maggie Harrison of Antica Terra personally guided us through a seated tasting of five (!) of her Pinot Noirs. That may not seem like a big deal, but even as someone who calls Maggie a friend, let me tell you: it is. Maggie doesn’t ever lead tastings–she leaves that to her fabulous hospitality team–and focuses on the wine production, generally sequestered in the barrels, dreaming up big visions. Her wines are among the most coveted and limited in the world—and to have five poured, side-by-side, with Maggie herself leading the experience was incredibly surreal.

And then, somehow, our panel had to follow that 😭

Thankfully, Cherry Bombe founder Kerry Diamond was there to set the tone and lead us in a conversation about how each of us got our start, what drives us in this industry, and the signs from childhood that pointed us toward a life in food and hospitality. (My parents always had to keep pink frosting on hand to make ‘bread cakes’ with in case of spontaneous parties I was prone to throwing for any and every occasion– including but not limited to: cat’s birthdays, the autumn equinox and “Tuesdays”).

After the panel, we all sat down together—50 women at one long, dreamy al fresco table—for a true farm-to-table meal prepared by chef Sarah Schafer. Over 80% of the ingredients were sourced from the very ground beneath our feet.Of course, the food and wines (hand-curated by Maggie from her favorite local female winemakers) were incredible. But the best part of the evening was the company. To break bread with women who are not just passionate about food and wine, but committed to uplifting and empowering women in this industry… welcome to my happy place.

Everyone left with a goodie bag of woman-made treats, and I was excited to contribute a custom wine key and a downloadable guide for throwing The Ultimate Oregon Girls' Night. It includes wine pairing tips, a 5-course menu with wine pairings (all ingredients, dishes and wines from local women), and ideas for crafting an unforgettable night. I thought I’d share it with all of you if you’re interested!

GIRLS’ NIGHT GUIDE

Check out Radio Cherry Bombe for inspiring conversations with the women shaping this industry both directly and indirectly (this last week was Gloria Steinham!) and support a media company doing really great things.

And if you'd like to taste wine with me in real life…

There are only a few more Sunday tastings left before I take a break for the month of September to do a play. In my Oregon Wine Tasting Experience, featured through Airbnb experiences, we explore the history, geography and creativity of Oregon wine, and taste five bottles that showcase just how exciting our region is right now.

Book your spot here!

Cheers and until next week,
Kelsey