ABOUT:The Division Winemaking Company is an urban winery in Portland Oregon founded by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe in 2010. Division is a street/neighborhood in Portland populated by young professionals and the source of some outstanding wine. In addition to producing wine in the facility they also function as a crush pad for other folks wantin’ to make wine. It’s also the home of the Southeast Wine Collective, another project of theirs where they pour and sell wine, cook up some food as well. No better place to run ambitious projects; some of the best Pinot Noir vines are right in their backyard. Among the wide array of interesting wines they make from Gamay, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, this zero sulfur “Cent” caught our eye. If anyone can pull off a zero sulfur Pinot Noir, it’s Kate and Thomas.
TASTE: The grapes for this zero sulfur Pinot Noir comes from Cassin Family Vineyard, a LIVE Certified plot of young vines in the southern end of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Every year Division produces a small amount of Cent (meaning zero zero) and have had great success. We jumped at the chance to get a case of this wine and are thrilled to be able to provide this for the no sulfur crowd. While researching this wine we came across this review of Cent, but 2019 vintage, written in January 2022 over at terriorreview.com. Sounds like the wine is developing beautifully.
PAIR: Roasted beets with goat cheese and balsamic vinegar, bake Brussels sprouts with dried cherries, Taco Lasagna, and a fennel and eggplant tagine with chickpeas.