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Bargain alert: 60% off Ashland wine weekend
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The well-stocked bar at Lithia Springs Resort in Ashland
Duane (“the Irish Innkeeper”) Smith knows how to throw a party. His Lithia Springs Resort in Ashland attracts hot springs hippies, lovers and wine aficionados. This weekend, he’s pulling in Henry Estates wine and Chef Caterina Moore, and putting on an $1,000, two-night package in a garden room, cottage or suite that he’s discounted to as low as $358.
It's a pleasant surprise you can expect from Smith. He built Lithia Springs Resort on four acres after he retired and went looking for something to do that was meaningful after he had played all the golf, drank all the coffee and read all the books he wanted. “Somewhere in some third-story attic of my mind lingered memories of warm fires and small country inns ...of red wine and redder roses; of mellow people and quiet evenings by the fire,” he wrote.
The property's gardens look as if they were pulled from an estate in County Wicklow, Ireland. The landscaped masterpieces were designed by an estate gardener and his daughter, who was the head gardener for the nearby Harry & David headquarters. Harry & David supplied the plants in exchange for allowing photographs of the garden to appear in its famous catalog.
Smith, who may have more stories than James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett combined, often dreams up themed weekends.
This weekend is Wine, Food and Fun. “There’s a plethoration of great wines here and I want to present those,” says Smith, who has lived in Ashland for 45 years and maintains an extensive private wine cellar. “I don’t have anything against California wines or wines from any other place. I just don’t get around to tasting them.”
Featured this weekend will be wines from the Henry Estate Winery in Umpqua. Tasting Room Manager Syndi Henry Beavers – a member of the Henry family that founded the vineyard and winery in 1972 -- will comment about her wines and pour the 2006 Merlot (“not your typical Merlot”), Bordeaux-style blend 2006 Henry V (“great with BBQ food”), 2007 Pinot Gris (“a seafood lover's dream”), “clean and mean” 2007 Gewurztraminer (“spicy food friendly”), fruit-forward 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (“an everyday drinker”) and a semi-sweet 2008 Muller-Thurgau.
Here are the details:
Wine, Food & Fun Ashland Weekend
- Friday, Nov. 6: Wine paired with hors d’oeuvres followed by a tapas-style dinner and dancing to a 50s-60s band
- Saturday, Nov. 7: Gourmet breakfast followed by a class in pairing wine with hors d’oeuvres for the holidays. The day will be spent on self-guided tours of local wineries, then tastings provided by Henry Estate Winery at the inn, with small plates and a wine pairing dinner created by Chef Caterina Moore, then dancing to a 70s-80s band
- Sunday, Nov. 8: Champagne breakfast and late check out
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