DUNDEE, Ore. — En Tirage, a new sparkling-focused wine lounge, opened its doors on June 21, 2024 in Dundee next to the Dundee Hotel and Wooden Heart Pizza.
The lounge, a passion project by food and wine industry veteran Benjamin Clark, aims to fill a niche in the region by offering a diverse selection of sparkling wines and fine wines from around the world.
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With over two decades of experience, Clark has worked as an Executive and Pastry Chef and managed several restaurants from Denver, Colorado, to Walla Walla, Washington. He said his experience lends itself to opening his own lounge—he’s built catered wine lists, managed wine cellars, and planned wine tasting events and trips. A Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, he has also consulted for and opened multiple wine bars in Washington and Idaho.
“It has been my passion for well over a decade to open my own spot,” Clark said. “When we found this space, we just had that feeling. It was a long process, but we have finally made it happen.”
En Tirage, the stage in which wine is given the opportunity to re-ferment and “sparkle”, focuses on true Champagne and sparkling wines produced in the traditional method. When making traditional sparkling wine, it’s when sugar and yeast are added to the blended still wine and left to re-ferment, adding the trademark fine bubbles and a little extra alcohol.
Read more about traditional sparkling wines in a previous Newsberg article: Corollary Wines Opens Amity Tasting Room
The lounge also offers a curated selection of still wines from benchmark producers and varietals around the world.
“These are touchstone wines, or wines that evoke emotion,” Clark said.
Clark emphasized the unique position of the lounge within the Willamette Valley—not only did the concept not exist, in the area, but the Willamette Valley is at the forefront of the sparkling wine movement in the United States.
“We saw a need and a gap when it came to this concept,” he said. “While the Willamette Valley is seeing an explosion of sparkling wine interest and production, the bubbly revolution is taking place nationwide. We see the Willamette Valley as the perfect location for our model, more so than even Portland.”
In addition to its extensive wine selection, En Tirage serves a variety of food, from truffled chicharrones to caviar flights and flatbreads, and offers a curated craft cocktail list. The lounge aims to provide a relaxed yet upscale environment for both tourists and locals.
“We see En Tirage as becoming a hot spot in the valley, a place where you can have a unique experience, enjoy a wide selection of sparkling wines, high-end cocktails, and thoughtful dishes,” Clark explained. “You can learn about the wines and regions or just sit back and relax.”
En Tirage is currently open Tuesday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. They offer curated wine club options, as well as Tuesday Industry Nights (30% off of everything from 3 – 8 p.m. with your business card) and half price bottle nights on Wednesday. The lounge also has plans to introduce a Sunday brunch in the near future.
For more information, visit En Tirage’s website.
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