October 2025 Wine Club
Celebrating Six Months Behind The Bar
We’ve officially been in our new space at 210 College Street for six months, and we can’t thank our community enough for making it feel like home. Every glass, every visit, every conversation has shaped Wilder into the good-time gathering place we knew it could be. And things are about to get even more cozy!
It feels fitting to mark the milestone with wines that reflect a sense of place and intention. This month, we’re pouring three bottles from Brooks Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Like so many of our producer partners, Brooks is known for soulful winemaking and a deep commitment to biodynamic farming. Like much of their mission, the Renewal line is about legacy, sourcing fruit from sustainably farmed vineyards across the valley and giving it new life in wines that are fresh and full of character.
We’re serving up Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and (for our Cork Dorks) Chardonnay—classic Oregon grapes that remind us how the right place, and a little passion, can bring out the best in familiar varieties.
1) Brooks Renewal, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Wine: Red // Grapes: FPinot Noir // Club: Vin de Soif & Cork Dork
About the Producer: Brooks has been part of the Willamette Valley wine story since 1998, when it was founded by Jimi Brooks and carried forward after his passing by his family and longtime winemaker Chris Williams, with Jimi’s son Pascal now at the helm. Their approach is thoughtful and hands-on: biodynamic farming, native yeasts, and vineyard-driven winemaking that captures the valley’s spirit in every bottle. Just as importantly, Brooks is a Certified B Corp and member of 1% for the Planet, showing that caring for the land and community is every bit as central as crafting world-class Pinot Noir and aromatic whites.
About the Wine: Pinot Noir is the Willamette Valley’s calling card, and 2024 was a standout year. Harvest commenced in early October, allowing for a smooth picking process with no pressure to rush, a rare gift that shows in the glass. The result is a Pinot without pretense: cherry cola, forest floor, and a flicker of spice (not the pumpkin kind), lifted by the valley’s cool nights. It’s the kind of wine that feels easy yet layered, paired perfectly with a slow dinner of roast chicken or eating takeout over the sink. No judgement.
“We believe that good wine starts with being good to our planet and our people. We work just as hard at growing our grapes and making superior wine as we do at making tomorrow a better place for each and every one of us.”
2) Brooks Renewal, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Wine: White // Grapes: Pinot Gris // Club: Vin de Soif & Cork Dork
About the Wine: Pinot Gris may not get as much of the spotlight as Pinot Noir in Oregon, but the 2024 vintage proves it deserves a moment to shine. The season’s long, even ripening gave this wine a balance of ripe orchard fruit and a stony, mineral edge. It’s like biting into that first honeycrisp apple of fall while standing on a tropical beach, bright, juicy, and a little surreal. A bottle that defies logic but never disappoints, it’s made for those in-between moments: sweaters in the morning, sunshine by afternoon, and dinner under blankets with your best friends.
3) Brooks Renewal, Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Wine: White // Grapes: Chardonnay // Club: Cork Dork ONLY
About the Wine: Chardonnay in Oregon has its own rhythm, and the 2023 vintage leans into it beautifully. A mild, steady harvest gave fruit with both brightness and depth, resulting in a wine that finds itself both lively and grounding. This isn’t your uncle’s Chardonnay either, gentle oak lends itself to bright over buttery without losing all sense of savory. It’s like when you’re torn between the lemon curd and crème brûlée only to find you get the best of both worlds. So relax, take it slow, and learn to love this quintessential grape for the star that it is.
