<p>McMenamins Edgefield will host the 2014 Celebration of Syrah.</p>

I credit Australian shiraz, syrah to the rest of the world, with maturing my wine palate from dry white wines to reds.

The wine that helped wean me off my white-only predilection was Penfolds Bin 28, now known as Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz. Sipping a glass, I could finally call myself an equal-opportunity wine lover. I got lost in the wine’s deep-red, bordering-on-eggplant blush, its seductive, earthy, licorice-and-dried-cherry perfume and full-figured chocolate-berry flavor. It was wrapped in a shawl of silk-woven tannins and left me with a lingering kiss of spicy aftertaste that made me want to drink more.

Hearing of McMenamins’ upcoming Celebration of Syrah on April 11-12 rekindled my interest in syrah, especially since I had not tasted any syrahs made by Oregon wineries. This is where Maggie Crawford of Grand Vines came to my rescue and played matchmaker, procuring bottles of Quady North 2009 4-2, A and Andrew Rich 2011 Prometheus Syrah for me to taste (both wineries are participants in the celebration).

The Prometheus Syrah from Washington’s Columbia Valley had a deep red/purple color, aromas of bacon and plum, flavors of dark cherries and a seductive hint of chocolate and cinnamon with a long finish like a slow dance that you don’t want to stop. The wine was medium-bodied and had silky tannins.

The Quady North 4-2, A from the Rogue Valley has an even darker eggplant and red color, aromas of cherry, pepper and a hint of sandalwood, and flavors of dark berries, earth and a trace of leather at the end. The tannins in this full-bodied wine were lithe and lively.

If you’re a syrah lover, you should make plans to attend the Celebration of Syrah at McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale. Participating wineries will include McCrea Cellars of Seattle, Quady North of Jacksonville, AniChe Cellars of Underwood, Wash., Lady Hill Winery of St. Paul, Tertulia Cellars of Walla Walla, Wash., Andrew Rich of Carlton and McMenamins Edgefield Winery of Troutdale. You can taste these wines and compare them to more than 80 wines from all over the world.

“We started the event back in 2001 with the idea to educate and enlighten our fans to the amazing syrah wines being made all around the world. Although McMenamins is known for beer, we also strive to develop a strong wine culture within our company, and this event is a part of that,” said Cark McCool, director of winery and distillery operations.

“We planted our own 2 acres of syrah in 1997, and by 2001, when we started the event, syrah was being planted in larger quantities all over the Northwest and gaining traction in the public consciousness. This year, we will have more than 80 wines to taste on Saturday, and the dinner on Friday by our Black Rabbit chef Kenny Giambalvo will be a showcase for Northwest wineries to talk directly to the patrons who support them,” McCool said.

“This year, we’re excited to feature Chukar Ridge Vineyard Syrahs from our library of wines made at Edgefield Winery. We have made a varietal syrah from this vineyard every year since 1995. The vineyard owners, Dennis and Becky Beeks, are committed growers who are truly great friends of our company and were one of the first to get the syrah name out there in the state of Washington. The wines made from their vineyard are always dark in color, with moderate tannin levels surrounded by deep flavors of dark berry and spice, reflecting the unique site located in Dallesport, Wash.”

The celebration features a lunch, dinner and grand tasting — all paired with gourmet cuisine by Giambalvo.

There also will be packages that combine event entry with overnight stays.

For more information on the Celebration of Syrah, go to mcmenamins.com/622-edgefield-celebration-of-syrah.

VPanichkul@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6704, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WillametteValleyWines and on Twitter @TasteofOregon.