July 31st - August 2nd, 2026 — McMinnville & Newport, Oregon
What happens when you bring together Oregon Albacore tuna and Albariño wine? A pretty incredible pairing, and a new way to experience Oregon's food and wine culture!
From July 31 to August 2, 2026, Winter Waters and Medina Wines hosted the inaugural Alba Alba: A Celebration of Oregon Albacore & Albariño, bringing together winemakers, fishermen, chefs, and seafood lovers for three days of culinary experiences in McMinnville and Newport.
With support from Travel Oregon, Visit McMinnville, and the Oregon Albacore Commission, we created a new event celebrating two products that tell a distinctly Oregon story, while connecting visitors directly with the people and places behind them.
And what a first year it was! Across the weekend, Alba Alba welcomed 182 attendees, sold out its main tasting, featured 14 Albariño producers from around the world, and earned coverage from some of Oregon's largest media outlets.
Three Days of Oregon Seafood and Wine
Friday: La Copa del Albariño Welcome Dinner
We kicked off the weekend in McMinnville with an intimate welcome dinner bringing together 40 guests, including winemakers, wine representatives, and food and wine enthusiasts. The evening featured a family style meal highlighting Oregon Albacore and other local ingredients, along with La Copa del Albariño, an interactive blind tasting competition featuring Albariños from around the world.
It was the perfect way to introduce guests to the versatility of this wine while sharing a table with the people producing it.
Saturday: La Gran Tasting at Mac Market
On Saturday, we took over Mac Market in downtown McMinnville for La Gran Tasting, the centerpiece of Alba-Alba.
The sold out event brought together 14 Albariño producers representing Oregon, Washington, California, Spain, Portugal, and Japan, alongside Oregon Albacore fishermen, chefs, and fishery representatives.
Guests tasted their way through an incredible lineup of wines and Oregon Albacore dishes while meeting the people behind the products.
One of the afternoon's highlights was a live demonstration by Chef Jeff Kim of Aji Fish Butchery, who showcased Japanese fish butchery techniques while breaking down dry aged Oregon Albacore. The demonstration offered a fascinating look at the quality, versatility, and culinary potential of this locally harvested fish.
Mac Market businesses joined the celebration, too! Alea Bakery and Honey Pie Pizza created special Oregon Albacore dishes that both sold out, while Wellspent Market offered Oregon’s Choice canned tuna for sale. Big thank you to SueAnna Harrison and Commercial fisherman Ken Moffett for attending and representing the Oregon Albacore Commission.
Sunday: Tuna Tastic Field Trip to Newport
On Sunday, we traded wine country for the Oregon Coast!
Our Tuna-Tastic Field Trip brought 16 guests to Newport for a firsthand look at Oregon's commercial Albacore fishery and the working waterfront that supports it.
Participants explored Newport’s working waterfront, met commercial fishermen, learned how Oregon Albacore is harvested, and watched fish cutting demonstrations. Commercial fisherman Ken Moffett and Captain Herb, founder of Oregon’s Choice, led the dock walk, sharing firsthand stories and insights from their years in the fishery. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase fresh tuna straight off the boat at Chelsea Rose Seafood.
We wrapped up the experience with an Albacore focused lunch at Local Ocean Seafoods, connecting everything we'd learned on the docks to the seafood on our plates. Chef Jacob Harth presented dishes highlighting Oregon-caught albacore, plus some other local and regional shellfish. And of course, we had a couple bottles of Albariño on the table!
For us, this is what culinary tourism is all about: getting beyond the finished dish to meet the people who catch, grow, and prepare our food.
Why Oregon Albacore and Albariño?
Oregon is known for its incredible seafood and world class wines, but we don't always celebrate them together.
Oregon Albacore is harvested by fishing families along our coast and prized for its rich flavor, versatility, and nutritional benefits. Albariño, a white wine grape traditionally associated with Spain and Portugal, is gaining momentum in Oregon wine country.
Known for its bright acidity, citrus notes, and refreshing character, Albariño is a natural companion to seafood, particularly Oregon Albacore.
Through Alba-Alba, we wanted to introduce more people to this exciting grape while creating opportunities to connect directly with Oregon fishermen, winemakers, and chefs.
By bringing producers from Oregon together with those from around the world, guests could explore different expressions of Albariño and experience firsthand how beautifully it pairs with Oregon Albacore.
Connecting Oregon Wine Country with the Coast
At Winter Waters, our mission is to celebrate the people, places, and products that make Oregon's seafood culture so special.
Alba Alba gave us an opportunity to bring that story inland, connecting Oregon's fishing communities with the culinary and wine tourism experiences that make McMinnville such a special destination.
Just as importantly, our Newport field trip brought visitors directly to the source, offering a deeper understanding of the fishing industry and the working waterfront.
The celebration also caught the attention of Oregon media, with coverage in The Oregonian/OregonLive, plus live television appearances on KGW's Hello Rose City and KOIN's AM Extra. Together, these efforts generated an estimated 135,000 to 155,000+ earned media impressions, introducing the festival and its participating producers to audiences across the region. That’s a lot of eyeballs on these much-loved Oregon products!
Looking Ahead to Alba Alba 2027
For a first year, we couldn't have asked for a more enthusiastic response!
From a sold out tasting in McMinnville to conversations with commercial fishermen on Newport's docks, Alba Alba demonstrated the incredible opportunities that emerge when we connect Oregon's coastal food culture with wine country.
We're already looking forward to building on this foundation in 2027, welcoming more producers, engaging more local businesses, and creating more opportunities for visitors to experience Oregon through its food, wine, and people.
A huge thank you to Travel Oregon, Visit McMinnville, Oregon Albacore Commission, our participating winemakers, fishermen, chefs, local businesses, volunteers, and everyone who joined us for the inaugural celebration.
Cheers to Oregon Albacore, Albariño, and many more delicious collaborations to come!
Stay tuned for Alba Alba 2027 and upcoming Winter Waters events at winterwaterspnw.com.