Category: BELLA Wine Buys

Mother Earth Brew Co. consistently produces unique, quality beer at a reasonable price and the “Sin Tax” is no exception. Pours the color of deep molasses with a stiff, meringue head. The aroma of barley malt and cola is the first thing that hits you, followed by a teasing hint of peanut butter. This beer is ROBUST, with notes of peanut brittle and toffee with moderate bitterness on the finish. Note the velvety mouthfeel! I didn’t pick up as much peanut butter as I had expected, but that may not be a bad thing! Coming in at under $9, it’s a truly incredible value.

Pesto Bitchin’ Sauce

Meet your new favorite dip.The Pesto variety of Bitchin’ Sauce boasts an herby basil flavor that can go anywhere the Original Bitchin’ Sauce has gone. Great to scoop up with crackers or tortilla chips. Solid as a fresh veg dip. Definitely put a spoonful on your sandwich or salad. Like hummus, but with creamy almonds instead of garbanzos and nutty nutritional yeast and ultra savory Bragg liquid aminos instead of tahini. Dairy-free & Vegan. Find it in the refrigerated grocery section at BELLA.

Review by Sarah Fry

So many things happening … all good!

Don’t miss TASTE of Baker City on October 5th and plan to join us for the HOHO (Holiday Open House) on November 1st and 2nd.  Stop by or contact us for more information at bellabakercity@gmail.com or 541.523.7490!

Bill Wayne, owner of the Abbey Ridge Vineyard and cyclist was in Baker City on a group ride and he stopped by last month and spent the afternoon of his ‘rest day’ with me. It was a wonderful visit and we caught up on all the high notes of the past 25 years (since I left the Red Hills of Dundee and moved east!)

Things took an even sweeter turn 2 weeks later. Allen Holstein stopped in on his way back home from parts further east. Allen, owner of Holstein Vineyard, father of Jackson (Purple Hands Winery) and a fellow chocolate lover walked into BELLA at the same time that Bill came through on his second group ride.  They were relocated here for a deju vu tour after the fires in CA forced a change in the ride plan.

So, here were are… two of my favorite grape growers, friends from my sommelier and grape stomping days… here where I planted myself in eastern Oregon on my own wine adventure. These boys are literally pilgrims in the Oregon grape story (not the only ones, but definitely my favorites!) and it was really a thrill to have them both here at BELLA Main Street Market. It was also a reminder about how much friendships shape our lives. We became friends when we were just pups and the wine business was barely a business. We are all still doing what we love, but differently. I was inspired by them back then and even more so now!

Twenty-something years ago, I decided to become an independent retailer leaving behind the multi-starred, multi-storied corporate food and wine industry to do my own thing, my own way, with my own few pennies.

I learned a lot in the corporate world and hopefully, learned well enough to do nearly everything completely differently! Standing here at this point, 28 years after opening my first BELLA and 21 years after opening the better version in Baker City, I was thinking about what Independence Day means to me.

I find myself thinking about the opportunities I’ve had to ‘do it my way’.  While there are small businesses everywhere around the world, I believe that being an American woman has been an major factor in being able to build my dream and make it grow.

It’s a hard time for rational, hard working dreamers these days.

All the dreamers.

I’m am embarrassed and horrified by the actions of an administration that seems oblivious to what America is. I am proud of the work done during the decades of my life to make life better for Americans.  I was equally shocked to realize how much more is needed or more truthfully, how much ground we’ve lost.

I wonder what was gained in the conversation of our society from the time of Walter Cronkite & 3 networks to the current option to find ‘entertainment’ vacuums posing as news reports. Civility, respect and discussion have faltered to a completely skewed twist on what “Freedom of Speech” means.

Or what truth means.

For today, I just want to say how thankful I am for the freedom, education and opportunities I’ve had. I am proud of the jobs I’ve created, the two wonderful stores that are valued elements in two communities and for the opportunities I’ve had to serve my as well and the chance to mentor and support others.

My hope is that as we celebrate Independence Day this coming week, others will contemplate the importance of keeping America truly American, and that new leaders will find the courage, passion, and support to step up and help.

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln.

Beverly Calder

https://www.kgw.com/video/travel/destinations/grants-getaways/grants-getaways-bella-main-street-market/283-8133181