The International Pinot Noir Celebration is now in its 30th year and has established itself as the event for lovers of Pinot. It’s spendy for sure, but then again, they are pouring some serious wines from Burgundy and Oregon, and it always sells out.

There are a number of pre-IPNC dinners which still have places available—and one of the more intriguing, and one that breaks the mold of simply plying diners with Pinot after Pinot, is being hosted by Ransom.

John Taboada (Navarre, Luce, Angel Face) is the chef, while dinner, an intimate affair with just 20 places, is being held in the home of Ransom winemaker Tad Seestedt in the Eola Hills. The wines include some Pinots, but to match the food they are focused on Iberian varietals, including Albariño, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, and Grenache, and Ransom’s vermouths are the aperitifs.

It’s a blow-out at $120, but something of a bargain compared to the Archery Summit Vitaly Paley dinner at $250 a seat.

Ransom Wine Dinner, July 28, 7pm, ransomspirits.com, 879-5022