Abbott Claim winemaker, Alban Debeaulieu joins Decanter's North American Editor, Clive Pursehouse, a passionate advocate for the wines of Oregon's Willamette Valley, to explore how this emerging American region is challenging the greatness of Burgundy with its Pinot Noir and its growing reputation for Chardonnay.

Alban will pour the 2021 Due North, the #1 wine in Decanter's Top 50 US Wines of 2024, along with an older vintage Chardonnay from the X-Novo vineyard. As a special surprise, Clive Pursehouse will share a couple of bottles from his personal cellar to illustrate the broader picture of the Willamette Valley.

The experience includes:

• A delicious three-course lunch of modern British classics
• Specially selected wines, including rare bottles from private cellars
• The company of a visiting winemaker and a Decanter editor for engaging, behind-the-scenes conversations
• Access to the Friday Grand Tasting 3PM - 8PM
   

(LUNCH AT 1PM, SPECIAL EARLY ACCESS TO THE DWWA BAR FROM 2:30PM, GRAND TASTING DOORS OPEN 3PM)

Winemaker 

Alban was born outside of Paris and raised in the south of France in a family and landscape where wine was ever-present. He grew up visiting cellars in the Rhône and Loire valleys, tasting wines purchased from the neighboring vignerons or made in his grandfather’s garage.

With wine a central and recurring theme in his life from a very young age, Alban went on to study in Burgundy, completing a Master’s degree in Winemaking & Enology. After working for Maison Joseph Drouhin, Alban moved to Oregon in 2013 to work a second harvest for the Drouhin Family at Domaine Drouhin Oregon, before taking up a position as assistant winemaker at White Rose Estate, in the Dundee Hills.

In 2016 he joined 00 Wines as Winemaker, before moving on to create Abbott Claim with Antony Beck.

North America Editor (Washington and Oregon correspondent)

Clive is the regional editor for North America and is also Decanter’s Washington and Oregon correspondent. He grew up in a working class household and did not discover the joy of wine until moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2003.

Shortly thereafter Clive launched an online publication exploring the wines of the Northwest. Prior to joining Decanter he was the culture editor for the road cycling lifestyle magazine Peloton for 10 years.