edibleportland.com | 13 wines know varieties like Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Blaufränkisch, and Zweigelt, primarily from Northern and Eastern Austria. These are all grapes Dana loves, but High Five focuses on varieties from Southern Austria, near the Slovenian border, primarily from Styria. Styria is situated at the foothills of the Alps, where the cold-air, mountainous terroir meets a warm, humid climate as the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas bring in coastal influence. Grapes are grown on steep hillsides amidst year-round rain, luscious emerald foliage and within fossilized shells, seabed deposit-filled soil. This endeavor is particularly meaningful for Dana – her grandparents were Viennese citizens who escaped to the United States during Hitler's regime. Amidst the pandemic, Dana became a dual citizen of Austria, in her family's honor, alongside her mom, sister, and daughter. "My grandparents would have never left if it weren't for the war and if it weren't for the Nazis, so for me, there was something about taking back something that had been taken from my family," Dana said. Her family visited wine growers and farmers on vacation in Austria a couple of years ago. They felt that importing their wine was a no-brainer. Almost exclusively white wine is made in Styria, often of limited quantity, and farmed in ways that Dana described as “heroic.” She and Scott couldn’t build a portfolio with solely Styrian wine, so they pulled in other Austrian growers who are also underrepresented in the U.S. market. Hospitality remains a "north star" for Dana, informing her interactions with growers, and encouraging her connection to consumers. She's eager to close the gap from vineyard to glass; to do this, she puts energy into in-person pouring events. “Our job is to tell the story of the wine growers, to share their experiences, to talk about what it’s like to walk in their vineyards and be in their cellars and why they make wines the way they make them.” She continued, “That gets watered down the more people it goes through, so I have the chance to speak directly to consumers.” Dana and Scott started Austrian Wine Week this year, and plan to host it every fall. They have recurring pop-ups planned throughout the year at various restaurants and bars, and other events as they arise. The Wild Bunch, Portland's only natural wine festival, occurs yearly in March. High Five will certainly pour and invite some Austrian growers to join them. In the meantime, you can find High Five Selections wines at a variety of restaurants, bars, and wine shops, like Ardor Natural Wines, Division Wines, Coquine, Xiao Ye, OK Omens, and more. Referencing the wine industry’s struggle as the economy adjusts to a post-pandemic world, Dana said, “Some would say this is the silliest time to start an import project,” she continued, “but for me, I want to do this and I want to do it really, really well, so I’m just all-in on this. I'm so excited about it.” Many Portlanders miss Bar Norman, the bar's wine club, and Dana herself. She is a true expert at curating a wine list, working with fantastic growers, and delivering warm, well-informed hospitality. I'm all in on High Five, too. Oregon’s premier truffle celebration from Astoria to Eugene February is Oregon Truffle Month! Join us to celebrate the best in Oregon truffles and wine Tickets and more information: oregontrufflefestival.org e
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