Eve's Wine 101

Oregon’s Willamette Valley Welcomes Two New Nested Appellations

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PORTLAND, ORE. (PRWEB) – With the recent addition of Tualatin Hills and the Laurelwood District AVAs, the state of Oregon is now home to 21 federally recognized winegrowing regions. The regions, called American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), offer unique winemaking conditions thanks to a combination of widely varied physical geology and climate.

From Willamette Valley Wineries on Facebook.

Both areas are situated in the northern Willamette Valley and were granted approval on June 3rd. Local wineries had petitioned the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) years earlier for the additions to the wine country map, citing distinctive features like soil type and elevation, which in turn lead to distinctive wines. They join fellow Oregon AVAs including Eola-Amity Hills, Umpqua Valley and The Rocks Districts of Milton-Freewater and more, adding to the state’s eclectic winegrowing landscape. The expansive Willamette Valley now totals ten AVAs.

Tualatin Hills is the larger of the two new zones, composed of 144,000 acres encompassing the northern hills of Tualatin River watershed, minutes west of Portland, Oregon’s most populous city. The elevation of the AVA ranges from 200 to 1,000 feet, set in a temperate rain shadow cast by the nearby Coast Range. It’s the northernmost AVA in the Willamette Valley and includes the towns of Helvetia, North Plains and Forest Grove and is bordered to the south by Gaston.

With its 21 AVAs ranging from the Willamette Valley south to the Rogue Valley and spanning 600 miles east to the Snake River Valley bordering Idaho, Oregon’s list of AVAs is second only to California’s (which has a total of 107). Reflecting the ever-growing wine industry at large, the U.S. now has 248 AVAs from coast to coast.

Sally Murdoch, communications manager for the Oregon Wine Board said, “Oregon has almost 12% of the AVAs in the country, yet we produce only about 1.5% of the nation’s wine.” She added. “With two new AVAs, this is great recognition for our almost 800 wineries and our state’s clearly differentiated regions, underscoring that Oregon truly is unique in the global landscape.”

Leading the charge for recognition was Alfredo Apolloni of Apolloni Vineyards, along with Mike Kuenz of David Hill Vineyard and Winery and Rudy Marchesi of Montinore Estate. Producers note the elegant style of Pinot Noir made in this distinctive stretch of land, often showing blackberry, cherry and spice notes. All told, 40 wineries and vineyards are located in the Tualatin Hills AVA, including Patton Valley Vineyard and Elk Cove Vineyards.

“It’s terrific to spotlight such a singular spot of the Oregon wine country map,” says Apolloni. “With an incredible diurnal shift and grape-friendly soils, it’s no wonder some of Oregon’s first wineries settled here. We can’t wait to further the story of the Tualatin Hills through expressive wines beyond Pinot noir.”

The Laurelwood District AVA is smaller at 33,600 acres, and is situated on the northeast facing flank of the Chehalem Mountains, near Beaverton and Sherwood. The Laurelwood District extends throughout the northeastern reaches of the Chehalem Mountains, where the topography reaches more than 1,600 feet above sea level. The name refers to the prevalent soil type that defines the wines from this area. Unlike other Oregon AVAs, this AVA is defined by a unique soil type that is predominantly found in this part of the Willamette Valley. Here, Laurelwood soils dominate; this windblown loess soil type was brought in by the Missoula Floods thousands of years ago.

Spearheading the call for the nested appellation was one of the state’s most established winemaking families, the Ponzis. Second-generation proprietors Maria and Luisa Ponzi teamed up with Kevin Johnson and Beth Klingner of Dion Vineyard in requesting federal approval. Ponzi Vineyards joins 29 other producers and 70 vineyards operating within the new appellation, including Cooper Mountain Vineyards and Hawks View Winery.

Luisa Ponzi says the process has taken more than a decade.
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“We’re thrilled to be able to officially advertise the unique qualities at play due to our soil in our very specific pocket within the Willamette Valley,” the winemaker says. “Consumers are more and more interested in the origin story of their goods and wine has always told that story. With the addition of the Laurelwood District, wine drinkers will become aware of why and how what’s bottled from this area stands out.”

The two newest AVAs are the toast of both the industry and consumers who look to celebrate Oregon’s one-of-a-kind appellations and the “sense of place” in a wine’s flavor and makeup. Wineries and vineyards within these designations, on July 6 2020, can market their work as such, whether it be on the wine label itself or in other branding narratives.

About the Oregon Wine Board
The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. OWB works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions.
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Visit oregonwine.org for more.

About the Willamette Valley Wineries Association

The WVWA is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregon’s acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premium Pinot noir–producing region. The WVWA has more than 230 members representing wineries, tasting rooms and vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country and Wine Country Thanksgiving are the two oldest WVWA–sponsored touring events in Oregon. Visit http://www.willamettewines.com for more info.

List of wineries and vineyards in the Laurelwood District AVA:

A Blooming Hill Vineyard and Winery
Alloro Estate Vineyard
Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Benjamin Vineyard
Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Boisseau Vineyard
Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Louise Vineyard
Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Marilyn Vineyard
Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Robert Vineyard
Anne Amie Twelve Oaks Estate Justin Grand Vineyard
Arbre Vert Vineyard
Archer Vineyard
Ardiri Winery and Vineyards
August Cellars Vineyard
Bailey Estate Vineyards
Barking Frog
Blakeslee Vineyard Estate
Buteo Vineyard
Chateau Lebeau Vineyard
Chehalem Corral Creek Vineyard
Chehalem Schaad Vineyard
Chehalem Crossing Family Estate Vineyards
Cloudrest Vineyard
Cooper Mountain Vineyards Johnson School Vineyard
Dion Vineyards
Domaine Sardine
Elk Cove Five Mountain Vineyards
Finnigan Hill Vineyard
Freja Hughes Vineyard
Freja Musso Vineyard
Freja Vineyards
Gemini Vineyard
Grapehead Vineyard
Gresser Vineyard
Hamacher Wines Paloma Vineyard
Hawks View Vineyard
J. Albin Winery Laurel Vineyard
Jesse Estate Vineyard
JNF Vineyard
La Cantera
La Luce Vineyard
Linda Vista Vineyard
Madrona Hill Vineyard
Manissa-Jo Vineyard
Manuela Vineyard
Mooney Vineyard
Nicholas Vineyard
Owen Roe Anna’s Vineyard
Ponzi Abetina Vineyard
Ponzi Aurora Vineyard
Ponzi Avellana Vineyard
Ponzi Madrona Vineyard
Raptor Ridge Estate Vineyard
Rex Hill Burnt Tree Vineyard
Rex Hill Estate Vineyard
Rex Hill Hoy Vineyard
Ross Vineyard
Ruby Vineyard
Sheets Vineyard
Starling Crest
Sufi Vineyard
Tannehill Vineyard
The Potter’s Vineyard
Three Cedars Vineyard
Triple H Vineyard
Tuenge Vineyards
Vista Grande Vineyard
Xander Taryn Vineyard

Wineries and Vineyards in the Tualatin Hills AVA:

Aggravation Hill Vineyard
Apolloni Vineyards
Bednarik
Bramblett Vineyards
Cancilla Cellars
Carpenter Creek Farms Vineyard
Cherry Grove
Cochran Vineyard
Courting Hill
Covey Ridge
David Hill Vineyards
Eagles Nest Reserve
Echo Hill Vineyard
Elk Cove – Windhill Vineyard
Helvetia
Highgrove Farms
Loeza Vineyard
Mason Ridge Farms
Mason Ridge Vineyard
Meier Vineyards
Merten Vineyards
Montinore Estate
NV Hill Farm
Patton Valley Vineyard
Petalous Vineyard
Plum Hill Vineyards
Provincial Vineyards
Purple Cow Vineyards
R. Marchesi Vineyard
Scotch Church Road Vineyard
Shafer Vineyards
Shumaker Vineyards
Stormy Morning Vineyard
Tualatin Estate Vineyard
Willamette Valley Vineyards – Peter Michael
Willamette Valley Vineyards – Meadowview
Windearth Vineyard
Wirtz Vineyard

Sokol Blosser to Launch First-Ever Oregon Boxed Wine Under Evolution Label

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DUNDEE HILLS, Ore., /PRNewswire/ — Sokol Blosser Winery, one of the Willamette Valley’s pioneering wineries founded nearly 50 years ago, is raising the bar with the creation of Evolution boxed wines — the first-ever boxed wine from Oregon – set to ship in mid-July.

Photo from Sokol Blosser Winery Facebook page.

Evolution 2019 Oregon Pinot Noir and Evolution 2019 Lucky No. 9 White Blend will be packaged in 1.5-liter boxes that also feature a new contemporary look for the brand.

“We decided to seize the moment to innovate,” said Alison Sokol Blosser, CEO, Co-President and Second-Generation Winegrower. “The pandemic has changed the game in every possible way, and as we brainstormed out-of-the-box ways to adapt, we actually landed inside the box. Producing a boxed wine gives our customers great wine at a really friendly price point and it also fits our core value of sustainability. Consumer demand for value and quality is growing, so Evolution in a box makes perfect sense.”

Evolution 1.5L boxed wines are an ideal option for off-premise retailers to meet rising consumer demand in a rapidly expanding category. “This new offering is a first, and syncs up perfectly with two exploding categories in retail: ultra-premium wine from Oregon and wine in a box. This is the same high-quality wine that consumers know and love in glass bottles, and is now available in a convenient, sustainable format that stays fresh for up to 30 days,” added Sokol Blosser.

Not just a smart fit for retail, this format is also great for restaurants that are re-opening and/or offering carry-out meals. Restaurateurs will appreciate that they can offer a great wine by the glass with little risk of waste, and for those offering family meal deals and other creative menu offerings for take-out, a 1.5-liter box of wine is a natural addition to those orders.

Evolution Boxed Wines Feature New Branding
At the same time, Sokol Blosser will introduce new branding for Evolution to reflect a more contemporary look that fits the brand personality and appeals to Evolution’s core customers.

“Evolution has a fun and clever personality – not unlike our core consumers — and it is all about making the most out of life’s moments,” added Sokol Blosser. “Our goal with Evolution has always been to produce affordable, delicious, approachable wines that can be part of our customers’ lives, from an easy night at home to a camping trip or a special celebration. The fresh look of the box brings its personality to life. Plus, the Evolution name alone screams ‘newness’ and ‘what’s next?’ And in this case — what’s next is Oregon’s first boxed wine.”

In keeping with Sokol Blosser’s long commitment to sustainability, Evolution boxes have a reduced impact on the environment, packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes that also equate to reduced carbon emissions. According to a 2010 Life Cycle Assessment study commissioned by the alcohol monopolies in Sweden and Norway, a 1.5L boxed wine product will generate about 1/3 of the overall environmental impact throughout its lifecycle, as compared to a 750ml glass bottle.

Sokol Blosser turned to a partner in California to package its 1.5L Evolution boxes, so while both wines include fruit from the Willamette Valley, neither can legally include that AVA name on the package. The Evolution Pinot Noir, with a $25 SRP, will be Oregon-appellated and the Lucky No. 9 White Blend, with an $18 SRP, will be American-appellated. Both wines will continue to be available in 750ml bottles as well, and bottles will feature the new branding by the end of 2020 and early 2021.

About Evolution & Sokol Blosser Winery
Evolution, one of the Willamette Valley’s most evolutionary wine brands, was created by Susan Sokol Blosser in 1998, as she searched for a white wine that was light and bright and right for the spicy, savory flavors of the Asian Fusion food trend of the day. That wine was Evolution Lucky No 9 White Blend, a magical mix of nine varietals which is still a fan favorite. Since then, Evolution has evolved (pun intended!) to include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, a red blend and several sparkling wines. Evolution is part of the Sokol Blosser family of wines, based in Dundee, Oregon. Sokol Blosser is a certified B Corp (since 2015) and is the only winery in the U.S. to have received two “Best for the World” awards from B Corp in 2019.  A multi-generational family business and now under the stewardship of siblings Alex Sokol Blosser (Winemaker) and Alison Sokol Blosser (CEO), Sokol Blosser will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021. For more information, please visit EvolutionWine.com or SokolBlosser.com.

The Oregon Wine Trail to Host Spring Events in San Francisco and Seattle

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PORTLAND, ORE. (PRWEB) – More than 50 Oregon wineries will hit the road again this spring to showcase their award-winning wines. This is the third year the Oregon Wine Board (OWB) has gathered wine stars and local artisanal food partners for the Oregon Wine Trail events. Host cities in 2020 are San Francisco (March 4) and Seattle (May 11). The all-day events include an industry masterclass and walk-around tasting for media and trade, followed by a consumer tasting in the evening.

What: Oregon Wine Trail, San Francisco

When: March 4, 2020

12:30-2:00PM -Trade & Media Masterclass
1:30-4:30PM – Trade & Media Walkaround Tasting
6:00-8:30PM – Consumer Walkaround Tasting

Where: Terra Gallery: 511 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94105

Trade & Media registration: https://trade-owtsf.eventbrite.com

Consumers tickets for purchase at: https://www.oregonwine.org/trail
$75 Early bird / $95 general admission

Click here for a list of participating wineries in San Francisco: https://www.oregonwine.org/trail/sf/#wineries

What: Oregon Wine Trail, Seattle

When: May 11, 2020

12:30-2:00PM -Trade & Media Masterclass
1:30-4:30PM – Trade & Media Walkaround Tasting
6:00-8:30PM – Consumer Walkaround Tasting

Where: Block 41: 115 Bell Street, Seattle, WA 98121

Trade & Media registration: https://trade-owtseattle.eventbrite.com

Consumers tickets for purchase at: https://www.oregonwine.org/trail
$75 Early bird / $95 general admission

Click here for a list of participating wineries in Seattle: https://www.oregonwine.org/trail/seattle/#wineries

The 2020 masterclasses will be hosted by Bree Stock, MW, OWB education manager; Chris Tanghe, MS, chief instructor at Guild of Sommeliers; and Evan Goldstein, MS, president & chief education officer of Full Circle Wine Solutions.

The San Francisco masterclass, Mastering Willamette Valley Wines, will take a look at seven AVAs, each defined by unique soils, climate influences and subtly different winemaking philosophies, viewed through the lens of various Willamette Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.

In Seattle, the masterclass, Mastering Southern Oregon Wines, will explore the region’s diverse climates, soils and terroirs, plus emerging varieties in Southern Oregon.

Participating artisanal culinary partners include: Olympia Provisions (https://www.olympiaprovisions.com), the Oregon Cheese Guild (http://oregoncheeseguild.org) and Som Cordials (https://somcordial.com), together with charity partner for San Francisco, 18 Reasons (https://18reasons.org).

“Oregon is one of the most exciting wine regions in the U.S., and buyers and wine lovers alike are well versed in what makes Oregon wines special. The Oregon Wine Trail events introduce the winemakers behind those wines who share their passion with on-premise and retail buyers, as well as with consumers in wine-loving cities like San Francisco and Seattle,” notes Sally Murdoch, Oregon Wine Board communications manager.

With 793 wineries growing 82 grape varieties in over 1,000 vineyards, Oregon offers diversity and premium quality wines. Oregon wine sales were $607 million in 2018, a 4% increase over the prior year, according to the annual Vineyard and Winery Report, gathered by the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) at the University of Oregon. Nielsen data for the year ended July 13, 2019 shows U.S. retail sales of Oregon wine, measured in dollars, rising 13.8%. This is in contrast to the total table wine category’s performance of 0.9% growth for the same period.

The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. Visit http://www.oregonwine.org.

Vintage Eve Circa 12/2016: Miles and Jack are Back in Vertical, Passion and Pinot on the Oregon Wine Trail

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The first thing and last thing I got from this revised second volume of Vertical from author Rex Pickett: Miles is almost completely redeemed from the character he played in Sideways. Maybe not his BFF Jack, but Miles definitely is more likable his second time around.

Photo: Oregon Wine Press

Doesn’t hurt that these two are on a new heavily wine laden road trip again either. Or that the same amount of humor is poured, into our upturned wine glasses, in large amounts as well. It’s definitely a Sideways Part Two.

How is Miles redeemed?

First, there is less gratuitous sex within the first pages in this new edition (sorry guys), Miles’ wheelchair-bound stroke-addled mother is on the road trip with them and he also does all he can to save her dog after an accident.

Not to give everything away, but, if you can believe it, there are real gestures toward an attempt to quell Miles’ now-open addiction to alcohol.

But, don’t fret, comedic relief is throughout: there is a recreation of the spit bucket scene from the movie, a stab at Santa Clarita wine fests, light hearted illustrations, Jack’s Viagra overload (can’t wait to see his “Priapism” surgery on film) and someone gets dunked twice – into a vat of wine and more!

It’s all tied up quite neatly between both books, Sideways and Vertical, with explanations as to Maya’s departure as well as Jack’s wife, wine tasting on the road again with with stops at Foxen, Justin and finally Oregon’s Willamette Valley where every guest manages to get “plowed on Pinot.”

As we follow Miles in his second-book journey we can see how he was affected by the success of his first book, referred to as “Shameless”, and the even wider success of the film made from the book.

It becomes very believable that women would throw themselves at successful writer Miles/Rex, he would be paid well for appearances and speeches, and be under a great deal of pressure to produce more books for a wine-craving culture.

After the movie Sideways we may have had seen some mild success with the movie Bottleshock, and a little bit of sommelier mystique may have been revealed in SOMM, but nothing has yet to touch the success of Sideways.

I, for one, am hoping that it will be Vertical The Movie.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Hey Alexa! Play the “Oregon Wine Quiz!”

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PORTLAND, Ore., /PRNewswire/ — Oregon is home to more than 760 wineries and 19 distinct growing areas, making it one of the largest wine-grape-producing states in the nation. It’s tough for even the biggest Oregon wine aficionados to know everything about Oregon wine. That’s why Travel Oregon created the new “Oregon Wine Quiz” for Alexa users to test their wine knowledge. Whether you’re a novice or a connoisseur, the quiz highlights some of the undiscovered facts about the Oregon wine landscape and tells the deeper story of Oregon wine.

Oregon is home to more than 760 wineries and 19 distinct growing areas. (Photo credit: Cotterell)

It’s estimated that by 2020, 50% of all searches will be voice searches. Currently 17% of American households have a smart speaker installed. By 2022, this number is anticipated to increase to 66%.
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The shift to voice search has already begun. The “Oregon Wine Quiz” is a way for Travel Oregon to integrate tourism marketing and voice search and stay ahead in the ever-changing media landscape.
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“We need to keep evolving and expanding our content platforms if we’re going to remain relevant to our target audience,” said Mo Sherifdeen, Global Integrated Marketing Director at Travel Oregon. “We’re thrilled to be the first tourism agency in the country to experiment with distributing content through voice search. But more importantly, we’re excited to give wine enthusiasts another way to learn about Oregon wines before they head out to wine country this fall.”

To activate the quiz, simply ask Alexa to “play the Oregon wine quiz.” Users will then be asked a series of questions about Oregon wine. Depending on the answers, users will unlock one of four podcasts, featuring interviews and storytelling from some of Oregon’s most prominent wine industry professionals, including: Travel Southern Oregon, Abacela, Brooks Winery Troon Vineyards, Tuality Healthcare and Willamette Valley Vineyards.

The topics covered include: 

  • Community winemaking
  • Oregon’s new varietal: Tempranillo
  • The Applegate Valley Wine Trail
  • Sustainable winemaking

This Alexa application was built by Portland-based agency, Sparkloft Media with content support from the Oregon Wine Board. Are you ready to take your Oregon wine knowledge to the next level? Take the quiz today. For more information, visit TravelOregon.com or Amazon.com.

About Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors’ experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve Oregonians’ quality of life by strengthening the economic impacts of the state’s $12.3 billion tourism industry that employs more than 115,000 Oregonians. Visit industry.traveloregon.com to learn more.

Dates Announced for 2020 Oregon Truffle Festival in the Willamette Valley

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PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB) – The Oregon Truffle Festival, a Willamette Valley-based nonprofit organization and North America’s premier truffle celebration, announces dates for early 2020. The festival’s two weekends, spanning January 23-26, 2020 and February 14-16, 2020, are supported by the Willamette Valley Visitors Association through its Regional Grant Awards. The new grant, awarded in early 2019, promotes regional messaging to drive tourism in winter months and supports the festival’s year-round goals of building Oregon’s native truffle industry.

With four native Oregon truffles and the successful cultivation of prized European truffles in the Willamette Valley, the region is North America’s contribution to the short list of world-class truffle and wine regions. This singular culinary bounty in Oregon wine country, coupled with the winter timing of the truffle season, presented a perfect opportunity for collaboration between the festival and the Valley’s regional marketing organization.

The 2020 Oregon Truffle Festival will open with the world’s premier truffle dog competition, the Joriad™ North American Truffle Dog Championship, wherein spectators cheer for teams of truffle dogs and their trainers as they race to search for hidden truffle-scented targets. Aspiring foragers from far and wide will have the opportunity of finding their own truffles by registering their dogs for the popular two-day Truffle Dog Training camp on January 24 and 25.

The January weekend in Eugene and surrounding counties promises decadent dinners, wine pairing luncheons, cooking classes, a fresh truffle marketplace, and much more. The full lineup of events and participating chefs, restaurants, wineries, and culinary artisans will be made available on the Oregon Truffle Festival’s website in the coming months.

The February weekend, with its especially romantic timing in 2020, highlights the shared terroir of Oregon wine and truffles. Taking place at some of the region’s most notable wineries, the north Willamette Valley weekend will include truffle hunts, indulgent winery luncheons, decadent winemaker dinners, and a truffle brunch. The weekend will close with a festival favorite, the Newberg Fresh Truffle Marketplace, which brings together regional wines, artisan foods, and fresh local truffles.

Tickets to weekend packages and à la carte events will be released in September 2019.

The Willamette Valley Visitors Association and the Oregon Truffle Festival share the dual goals of raising awareness for the region as a year-round travel destination and driving economic impact to all parts of the region. Every year, the festival takes place across several Willamette Valley counties, including Yamhill, Marion, Polk and Lane counties, across two weekends and welcomes domestic and global travelers seeking the ultimate truffle and wine experience.

The small grant awarded by the Willamette Valley Visitors’ Association further supports the Oregon Truffle Festival’s seasonal programming, offering many more opportunities to discover the allure of Willamette Valley wine and truffle country. More details on events and workshops will be posted on the Oregon Truffle Festival’s website and social media channels as they are scheduled.

This project has been funded in part by a grant from Willamette Valley Visitors Association in utilization of Travel Oregon Regional Cooperative Tourism Program funds.

ABOUT THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY
The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s leading wine region, has over two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 500 wineries. It is recognized as one of the premier Pinot noir producing areas in the world. Other cool-climate varieties such as Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewürztraminer are equally at home in the Willamette Valley. Around 150 miles long and up to 60 miles wide, it is Oregon’s largest AVA. Named for the river that flows through it, the Willamette Valley has the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Oregon. The region is also a hub for native Oregon truffles and cultivated European varieties, placing the Willamette Valley on the short list of world-renown wine and truffles regions.

ABOUT THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY VISITORS ASSOCIATION
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association is a private, non-profit organization that supports travel and tourism in the Willamette Valley – Oregon Wine Country. Comprised of six destination marketing organizations, the Willamette Valley Visitors Association works to maintain the Willamette Valley as Oregon’s premier wine destination, while highlighting the culture, heritage and natural resources of the region. For more information, please visit oregonwinecountry.org or call (866) 548-5018

ABOUT THE OREGON TRUFFLE FESTIVAL
The Oregon Truffle Festival is North America’s premier event for truffle appreciation and education. Held every winter in the Willamette Valley, it attracts thousands of culinary travelers, chefs, growers, dog trainers, scientists and journalists from all over the globe for a series of dynamic and participatory events. The festival was founded in 2006 by renowned mycologist Dr. Charles K. Lefevre, OTF General Manager, Leslie Scott, and is run in partnership with OTF Culinary Director Charles Ruff. Dr. Lefevre is also the founder of New World Truffieres, a company specializing in truffle cultivation. Now planning its 15th year, the Oregon Truffle Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Follow the Oregon Truffle Festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.

Van Duzer Corridor AVA Approval Shows Location Matters in Oregon

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PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB) – Oregon wine lovers now have 19 reasons to celebrate Oregon’s acclaimed viticultural bio-regions. Now with the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) having approved the Van Duzer Corridor as an official AVA, or American Viticultural Area, Oregon has 19 winemaking regions—second only to California—with sufficient distinct features to be declared their own unique areas. The Van Duzer Corridor AVA and 18 others are showcased on the Oregon Wine Board’s trade site, each paying homage to their distinctive characteristics, and the Van Duzer Corridor has joined the Willamette Valley’s other six embedded AVAs listed on the Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA) site.

Now that the federal government has approved the AVA, on January 14 bottles with “Van Duzer Corridor AVA” may be printed on labels from the AVA’s seven wineries nested within the Willamette Valley.

There are more than 240 AVAs in the US, yet the complex process in place to approve a new AVA is a mystery to many wine aficionados.

People who live in Oregon, the state with the second highest number of AVAs behind California, can be proud that their region is wonderfully geographically diverse, boasting a unique patchwork of soils and features thanks to volcanic activity, glaciers and ice-age floods.

Having an AVA tells the world that your region—be it tiny or massive—is acknowledged as a special place to make wine. Said Sally Murdoch, communications manager of the Oregon Wine Board, “This AVA, in the context of OR’s overall momentum in the market, shows how globally recognized our region is for superior quality. This new AVA reinforces the continued discovery of new and distinct viticultural characteristics of Oregon.”

“AVA designations take years to achieve as standards are rigorous for proving a region is clearly differentiated and capable of producing grapes of distinction,” she continued. “Each Oregon AVA reinforces the reality that Oregon is a collection of superior grape growing zones,” continued Murdoch.

It also means your soil or sedimentary qualities and naturally shaped landmarks are unique within the winegrowing world. The Van Duzer Corridor winds blow in from the Pacific Ocean to cool off this section of the Willamette Valley and moderate temperatures during the growing season.

“Throughout the anomaly in the Coast Range known as the Van Duzer Corridor, buffering winds create the perfect paradigm to produce world-class Pinot noir wines that showcase mouthwatering acidity and tension in their tannin expression,” explains winemaker Florent-Pierre Merlier of Van Duzer Vineyards. “These winds also support our desire of sustainability by significantly reducing disease pressure in the vineyard.”

By introducing a cooling influence to flow through the Coast Range, this allows the production of world-class wines in the Willamette Valley and specifically within the 35.9 square-mile triangle that constitutes the new AVA.

For winemakers within the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, they’ll be able to market their wines with their AVA name as a unique sub-brand within a brand. Already known for its premium quality wines, Oregon wine lovers who study up on all seven of the sub-AVAs within the Willamette Valley will now be able to taste the distinct terroir within this special region.

“The approval of this exciting new sub-AVA reflects the hard work of Van Duzer-area winemakers and grape growers and the increasing recognition worldwide for our region’s diversity and unique features,” says Morgen McLaughlin, executive director of the WVWA. “We are excited and proud to share this historical moment for the Willamette Valley.”

Legislative Support of AVAs

The Oregon wine community has long been at the forefront of protecting its wine regions and promoting truth-in-labeling. In 1977 the state approved stricter wine labeling standards than required by the federal government at the industry’s request, among them a requirement that 100% of wine grapes must come from Oregon (vs. 75% federally), 95% from the named AVA (vs. 85% federally), 90% from the named variety except 18 grapes traditionally used in blends (vs. 75% federally). This effort has played a critical role in building Oregon’s reputation for producing exceptional wines that are highly sought after in the marketplace. While the effort to protect Oregon’s appellations of origin has gained more momentum recently, the OWA has worked with wine regions around the world for years to protect wine place names and to promote truth-in-labeling.

In September, under U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s (D-Oregon) leadership, the Senate passed a resolution recognizing the uniqueness and economic value of American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and U.S. winegrowing regions. This is a prime example of keeping Oregon’s sense of place intact as it relates to winemaking, but lighting a fire under the TTB was also necessary to get this AVA approved; Oregon’s Congressional Delegation, led by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, played a crucial role in TTB’s approval of Oregon’s 19th federally-recognized winegrowing region after years of delay.

More accolades and AVAs for Oregon’s future

While Oregon is a small grape growing region, responsible for less than 1% of the world’s wine grape acreage, the state’s wines net numerous awards, most recently setting a new record in the Wine Spectator with six wines in its 2018 Top 100 list of wines from all over the globe.

First brought to the TTB almost eight years ago by Jeff Havlin, owner of Fender’s Rest Vineyard, the Van Duzer Corridor AVA covers 59,871 acres and is located 20 miles northwest of Salem. Its nine brands are: Johan Vineyards, Chateau Bianca, Namasté Vineyards, Firesteed Cellars, Andante Vineyard, Left Coast Cellars, Holmes Gap Vineyard, Havlin Vineyard and Van Duzer Vineyards. The AVA also has 18 commercial vineyards, with 1,000 acres of grapes planted.
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There are four additional AVAs in the TTB pipeline in the Willamette Valley: Laurelwood District in the Chehalem Mountain AVA; Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon; Tualatin Hills and Lower Long Tom in Benton and Lane counties.

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About the Oregon Wine Board
The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. Visit oregonwine.org.

About the Willamette Valley Wineries Association
The WVWA is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregon’s acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premium Pinot noir–producing region. The WVWA has more than 230 members representing wineries, tasting rooms, and vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country and Wine Country Thanksgiving are the two oldest WVWA– sponsored touring events in Oregon.
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The organization also hosts Willamette: the Pinot Noir Auction, an annual, trade-only wine auction in April. Visit http://www.willamettewines.com for more info.

Highlights from 2018 Winesong on the Mendocino Coast

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FORT BRAGG, CA – During a spectacular weekend of award-winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving, the 34th Annual Winesong saw a record-shattering amount raised for the Fund-A-Need auction lot, which this year benefited Cancer Care at Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Held on the Mendocino Coast on September 7th and 8th, highlights included A Pinot Noir Celebration, the Grand Tasting a Silent and Live Auction, where attendees witnessed unbelievable generosity. Winesong is the main fundraising event benefiting the District Hospital. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, all proceeds go towards supporting the local Hospital that serves the entire Mendocino Coast, plus rural inland areas covering nearly half the distance to Highway 101.

Winesong 2018 kicked off on Friday, September 7th with an insider’s view of spectacular Pinot Noirs at ‘A Pinot Noir Celebration’ hosted by the Little River Inn. Guests enjoyed Pinot Noir tastings and delicious passed hors d’oeuvres, along with a chance to “talk shop” with the winemakers from Mendocino County, Napa and Sonoma Counties plus Pinots from Willamette Valley and New Zealand. On Saturday, September 8th, attendees to the Grand Tasting strolled the enchanting Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and beyond, and bites from numerous fine food purveyors. The celebration continued in the Auction Tents with the always-entertaining main attraction, the Live and Silent Auctions, where well over 100 lots were on offer – including spectacular wines from a selection of prestigious wine producers, rare and hard-to-find vintages, special vertical and horizontal collections, original paintings and art from highly acclaimed artists, and domestic and international vacation packages.

Bidders at the Live Auction under the big tent helped raise significant funds, with the highlight being the Fund-A-Need focused on Cancer Care. While the bidding was set to start at $20,000, Honored Vintner Dan Duckhorn surprised everyone under the tent with an opening $50,000 donation. That was followed by a $25,000 donation, and from there, paddles shot up around the tent until the final tally of $265,000 was announced – more than the $250,000 the Foundation had hoped for and nearly $60,000 more than the previous record.  Since the event, more donations from the FAN have been received, to the gratitude of the Foundation and District Hospital, and 100% of these donations going directly to the Hospital. Trips to Italy and South Africa each garnered $20,000 each, with the South Africa trip being doubled. A week in Anguilla was tripled at $33,000. A 2006 Shafer Hillside Select in a 6L format sold at $4,000, while a vertical collection of Vosne-Romanee, Clos de Reas’ Premier Cru spanning four decades went for $7,000.

Winning bids on other lots included:

  • Lot 9: “Honored Vintner – Take Flight” – Tasting Experiences between Napa and Anderson Valley with private jet transportation, plus dinner and several large format bottles – $12,000
  • Lot 12: Artist of the Year Stained Glass, “The Wave” – $7,000
  • Lot 19:  “One Big Beautiful Bottle of Bordeaux” – 2008 Chateau Palmer, Grand Cru Margaux 6L – $5,700
  • Lot 30: “Jazz You Like It” – 2019 VIP Experience for two at Monterey Jazz Festival – $5,500
  • Lot 47: VIP Experience for Winesong’s 35th Anniversary – doubled at $12,000 apiece.

“We were thrilled with the outcome of Winesong 2018,” states Michelle Roberts, Executive Director of the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation. “It was another great year, with incredible results for the Fund-A-Need benefiting Cancer Care patients and the Oncology Department at Mendocino Coast District Hospital. We thank everyone who helped make the day a success, and the generosity around this event is truly awe-inspiring.”

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System, a Patient Bedside Monitoring & Alert system, and Patient Smart Beds for all rooms plus ER.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org or call (707) 961-4688.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Contributions of American Viticultural Areas

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WASHINGTON – The Wine Origins Alliance (WOA) recently praised the passage of a bipartisan congressional resolution, S. Res. 649, that recognizes the uniqueness and value of American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). The Senate resolution, introduced by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), acknowledges the distinctiveness of American wine regions and the contributions they provide to the U.S. and global economy.

From Wine Origins Alliance Facebook page.

“Missouri has a rich history in winemaking dating back to German settlers in the mid-1800s,” said Blunt. “Today, the wine industry contributes more than $3.2 billion annually to the state’s economy. Missouri is also fortunate to have the very first federally-designated American Viticultural Area in the country, which is located in Augusta, Missouri. I am pleased that my colleagues joined Senator Merkley and me in supporting our nation’s wines, wineries, and wine-growing regions across the country.”

“Oregon wine country is one of the most beautiful and productive regions of our state,” said Merkley. “Our delicious pinots, Rieslings and more create jobs and fuel our tourist economy. I am happy to recognize the wine industry’s incredible contributions to Oregon and the United States, and will continue to be a strong ally and customer!”

The WOA is a unified global force in the winemaking industry dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of location to winemaking and protecting the integrity of wine region names worldwide. Its members include 24 winery and grape-growing organizations in nine countries spanning North America, Europe and Australia. In March, the Alliance released a consumer survey that found 94 percent of American wine drinkers support laws that would protect consumers from misleading wine labels. The group also released a short film featuring winemakers explaining how the complete environment of a wine region’s location makes their wines unique.

“Every wine region around the world produces wine that is impossible to duplicate anywhere else, and I want to thank Senators Blunt and Merkley for their leadership in introducing and securing the passage of this resolution to recognize that special places make unique wines,” said Harry Peterson-Nedry, representative for the Oregon Winegrowers Association and Willamette Valley Wineries Association.

“We appreciate the efforts of Senators Blunt and Merkley to pass this resolution,” added Dr. Peter Hofherr, Chairman of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board and Chairman and CEO of St. James Winery. “In doing so, the Senate has demonstrated its commitment to the U.S. wine industry and the quality regions that produce unique wines.”

The global wine market is currently worth an estimated $342.43 billion and expected to grow 5.1 percent by 2023. In the United States, the wine industry directly employs more than one million people and supports nearly 300,000 jobs. Additionally, U.S. wine regions host more than 43 million tourists each year, supporting 375,000 jobs and generating nearly $18 billion in tourism expenditures.

“The introduction of these resolutions demonstrates the increased attention paid by the U.S. Congress – and the American consumers they represent – to the value of wine regions and their great impact on a nation’s economy,” said Maxime Toubart, winegrower and co-president of the Comité Champagne. “We are proud to work with U.S. wine regions and others from Europe, Canada, and Australia, to ensure that our wine region names are protected for the benefit of consumers and not abused.”

The resolution builds upon a companion resolution, H. Res. 766, introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY-1). Other members of Congress have since signed on in support of H. Res. 766, including Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Tony Cardenas (D-CA-29), Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-8), John Katko (R-NY-24) Peter King (R-NY-2), Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), Tom Reed (R-NY-23), Ed Royce (R-CA-39), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), Mike Thompson (D-CA-5) and David Valadao (R-CA-21).

For more information about the Alliance’s activities, visit origins.wine.

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About Wine Origins Alliance

The Wine Origins Alliance, previously known as the Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & Origin, works to ensure wine region names are protected and not abused or miscommunicated to consumers worldwide. Members represent the regions of Barossa, Bordeaux, Bourgogne/Chablis, British Columbia, Champagne, Chianti Classico, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Long Island, McLaren Vale, Missouri, Napa Valley, Oregon, Paso Robles, Porto, Rioja, Santa Barbara County, Sonoma County, Texas, Tokaj, Victoria, Walla Walla Valley, Washington state, Willamette Valley and Western Australia. For more information, visit origins.wine or follow the Alliance on Twitter and Facebook.