Grand Reserve World Mastercard® Expands its Partner Network of Boutique Wineries, Merchants and Gourmet Food Companies to Benefit Oenophiles

March 25, 2021 by evebushman

Ridge Vineyards, The Debate Wine, Pyramid Valley Vineyards, B. Stuyvesant Champagne, Hoopes Vineyard, Dusty Nabor, Benchmark Wine Group, JJ Buckley Fine Wines, Flannery Beef, Grassl Glass and more join over 450 partners in the Grand Reserve rewards program network.

PASADENA, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — Vertical Finance has announced that they have welcomed 29 new boutique wineries, merchants, and gourmet food companies, to the Grand Reserve™ World Mastercard® partner network, further broadening the program designed to reward cardmembers as they pursue their passion for wine. Cardmembers earn significant bonus points on purchases made directly from Grand Reserve partners and receive unique benefits and exclusive invitations.

Grand Reserve is delighted to welcome (in alphabetical order): B. Stuyvesant Champagne, Benchmark Wine Group, Briceland Vineyards, Chiron Wines, Dusty Nabor Wines, DV8 Cellars, EMH Vineyards, Flannery Beef, Gourmets of Spain, Grassl Glass, Hoopes Vineyard, JJ Buckley Fine Wines, Just Enough Wines, Liquid Assets Cellars, Loring Wine Company, Meadowcroft wines, Oestermann Family Winery, Pyramid Valley Vineyards, Ridge Vineyard, Riverain Vineyard, Sabeli-Frisch Wines, Sandler Wine co, Scherrer Winery, Smith & Sheth, The Debate Wine, Vincent Wine Company, Woodhouse Wine Estates, Zeka Vineyards and Zoetic Wines.

Launched in August of last year, Grand Reserve World Mastercard was designed with a cardmember-first approach and focuses on truly rewarding the passion that members have for discovering, enjoying, and collecting fine wine. Grand Reserve connects members with the finest boutique wineries and other partners that pair with their passion, offering significant bonus points on purchases made directly from partners and exclusive benefits through its rewards and loyalty program. Grand Reserve points can be redeemed for wine, sommelier-curated reward catalog items, exclusive experiences, and more.

“We’re excited to continue growing our portfolio of Grand Reserve partners and give our members access to even more partner benefits and experiences. Additionally, we aim to provide a unique marketing channel to boutique fine wineries and other partners,” said Matthew Goldman, Vertical Finance founder and CEO. “Our goal is to connect members with the finest producers of wine, support our partners, and provide exceptional rewards for wine enthusiasts.”

Other partners in the network include (in alphabetical order): Beckmen Vineyards, Charles Krug Winery, Flanagan Wines, Freeman Winery, Joseph Jewell Wines, Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, Long Meadow Ranch, Moseley Family Estate, Myriad Cellars, Patz & Hall, Relic Wine Cellars, Senses Wine, Switchback Ridge, and Willamette Valley Vineyards among many others. The full list of over 450 Grand Reserve partners may be viewed at https://grandreserverewards.com/partner-network

“We’re excited to be a partner in this unique rewards program for wine lovers,” said Christopher Lloyd Strieter, Founder of Senses Wines. “Great wine is best enjoyed as part of a community and Grand Reserve promises to bring wine lovers and wineries like ours together in a new way.”

Full details about the Grand Reserve World Mastercard can be found at grandreserverewards.com.

About Vertical Finance

Vertical Finance is a fintech and challenger credit card startup. The company’s modern credit card platform matches consumers with high-quality boutique merchants and authentic rewards that enhance their lifestyle pursuits. The company’s flagship program, Grand Reserve, rewards consumers when they shop at wineries, wine clubs, and wine shops. Vertical Finance is a 1% for the Planet company, a global network of businesses, nonprofits, and individuals working together for a healthy planet, committed to giving 1% of gross sales each year to approved nonprofit partners. Visit verticalfinance.com and grandreserverewards.com to learn more. Consumers can connect with Grand Reserve on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

Sokol Blosser Winery Marks 50 Years as a Family-Owned Willamette Valley Original – with a flash sale + more!

February 15, 2021 by evebushman

DUNDEE HILLS, Ore. /PRNewswire/ — Sokol Blosser Winery, founded in 1971 by Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser and now under second-generation leadership, will mark 50 years of growing and making signature Willamette Valley wines in 2021 with a year-long celebration.

As part of the celebration, Sokol Blosser will revisit its first vintage with a 1970s Flash Sale on Tue., Feb. 2. For one day only, its 2018 Redland Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir will be available on its website for $6.75 per 750 ml bottle – the very same price of the winery’s first vintage of Pinot Noir in 1977. (Limit of 12 bottles per person, while supplies last).

“This is a major milestone for us,” said Alison Sokol Blosser, CEO of Sokol Blosser Winery. “We are one of the few founding wineries in the Willamette Valley that has not only remained family-owned and operated, but has continued to grow. My brother Alex and I learned the business from working alongside our parents, and we’re so grateful for the strength and wisdom that’s enabled us to not just survive but thrive for 50 years. We’re excited to celebrate all year long with our customers, trade and industry partners!”

On top of its 1970s Flash Sale, Sokol Blosser will mark the occasion with a series of special bottlings, tasting room activities (when it’s safe) and wine club offerings including:

Exclusive anniversary bottling of 2018 Old Vineyard Block Dundee Hills Pinot Noir with a retro label that evokes the brand’s original 1970’s label design and shape (SRP $60; available direct from the winery only).
A special Instagram and Facebook Live tasting with wine expert Leslie Sbrocco on Feb. 10 featuring Susan Sokol Blosser and Alison Sokol Blosser.
Fireside chats and online tastings (via Zoom) with Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser for media, trade and consumers.
When the tasting room reopens, guests will step back to the 70s with 50^th
Anniversary flights featuring family favorites and library wines, a 1970s Spotify playlist (free to download!) with a groovy soundtrack, and special surprises for guests who arrive in ’70s cars or are celebrating 50^th milestones of their own.

“It’s a privilege to farm these vineyards and create wines that reflect the exact hillsides where our parents started 50 years ago,” said head winemaker Alex Sokol Blosser. “Our wines have improved year after year, and it’s a testament to our parents’ original belief that the Dundee Hills and Willamette Valley would indeed be a fine place to grow grapes and make wine.”

A Half Century of Accomplishments
In December 1970, Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser purchased five acres of land in the Dundee Hills (a former prune orchard), and soon thereafter planted it to Pinot Noir and other varietals. By 1980, the Sokol Blossers had expanded their holdings to 72 acres and today the winery farms 105 acres of estate vineyards under vine. Over its 50 years, Sokol Blosser has made history with a number of accomplishments:

Sokol Blosser opened the first purpose-built winery tasting room in Oregon in 1978.
Sokol Blosser was first recognized for its environmental stewardship in 1983 by the U.S. Soil & Water Conservation District.
Evolution Lucky No. 9 White Blend was introduced in 1998, paving the way for a whole new category of white blends in the marketplace.
Sokol Blosser was the first winery in the world to have a LEED-certified winery building in 2002 for its underground barrel cellar.
Sokol Blosser’s Estate Vineyard received full USDA organic certification in 2005.
The second generation took the reins in 2008 as co-presidents. Today, Alison Sokol Blosser is CEO and Alex Sokol Blosser is Winemaker.
In 2013, Sokol Blosser opened a stunning new tasting room designed by Brad Cloepfil from Allied Works Architecture which raised the bar for hospitality and wine country experiences in the Willamette Valley.
In 2015, the winery received coveted B Corp Certification for its high standards of social and environmental performance and accountability.
Sokol Blosser introduced Oregon’s only nationally distributed box wines in 2020, with Evolution Pinot Noir and Lucky No. 9 White now available in 1.5- liter boxes.

About Sokol Blosser Winery As one of the pioneering wineries of the region, Sokol Blosser has played a key role in developing and shaping the now-prominent Oregon wine industry. The winery remains family owned and operated, with the second generation now at the helm: siblings Alison and Alex Sokol Blosser. Achieving B Corp certification in 2015, the winery creates wines of world-class quality, produced in a sustainable manner, reflecting the distinctive flavors of the grapes, soil and climate. The winery produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, sparkling wines, Riesling and small quantities of single block Pinot Noir under its Sokol Blosser brand, and a white wine, red blend, Pinot Noir, sparkling wine, Riesling, and Chardonnay and Oregon’s first nationally distributed box wines under Evolution label. Visit http://www.sokolblosser.com/ and follow @sokolblosser and @evolutionwines on Instagram and Facebook.

Oregon Winery Launches Pay-What-You-Can, Donate-the-Proceeds Campaign, Pinot for the People

September 13, 2020 by evebushman

RICKREALL, ORE. (PRWEB) – In these uncertain times, the team at Left Coast Estate put their heads together for how they could meaningfully give back. The winery, located in the newly designated Van Duzer Corridor AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, had seen the profound impact of the COVID crisis on the hospitality industry and felt compelled to act. The idea that blossomed from their conversations was a first-of-its-kind venture in the wine industry: pay-what-you-can. Across the country, thousands of restaurants remain boarded up and millions of Americans are unemployed. “We know that our wine is part of a rarified world,” says Creative Director and Family Ownership, Cali Pfaff. “But we also believe wholeheartedly that wine brings people together. We decided as a family to forgo profits for this effort so that we could share our wine more broadly during this challenging time. We hope, in a small and modest way, that our wine will make someone’s day.”

The idea of a charitable component came shortly thereafter in a discussion on how to use any profits. “We are a second-generation, family-run business and that gives us certain freedoms in decision-making,” says CEO and Family Ownership, Taylor Pfaff, “We realized in a pay-what-you-can scenario, we could donate the proceeds after our production costs were covered and help out our community more.” The family selected five nonprofits to support through the effort, including the NAACP, the Oregon Community Foundation, the Sentencing Project, Ducks Unlimited, and Salud. The nonprofit partners align closely with Left Coast’s mission and values, including environmental conservation, an atmosphere of welcoming and inclusion, and dignity and living wages for agricultural workers. Customers are free to choose which of the five nonprofits their proceeds support. The name, Pinot for the People, represents a desire to shake off the pretentiousness and exclusivity often associated with winemaking and Willamette Valley wines. “We are grape-farmers at our core,” says Taylor. “We are really here to build a community and share the fruits of our harvest.”

Through the end of 2020, Left Coast is selling their 2017 Cali’s Cuvee (92 points from Wine Enthusiast) on a pay-what-you-can basis, starting at $12. That is 50% off of the MSR of $24. All revenue over $11 will be donated to one of the five nonprofits. The promotion is online only through the company’s website, https://leftcoastwine.com/pinot-for-the-people. “We are so grateful to the restaurants, somms, retailers, distributors, consumers, and wine club members that have supported us over the past 17 years,” says matriarch and Founder, Suzanne Larson Pfaff. “In the winemaking industry, it truly takes a village and we would not be where we are without the community around us. This is our way of saying thank you.”

About Left Coast:

Left Coast Estate is a family-run winery, vineyard, and working farm. We are guided by two defining principles: a passion for making world-class wine from all-Estate fruit and a deep connection to the land where we live and farm. Each bottle is crafted to represent the unique terroir of our 490-acre estate. Our focus on terroir aligns with sustainable farming practices to preserve the integrity of our land for future generations. Our vineyards and winery are certified sustainable through LIVE, an independent, third-party certification that looks at all of the inputs into the land to ensure that they are in line with the latest university research and internationally accredited standards. We maintain over 200 acres of ecological compensation areas, of which over 100 acres are old growth white oak forests. Our oldest oaks are up to 450 years old and are the most threatened habitat in the Willamette Valley. We’ve partnered with the US Department of Fish & Wildlife to restore these forests by removing invasive species and bringing them under long-term care and conservation. Our visitors and guests have enjoyed the transformation of the Estate as USA Today voted us as Oregon’s Top Tasting Room of 2017 and most recently voted top 100 Best fan-favorite destinations in Oregon 2019.

Connect on social:

@leftcoastwine
#pinotforthepeople

Oregon’s Willamette Valley Welcomes Two New Nested Appellations

July 25, 2020 by evebushman

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. “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. 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

June 11, 2020 by evebushman

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 50^th 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

February 26, 2020 by evebushman

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.

NAPA’S NEWEST TASTING ROOM, WALT NAPA OXBOW, LAUNCHES FRESH, FOCUSED FOOD AND WINE PAIRING EXPERIENCE

February 24, 2020 by evebushman

NAPA, CA – WALT Wines, a leading luxury Pinot Noir producer owned by Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall, has announced a new food and wine experience at their newly opened tasting room in the Oxbow District of downtown Napa. The tasting incorporates perfectly paired bites from Michelin-rated Chef Ken Frank of La Toque restaurant in Napa Valley alongside single vineyard Pinot Noir wines from WALT. The WALT Napa Oxbow tasting room opened this past Fall.

“I’ve known Chef Ken Frank for over a decade,” says WALT Wines General Manger, Jeff Zappelli. “When we sat down and to pair our wines with his dish selections, it was thrilling. Each of the wines has a distinct flavor profile, so to have Ken complement those profiles with food selections is a wonderful way to highlight the focus of this experience.”

ROOT 101 will offer guests an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the intricates of wine and food pairings with exceptional quality at all touchpoints. Guests will enjoy the pairings with a personal wine educator in a private glass studio room, adorned with art from the Hall’s private collection. The Root 101 tasting is offered by reservation only at WALT Napa Oxbow daily at 11am and 1pm for $60 ($40 for wine club members) and reservations can be made by going ONLINE or by calling 707-933-4440.

“Food and wine pairing has always been central to the experience at La Toque,” says Chef Ken Frank. “High quality Pinot Noir wines really reflect the nuances from the sites where they are grown and that’s what makes doing the ROOT 101 so much fun for us. This experience provides a great selection of prestigious vineyards from all the sweet spots up and down the West Coast.”

The newly renovated 1,500 square foot indoor tasting room space features a trapezoidal tasting bar designed by Jarrod Denton of Signum Architecture. Comprised of an Italian-porcelain countertop, bar is illuminated with gold LED globes suspended above guests while they taste.

In addition to the ROOT 101 Experience, guests joining the WALT Napa Oxbow have three tasting offerings to consider including:

CURRENT RELEASE TASTING, $30pp

(Complimentary for Wine Club Members) Guests will explore five current releases including single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines spanning 1,000 Miles of Pinot Noir, a concept designed to educate Pinot fans with vineyard sourcing and terroir.

PORTFOLIO TASTING, $30pp

(Complimentary for Wine Club Members) Guests will have access to taste from each of the three award winning HALL Family Wine bottlings; including WALT Pinot Noir, HALL Cabernet Sauvignon and BACA Zinfandel wines in a tasting that highlights current releases for each varietal and background about the Hall family.

WINE & CHOCOLATE PAIRING, $50pp

($30 for Wine Club Members) Guests will indulge in the decadent world of wine and chocolate through a tasting experience that explores the senses through taste and aromatics. The experience includes six Pinot Noir wines paired with Kollar Chocolates, a leading luxury chocolatier based in Yountville, CA.

WALT produces single vineyard Pinot Noir wines from appellations stretching from as far north as the Willamette Valley in Oregon, through Anderson Valley, the Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and the Sta. Rita Hills of the Santa Barbara County. WALT specializes in premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from vineyards spanning 1,000 miles, a mile marking distance that coined the brand’s popular 1,000 Miles of Pinot concept.

For more information, please visit www.waltwines.com, follow on social @waltwines, or by calling 707-933-4440

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WALT: 1,000 Miles of Pinot

WALT specializes in premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from the most coveted vineyards along the Pacific Coast, spanning 1,000 miles from the Willamette Valley to the Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. Led by Winemaker Megan Gunderson Paredes, WALT represents wines of a place – these special sites where thoughtful viticulture enables winemakers to create expressive wines that reflect the signature personality of each site. WALT farms three estate vineyards and partners with meticulous growers who aspire to share standards of quality. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall, WALT honors Kathryn’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt, who were grape growers in Mendocino County since 1972 and nurtured Kathryn’s passion for vineyards and wine. Guests can visit WALT at three tasting room locations including at the Sonoma Plaza located in Sonoma, CA, Healdsburg, CA and in the Oxbow district located in downtown Napa, CA. All three Tasting Rooms are open to the public. For more information, please visit www.waltwines.com or call (707) 933-4440. @waltwines #1000milesofpinot.

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

December 3, 2019 by evebushman

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!”

November 3, 2019 by evebushman

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%. 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.

“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

May 22, 2019 by evebushman

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.