News Briefs Northwest
byNews Briefs Northwest
October 2018Ste. Michelle winemaking, vineyard chief to retire
Woodinville, Wash.—Doug Gore, executive vice president of winemaking vineyards and operations for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates announced his retirement after a 36-year career with the state of Washington’s largest wine producer. A California native, Gore relocated to Washington to join Chateau Ste. Michelle’s winemaking team. He was named winemaker for the fledgling Columbia Crest winery within a year, and his responsibilities later grew to include all vineyards and wineries that Ste. Michelle owns across Washington, Oregon and California. “I worked with Doug for my entire 34-year career at Ste. Michelle, and I am very grateful for his immense contributions to our company and to the Washington wine industry,” said Ted Baseler, former President and CEO of Ste. Michelle. “I must say, however, that I am even more grateful that Doug will be joining me regularly on the golf course very soon.”
Juan Muñoz-Oca; currently vice president of winemaking for overseeing 14 Hands, BORNE of Fire, Columbia Crest, INTRINSIC, Northstar and Spring Valley Vineyard; has been named executive vice president of winemaking, vineyards and operations responsible for all of Ste. Michelle’s facilities; effective Jan. 1. Muñoz-Oca will report directly to the company’s new president and CEO Jim Mortensen. Bob Bertheau, currently vice president of winemaking overseeing Chateau Ste. Michelle and Col Solare, has been promoted to senior vice president of winemaking, effective Jan. 1. Bertheau will report to Muñoz-Oca.
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October 2018Black Hills Estate president steps down
Oliver, B.C.—After 11 years as director and president of Black Hills Estate Winery, Glenn Fawcett is officially stepping down from day-to-day operations as he embarks on a three-month sabbatical, according to a statement released by the winery. In early 2019, Fawcett will return to the industry in his new role as “chief wine evangelist” for Black Hills’ parent company, Andrew Peller Ltd. (APL). Day-to-day operations of Black Hills will be managed by the team members running the respective vineyard, winemaking, estate and marketing operations of the business, while reporting to and working with the management team of APL.
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September 20182017 Oregon vineyard and winery Report released
Portland, Ore.—The Oregon Wine Board released its vineyard and winery report this month, indicating significant gains within many areas of the state’s wine industry. The annual study, conducted by the University of Oregon Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE), determined the number of vineyards in the state increased from 1,052 to 1,114. Researchers also found that wine sales increased to $550 million in 2017, buoyed by increases in direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales. Total wine sales in 2017 increased nearly 4% over the prior year’s $529 million in sales. Total value of the production of wine grapes increased 14% from $167 million to $192 million in 2017. The north Willamette Valley continues to lead the state with 73% of total tons crushed.
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September 2018WA Wine Foundation donates $15,000 for immigration rights
Cashmere, Wash.—The Washington Wine Industry Foundation presented a check for $15,000 to the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) at an event held in Benton City, Wash., on Sept. 13. The NWIRP provides legal services to immigrants and their families in Washington state to help them navigate the complexities of the United States immigration system. Access to labor and labor shortages are the leading issues for Washington’s labor-intensive agriculture including the grape and wine industry. According to the lack of comprehensive immigration reform threatens immigrant families and the sustainable operation of a vineyard.
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September 2018L'Ecole 41 hires new general manager
Walla Walla, Wash.—L’Ecole No. 41 winery hired Constance Savage as general manager, replacing current general manager, Debbie Frol, who will retire at the end of 2018. Savage joins L’Ecole from Kobrand in New York, where she served as vice president and director of supplier relations.
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September 2018IBG buys Duck Pond Cellars
Dundee, Ore.—The Great Oregon Wine Company (GOWC), a subsidiary of Integrated Beverage Group (IBG), announced its acquisition of Duck Pond Cellars in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. GOWC is buying a winery, tasting room and 300 acres of land in the Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley and Umpqua Valley. The addition of Duck Pond Cellars to its portfolio will increase GOWC’s wine production capacity to more than 300,000 cases, making it one of the larger wine producers in Oregon.
According to the Wines Vines Analytics winery database, Duck Pond Cellars produces around 70,000 cases per year with an average bottle price of $18. The winery was founded in 1993 by Doug and Jo Ann Fries who purchased a 500-acre hazelnut orchard in Dundee in 1984. The Fries had most recently purchased a vineyard in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley to increase their total holdings to more than 1,000 acres. The Fries also own a 540-acre ranch in the Wahluke Slope of Washington state.
The Fries family will remain involved in the winery to facilitate the transition of the business until all regulatory approvals are complete, according to the press release by GOWC.
“I am very grateful for all the hard work that everyone on the Duck Pond team has put in to build the Duck Pond Cellars brand, cultivate vineyards and create a destination for consumers, said Greg Fries, president of Fries Family Wines, in the GOWC press release. “With their extensive experience in Oregon, we’re confident that Great Oregon Wine Company will carry on Duck Pond Cellars’ legacy of quality.”
Integrated Beverage Group is based in Denver, Colo. and was founded in 2012. The company’s portfolio of brands and wine companies includes Replica, Swing Set, Rascal, Lil Rascal cans and GOWC.
“We are thrilled to add Duck Pond Cellars to the Great Oregon Wine Company portfolio, giving us access to premier vineyards in the region as we grow our winery operations in Oregon,” said Ari Walker, CEO of Integrated Beverage Group.
Zepponi & Company, the Santa Rosa, Calif.-based mergers and acquisitions advisory firm dedicated to the global beverage alcohol industry, served as the exclusive financial advisor to Duck Pond Cellars GOWC.
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August 2018Columbia Winery raises $1 million for children's hospital
Woodinville, Calif.—Columbia Winery’s 12th annual charity walk and run has raised more than $1 million in donations over the past decade and is contributing the funds to the Seattle Children’s Hospital. The Columbia Winery Charity Walk & Run is a part of the four-day Auction of Washington Wines that takes place each year since 1988.
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August 2018Road 13 named No. 1 in Canada
Oliver, B.C.—Road 13 Vineyards in Oliver, B.C., received the title of No. 1 Winery in Canada after ten consecutive years placing within the Top Ten Winery in Canada list by the National Wine Awards of Canada, which has been managed by Wine Align since 2013. According to a press release, Road 13 Vineyards is the only winery in Canada to win both platinum and a top-ten national spot for six consecutive years.
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July 2018Columbia Crest announces new winemaker
Paterson, Wash.—Columbia Crest appointed Katie Nelson as the senior director of winemaking. In her new role, Nelson will be responsible for all winemaking decisions across the entire range of Columbia Crest wines, including the Reserve, H3 and Grand Estate tiers. She will also manage other innovation projects produced at the Columbia Crest winery. Nelson previously worked for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates from 1999 to 2015.
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July 2018Montinore Estate names new viticulturist
Forest Grove, Ore.—Montinore Estate named Karen Peterson as the company’s newest viticulturist. Peterson comes to Montinore Estate after working at Domaine Drouhin Oregon as a vineyard assistant and later at A to Z Wineworks as a viticulturist. Peterson started her new role a…
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July 2018Chehalem Winery earns B Corp Certification
Newberg, Ore.—Chehalem winery announced it achieved B Corp Certification status, which assesses companies to ensure they meet a high standard of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability. Chehalem Winery joins its sister winery Stoller Family Estate along with A to Z Wineworks, Sokol Blosser Winery, Winderlea Vineyard & Winery and Patton Valley Vineyard, making it the sixth Oregon winery and 114th company in Oregon to attain the status.
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July 2018WA foundation golf tourney raises nearly $60,000
Cashmere, Wash.—In July, The Washington Wine Industry Foundation announced the group’s 18th annual Wine Cup golf tournament raised more than $58,000 for the foundation’s programs, which are intended to develop sustainable solutions to industry challenges. The Foundation also announced winners of its scholarship program, awarding $38,000 to 12 Washington-based students pursuing careers in the wine industry.
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July 2018TIME Winery opens in downtown Penticton, names new director of winemaking
Penticton, B.C.—TIME Winery announced the soft opening of its new winery in downtown Penticton, B.C. will take place in late 2018 following harvest. This will be South Okanagan’s first urban winery.
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July 2018Marcus Rafanelli receives Wine Foundation's 2018 Powers Sabbatical
Walla Walla, Wash.—The Washington Wine Industry Foundation announced the 2018 Powers Sabbatical award to Marcus Rafanelli. Rafanelli is the Instructor of applied winemaking at Walla Walla Community College and cellar master for the institution’s College Cellars.
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June 2018Ackerman joins Bird Control Group
Lake Oswego, Ore.—Wayne Ackerman joined Bird Control Group, located in Lake Oswego, Ore., as director of business development for North America. Previous to this role, Ackerman served for several years as a senior member of the management team of OVS Oregon Vineyard Supply. “I was exposed to … laser light for bird control while at OVS,” Wayne said in a press release. “It proved to work so well that I joined the team of Bird Control Group to help them expand their network of dealers throughout North America.”
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June 2018Upchurch adds Sauvignon Blanc to portfolio
Benton City, Wash.—Chris Upchurch introduced 2016 Southwest Facing, his inaugural vintage of Sauvignon Blanc, to his wine portfolio. The white wine is a collaboration with Washington grower Dick Boushey, showcasing a single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Boushey’s County Line Road property in Grandview, Wash. Upchurch Vineyard produced 200 cases; bottle price is $36.
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June 2018Survey finds growing awareness of Washington research
Seattle, Wash.—Awareness for the Washington State Wine Commission’s research program is growing, according to a recent survey by the group. More than eight out of 10 people working in the state's industry who participated in the survey are aware that the commission has a targeted wine research program, up from 60% awareness two years ago.
The survey, administered this spring by the commission, also found that awareness of viticulture and enology research for Washington nearly doubled in two years. Viticulture and enology research in Washington is primarily conducted by Washington State University scientists.
The annual survey’s primary purpose is to receive input from industry on research needs and priorities. The research priority list guides the industry’s competitive-grant research program. The survey asked industry members to rank current research topics and suggest new ones. Phenolic management, microbial spoilage and nutrient management on fermentation were ranked high in the survey for enology research topics. On the viticulture side, vine nutrition and health, mechanization, virus and disease management and foliar disease management ranked high.
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June 2018Archery Summit hires new winemaker
Dayton, Ore.—Ian Burch is the new winemaker at Archery Summit winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Burch will direct and oversee all winemaking operations, from vine to bottle. Burch studied wine and viticulture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and has worked harvests in Australia, California, New Zealand, Oregon and France before settling in the Willamette Valley in 2008. Most recently, Burch was winemaker for Scott Paul Wines in Carlton, Ore.
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May 2018Wilson Daniels Wholesale acquires Galaxy in Oregon
New York—Wilson Daniels Wholesale announced it is acquiring Portland, Ore.-based Galaxy Wine Company from founders Matt Elsen and Bob Liner. After the deal closes, Glaxy will operate under the wholesale division of importer Wilson Daniels LLC, which is a New York-based subsidiary of Young's Holdings. Elsen and Liner will continue to lead Galaxy's existing staff. Galaxy imports wines from more than 400 producers to the state of Oregon. "This is a gratifying culmination to almost 20 years in the wine industry," said the founders in a joint statement announcing the deal. "Since our inception, our goals have been to deliver an unparalleled level of service, build an impeccable portfolio and represent our wines faithfully. Thanks to our employees, who will enjoy long-term stability and greater resources, we have succeeded."
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May 2018Cowhorn Vineyard tasting room earns Living Building certification
Jacksonville, Ore.—The tasting room at Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden has earned Living Building certification, making it the first commercial building in Oregon and the one of the first in the wine industry to earn the green building standard. Green Hammer, a unified design-build firm based in Portland, designed and built the 2,200-square-foot tasting room, which includes a case storage area.
As of May 2018, only 20 buildings worldwide have achieved Living Building certification, according to the ILFI.
Cowhorn's tasting room had to be operational for at least 12 consecutive months prior to achieving Living Building certification. Since opening in May 2016, the winery reported in a press release that the building's 15.96 kW photovoltaic system produced 175% of the building's total energy needs. All of the building's water requirements are met by an appropriately sized, closed-loop system, where water is supplied by an on-site well and wastewater is treated on site and restored to the groundwater.
As part of the certification process, Green Hammer reviewed and verified the ingredients of every material slated for installation — ranging from hardware to drywall — to verify that they were free of toxic and bio-accumulative substances pervasive in most building materials. In addition, only Forest Stewardship Council–certified wood was used in building construction.
"Our farming and winemaking philosophy is similar to our building philosophy — by focusing on restorative rather than extractive processes, we produce higher-quality wine with fewer resources," said Cowhorn Vineyard founder and winemaker Barbara Steele in a recent press release. "People can taste the difference when they drink our wine, and they can feel the difference when they walk in the tasting room."
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May 2018Black Hills Estate announces changes to winemaking team
Oliver, B.C.—Black Hills Estate announced that after working at the winery for 10 years, winemaker Graham Pierce is transitioning to a new role as consulting winemaker. In this new part-time position, Pierce will continue to be involved in key strategic decisions and practices in the winery’s winemaking program, including grape picking, fermentation, barrel selection, blending and stylistic directions. As consulting winemaker, Pierce will also work closely with Black Hills' future winemaker and the existing winery team to execute the day-to-day operations. The search for a new winemaker is currently underway.
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May 2018Campisi new winemaker at Dunham Cellars
Walla Walla, Wash.—Dunham Cellars promoted Robert Campisi to the post of head winemaker. Campisi joined the winery in 2008 and, according to the statement from the winery announcing his promotion, will help manage the development of a new series of wines from Dunham’s recently planted Kenny Hill estate vineyard. In his new role, Campisi will oversee all aspects of winemaking operations and work closely with Dunham’s vineyard manager Ken Hart. “Rob’s long tenure with Dunham and his understanding of Washington State winemaking and grape growing makes him a natural fit for this position,” said winery president John Blair in a press release.
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May 2018Abeja owners sell majority interest
Walla Walla, Wash.—Ken and Ginger Harrison, founders of the Abeja winery and inn, have sold a majority interest in the company to two ownership groups: Arnie Prentice of Seattle’s USI Kibble & Prentice and John Oppenheimer, founder and CEO of Seattle-based Columbia Hospitality.
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May 2018Humbrecht joins Phantom Creek as consultant
Oliver, B.C.—Phantom Creek Estates hired Olivier Humbrecht, Master of Wine, as its new winemaking consultant. Humbrecht is France’s first Master of Wine and the owner and winemaker of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in the Alsace region of France.
According to a statement released by the winery, Phantom Creek is expanding its portfolio to include Pinot Gris and Riesling, and Humbrecht is expected to be instrumental in helping to select and develop vineyard sites that have the potential for excellence. Humbrecht will work closely with winemaker Ross Wise at Phantom Creek's new winery, which features an Alsatian inspired foudre room and was designed with Humbrecht’s input.
Humbrecht will also guide Phantom Creek’s transition to organic and biodynamic farming practices. The winery’s 67 acres of estate vineyards on the Black Sage Bench have been farmed according to organic practices since 2017.
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May 2018Okanagan Crush Pad acquires new vineyard
Summerland, B.C.—Okanagan Crush Pad Winery acquired Secrest Mountain Vineyards in Oliver, BC. The 50-acre property includes a vineyard planted in 2000 with 38 acres of Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer. The property has been under lease to Okanagan Crush Pad since 2010 and is currently transitioning to organic certification. Following this acquisition, Okanagan Crush Pad now has 80 acres of grapes and aims to plant an additional 55 acres at its Garnet Valley Ranch and Monro Avenue sites, to bring the total to 135 acres.
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April 2018A to Z appoints Myers as manager of viticulture
Newberg, Ore.—A to Z Wineworks named Joey Myers manager of viticulture. Myers is a fifth-generation Oregon farmer and Willamette Valley native who brings almost two decades of vineyard management experience that includes growing seasons in France, Switzerland, New Zealand and California. “Joey brings deep knowledge of Oregon viticulture and cool climate viticulture in general. With his extensive background, he will be able to work hand-in-hand with our growers across the state as well as our own estate vineyards,” said Sam Tannahill, A to Z Wineworks Co-Founder, in a press release.
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April 2018Okanagan wineries form new group
Okanagan Valley, B.C.—Seven British Columbian wineries including 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Haywire Wines, Liquidity Wines, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery and Summerhill Pyramid Winery, have formed a partnership, The Okanagan Wine Initiative. The association’s goal is to share resources and collaborate on varying projects internationally, across Canada, and in its home market of British Columbia. The group has been working together informally for more than a year with staff from member wineries traveling abroad to wine trade fairs and working on industry issues such as export market development and sustainable business practices.
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March 2018Washington auction raises more than $160,000
Kennewick, Wash.—The Washington Wine Industry Foundation’s February auction drew more than 400 people from the state’s wine industry and raised more than $160,000 to support the foundation’s work to fund research and scholarships. Auction items included international cruises and trips, winemaker dinners, magnums of Washington wine and other items.
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March 2018Watermill hires commercial director
Milton Freewater, Ore.—Alex Hedges is the new commercial director of Watermill Winery in The Rocks of Milton-Freewater AVA. Hedges is the former national sales manager for Hedges Family Estate, region manager for Sonoma, Calif.-based V2 Wine Group and most recently was the national…
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February 2018Stoller buys out partner in Chehalem
Dayton, Ore.—Bill Stoller has bought out partner Harry Peterson-Nedry's share of Chehalem winery in the Willamette Valley. The two had owned the winery for the past 24 years. According to the statement announcing the deal, the transition will allow Peterson-Nedry, 70, more time to focus on his 48-acre vineyard in the Ribbon Ridge AVA and his winery RR. “Harry Peterson-Nedry has been a mentor to me,” said Stoller in the press release. “When Harry first asked me to be an investor, I saw an opportunity to help fund a friend’s dream and the chance to be a part of something with the potential to be iconic.”
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January 2018Employees purchase Oregon's Naked Winery
Hood River, Ore.—The three founders of Naked Winery in Oregon announced they have sold the company to a small investment group of employees led by the company’s winemaker and general manager Peter Steinfeld. Founded in 1999 by David and Jody Barringer and Dave Michalec, the winery now produces around 45,000 cases and five brands. Steinfeld joined the winery in 2009 and his partners include tasting room manager Lindsey Ewald and her fiancé and former winery employee James Nygren. “One of our early goals was developing a team of dedicated employees who would want to take over ownership and operations once we decided to retire,” said former CEO David Barringer in the statement announcing the ownership change. “Peter is the perfect person to take the helm given his demonstrated experience growing our production and keen understanding of our customers and the experience they expect.”
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January 2018Winebow Group expands in to Oregon
Richmond, Va.—National importer and distributor the Winebow Group announced an expansion into Oregon. The company has increased its national footprint to 22 states and now covers the entire West Coast with Noble Wines in Washington and The Henry Wine Group in California. The Winebow warehouse and office is located in Portland, Ore., and will be managed by Toni Ketrenos, Oregon state manager; Kathy Byrd, vice president and general manager of Noble Wines and Erle Martin, executive vice president of wholesale west.
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January 2018Doubleback buys fourth vineyard in Washington
Walla Walla, Wash.—Doubleback winery has acquired Lefore Vineyard, which is now the company’s fourth estate vineyard. The vineyard is located in the The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, and has been used by the winery as a source of grapes in previous vintages. The 28-acre vineyard was planted in the late 1990s and was sold by partners Bob Lewis and George Killian. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Doubleback now owns 155 acres with 61 of those planted and plans to plant an additional 10 acres this spring. Doubleback was founded by former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
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January 2018Vintage buys Tamarack in Walla Walla
Santa Rosa, Calif.—Vintage Wine Estates acquired Tamarack Cellars winery in Walla Walla, Wash. Founded in 1998 by Ron and Jamie Coleman, Tamarack currently produces around 25,000 cases. "As much as I have loved and am proud of everything we have done building Tamarack, it is with great pleasure that Jamie and I are turning things over to Vintage Wine Estates," said Ron Coleman in the statement released by Vintage announcing the deal. "They also bring the additional tools needed to grow the brand successfully. After 20 years, leaving is bittersweet, but leaving the winery and the people who make it what it is in good hands makes it mostly sweet."
Winemaker Danny Gordon will continue in his position as well as the rest of the current Tamarack staff. Vintage, which is based in Santa Rosa, Calif., did not disclose the price it paid for the winery.
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January 2018Zenith and St. Innocent partners split
Salem, Ore.—Tim and Kari Ramey, founders of Zenith Vineyard in the Willamette Valley, have bought out partner Mark Vlossak, who is moving winemaking of his brand, St. Innocent Winery, to a new property.
Vlossak held a minority interest in the 83-acre vineyard the Rameys own as well as a winery and tasting room the partners built in 2008. The Rameys have purchased that building and hired winemaker Ehren Jordan to manage the production of Zenith wines. Jordan will also be moving production of his Failla Wines to Oregon with him. Vlossak recently purchased a 47.5-acre property in the South Salem Hills area and is planning to build a new winery there.
"We are bringing to a close a highly successful 12-year partnership with St. Innocent LTD,” said Tim Ramey in a press release announcing the changes. “Mark Vlossak has served as our winemaker since our first vintage in 2006. Together we produced beautiful wines together.”
In the same press release, Vlossak said it was time he “return to my roots” and that the new property would enable him to diversify and expand the consumer experience of his wines.
Jordan made wine with Oregon grapes from the Seven Springs Vineyard in 2015 and his Oregon program has grown to about 5,000 cases. "It will be a joy to make wine in the beautiful Zenith winery and we expect to offer custom-crush winemaking to third-parties as well. We are thrilled to join the vibrant community in the Eola-Amity Hills," Jordan said.
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December 2017Gina Hennen promoted to winemaker at Adelsheim
Newberg, Ore.—Gina Hennen is the new wineamaker at Adelsheim Vineyard as Dave Paige is leaving after 16 years with the winery to acquire his own vineyard and launch a new brand. According to a statement released by the winery, Hennen has worked alongside Paige since 2007 and is being promoted to winemaker from the position of associate winemaker. Matt Perry and Noah Roberts who have also worked at the winery for several vintages have been promoted to assistant winemaker and cellar master respectively. “Gina and Dave had a great partnership, and we are thrilled to be able to promote an established leader from within based on the succession plan he developed,” CEO Joth Ricci said in the press release announcing the promotions. "This is a natural transition as Gina has been directly involved in how our wines have been evolving over the last few years, and she understands all aspects of our winemaking program.”
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November 2017Walla Walla alliance promotes new CEO
Walla Walla, Wash.—The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance promoted Ashley Riggs to CEO. Riggs’ replaces former executive director Heather Unwin, who will assist Riggs through the transition as well as work with the organization as needed through 2018. A Walla Walla native, Riggs has served as the WWVWA’s communications and marketing manager since March 2016. Prior to joining the Alliance, Riggs worked for the Tillamook County Creamery Association in advertising and marketing roles. In her new role, Riggs will oversee several alliance initiatives and programs.
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November 2017¡Salud! raises more than $830,000 for worker healthcare
Sherwood, Ore.—¡Salud! announced its 26th annual Oregon Pinot Noir Auction weekend raised more than $830,000 for vineyard worker healthcare. Since its inception in 1991, ¡Salud!, which is a collaboration between Tuality Healthcare and Oregon wineries, has raised more than $14 million. ¡Salud! provides year-round direct care to workers at approximately 150 vineyards throughout the northern Willamette Valley through its mobile medical unit.
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November 2017Dobbes estate founder leaving winery for new venture
Dundee, Ore.—Wine by Joe/Dobbes Estate Wine announced several management promotions as founder Joe Dobbes is stepping down to focus on his new mobile bottling venture Dundee Mobile Bottlers. Gretchen Boock, the first employee Dobbes hired when he launched the winery in 2002, is now the chief executive officer. Boock has worked for the company for 19 years in nearly every capacity.
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September 2017Vanessa Vineyards announces new master winemaker
Cawston, B.C.—Howard Soon is the new master winemaker at Vanessa Vineyards. Prior to joining Vanessa Vineyards, Soon retired from a 37-year career at Calona Vineyards and Sandhill Wines, where he gained notoriety as master winemaker for his award-winning, single-vineyard wines. Formerly a brewmaster, Soon studied biochemistry at the University of British Columbia and business administration at the University of Manitoba before moving to the Okanagan to begin his winemaking career.
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September 2017Twomey owners buy Oregon Pinor Noir vineyard
Napa, Calif.—The Duncan family behind the Silver Oak and Twomey brands in California purchased a 40-acre vineyard property in Oregon from Dick Erath. Erath, who confirmed the deal for Wines & Vines, was one of a handful of winemakers who in the 1970s helped launch the Willamette Valley wine industry that now includes hundreds of wineries and is known as a location for high-end Pinot Noir. The Twomey brand is known for its Pinot, and a 2015 Twomey Oregon Pinot Noir currently sells for $46.
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September 2017Oregon Wine Experience raises $1 million
Medford, Ore.—The recent Oregon Wine Experience event raised more $1 million children’s healthcare. The event featured 103 wineries representing 15 of Oregon’s 17 AVA’s and was made possible by the 327 volunteers who served the 3,670 attendees, up 2,400 from 2016. Proceeds directly benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and other healthcare programs supported by Asante Foundation.
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September 2017Andrew Peller buying three B.C. wineries
Vancouver, B.C.—The Andrew Peller wine company announced it is buying three British Columbia wineries for nearly $75 million ($95 million Canadian). The Ontario based wine company is acquiring Black Hills Estate, Gray Monk Estate and Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. The deal will add to the Peller portfolio that already includes B.C. wineries Sandhill, Red Rooster Winery, Calona Vineyards and wineries in Ontario and Nova Scotia. The deals are expected to close by the end of October.
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August 2017New head winemaker at Middleton Family Wines
Olympia, Wash.—Peter Devison is the new head winemaker for Middleton Family Wines, part of the Anderson & Middleton Company. Devison is the former winemaker for EFESTE/Oldfield Cellars in Woodinville, Wash., and prior to that worked harvests in New Zealand and Australia before relocating to Washington state. Devison, who has worked 18 vintages in the northern and southern hemispheres, will now oversee all winemaking operations for Middleton Family Wines. “We’re very excited to have Peter join our team,” Rick Middleton, president of Middleton Family Wines said in a news release. “Our family is confident that both vines and wines are going to thrive under his stewardship.”
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August 2017Ste. Michelle opening new visitor center
Woodinville, Wash.—Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s largest wine company, announced its new visitor center would open this Labor Day weekend. The visitor center, designed by the architecture firm BCRA Seattle and built by Wilcox Construction Inc. of Edmonds, Wash., represents a $7 million-dollar investment honoring the winery’s 50th anniversary.
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August 2017Charles Smith debuts new name for brands
Seattle, Wash.—Charles Smith, winemaker and owner of one of the largest wine companies in Washington, announced a new name for his company: Wines of Substance. The change follows the October 2016 sale of several of Smith's other wine brands to Constellation Brands. The brands under the Wines of Substance name include K Vinters, SIXTO, CasaSmith, Substance, and B. Leighton. "The driving force behind all of my creations is substance,” Charles Smith said in the press release announcing the name change, “and 'Wines of Substance' is the perfect name to illustrate my philosophy of producing exceptional wines to be enjoyed by everyone around the globe."
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August 2017ASEV announces scholarship winners
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July 2017Adelsheims sell to partners
Newberg, Ore.—Adelsheim Vineyard announced Lynn and Jack Loacker have purchased the ownership stake of founders David and Ginny Adelsheim and are now the sole owners of the winery, started in 1971.
In the statement announcing the purchase, the Loackers are quoted as saying, "we all agree that keeping the winery in the hands of local owners should be the future for Adelsheim Vineyard."
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June 2017More than 100 wineries in Oregon Wine Competition
Medford, Ore.—The Oregon Wine Experience has registered more than 100 wineries for this year's wine competition. Wine judges will be evaluating more than 300 wines from appellations throughout the state. Medals will be awarded including best of show at the Medal Celebration on Aug. 23. The medal-winning wines will be featured at various events throughout the week of the Oregon Wine Experience Aug. 21–27.
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June 2017Willamette Valley association names new Executive Director
Portland, Ore.—The Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA) and the Oregon Pinot Camp (OPC) has named Morgen McLaughlin their new executive director. McLaughlin replaces retiring executive director Sue Horstmann. As new executive director of both industry associations, McLaughlin will promote and publicize the more than 230 wineries and tasting rooms located along the 100-mile valley between Portland and Eugene, Ore. McLaughlin previously was executive director of the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association and formerly acted as president and CEO of the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association. She will assume the new position July 24.
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June 2017Winemaking team promotions at King Estate
Eugene, Ore.—King Estate promoted three members of its winemaking staff: Brent Stone to head winemaker; Barrett Rosteck to associate winemaker; and Andrew Belzer to assistant winemaker. Stone began at King Estate as laboratory manager in 2011 and most recently held the position of winemaker. Rosteck joined the winery in 2013 and worked as cellar master and assistant winemaker before his promotion to associate winemaker. Belzer, who joined the team in 2014, was formerly King Estate’s enologist before being promoted to associate winemaker. "One of the things that distinguishes King Estate is our deep bench of talent that allows us to promote from within," says Ray Nuclo, Director of Viticulture and Winery Operations, in the winery’s press release announcing the news. "This is an exceptional team, and I can't wait to see the wines they produce."
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June 2017Pacific Rim buys Firesteed winery, Vintage gets brand
Rickreall, Ore.—Howard Rossbach, founder of Firesteed winery sold the winery to Pacific Rim & Company and the brand to Vintage Wine Estates. In a related deal, Mickey and Jeanne Flynn agreed to sell their 30-acre Flynn Vineyard, which is adjacent to the winery, to Pacific Rim. Rossback retains the Citation wine brand, 90-acre Firesteed estate vineyard and the 202-acre Erratic Oaks Vineyard, according to press releases by Rossbach, Vintage and Pacific Rim.
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April 2017Terlato buys Klipsun Vineyards in Washington
Benton City, Wash.—Terlato Wine Group has purchased the 120-acre Klipsun Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington. According to the press release announcing the acquisition, the vineyard was planted in 1984 and supports several of the state’s top wine programs including those of Quilceda Creek, Seven Hills, Col Solare, Betz Family and others. The Terlato Wine Group plans to continue to sell grapes from the vineyard to other wineries. Klipsun Vineyards is Terlato’s first purchase in the Northwest, the company already owns several vineyards in Napa Valley, the Central Coast of California, Italy and Australia. International Wine Associates represented Klipsun Vineyards in the transacation, the terms of which were not disclosed.
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April 2017Balboa Winery acquires Beresan in Walla Walla
Walla Walla, Wash.—Beresan Winery is merging with Balboa Winery as part of an acquisition announced April 12. The two wineries have shared a winemaking team under the direction of Thomas Glase and production facility since their founding in 2013, but have maintained separate tasting rooms. Tom Waliser, owner of Beresan, also managed the vineyards for the two wineries and now is leaving the wine side to focus more on grape growing. The two wineries will now operate as one entity under the management of Glase, director of winemaking, Amy Glase, director of sales, and Tyler Grennan, lead winemaker.
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March 2017Betz returns to Col Solare
Benton City, Wash.—Bob Betz, MW, who worked in winemaking for nearly 30 years at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and was the managing director of Col Solare winery at its inception in 1995 has returned to the winery as consulting winemaker. The winery is a joint venture between Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and the Antinori family. Betz retired from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in 2003 as vice president of winemaking research to focus on his own winery Betz Family Winery that he had founded in 1997. Betz sold that winery in 2011 but continues to work as its consulting winemaker. At Col Solare, Betz will work with Darel Allwine, who remains the winemaker, CEO and chief enologist Renzo Cotarella and vineyard manager Dick Boushey.
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March 2017Management team changes at Stoller Family
Dayton, Ore.—Stoller Family Estate hired Jason Tosch as its vineyard manager and Michelle Kaufmann as communications director. The winery also announced the promotion of Ben Howe to winemaker and Austin Raz to digital brand manager. Tosch most recently oversaw the vineyards of Anne Amie Vineyards in the Willamette Valley and Howe has been with the winery since 2015. Howe will now oversee day-to-day operations at the winery with director of winemaking Melissa Burr. Kaufmann is a graduate of the University of Oregon and most recently was the communications manager for the Oregon Wine Board. Raz joined Stoller in 2016 as marketing assistant.
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March 2017New winemaker at Foris Vineyards
Cave Junction, Ore.—Stephanie Pao is the new winemaker at Foris Vineyards. Pao is the former enologist at Double Canyon Vineyards in Washington and replaces Bryan Wilson who is now working at a winery near Medford, Ore. Before working at Double Canyon, Pao spent three years working in production at Justin Vineyards and Winery in Paso Robles, Calif. Founded in 1986, Fortis Vineyards produces estate grown Alsace variety white wines and Pinot Noir from 140 acres of estate vineyards.
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January 2017Winemaker promotion and hire at King Estate
Eugene, Ore.—Brent Stone was promoted to the position of winemaker and Cody Stacey was hired as assistant winemaker at King Estate Winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Stone joined the winery as lab manager in 2011 and most recently was director of quality assurance and laboratory operations. Stacey most recently was the associate winemaker at Cairdean Vineyards in St. Helena, Calif., where he helped design the winery. Stone and Stacey join winemaker Spencer Spetnagel and assistant winemaker Barrett Rosteck under the leadership of Ray Nuclo, director of viticulture and winery operations.
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January 2017New winemaker at WillaKenzie
Yamhill, Ore.—Erik Kramer is the new director of winemaking at WillaKenzie Estate winery in the Willamette Valley. Kramer has worked in winemaking in the Willamette Valley for 13 years and before coming to Oregon, he made wine in New Zealand where he earned his graduate degree in viticulture and winemaking from Lincoln University.
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December 2016Seven Hills Winery buys part of original Seven Hills vineyard
Walla Walla, Wash.—Seven Hills Winery announced its purchase of a portion of the original Seven Hills Vineyard planted in 1980. The acquisition includes 109 acres including 21 acres of the Seven Hills Vineyard and 14 acres in The Rocks District AVA. "I planted this vineyard alongside my father six years before my wife, Vicky, and I founded Seven Hills Winery," said winemaker Casey McClellan, a fourth-generation farmer in the press release announcing the acquisition. "My family has a long history of working with these blocks, and it's a personal pleasure to reconnect this special land with the winery that we have built."
Seven Hills Winery, which is now part of the Crimson Wine Group based in the Napa Valley, also purchases grapes from McClellan Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley and Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun on Red Mountain. The winery and tasting room are located in downtown Walla Walla.
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November 2016Salud! raises $911,300 for vineyard worker healthcare
Hillsboro, Ore.—The ¡Salud! fundraiser through Tuality Healthcare for healthcare services for seasonal vineyard workers and their families raised $911,300 during the 25th anniversary of the event held Nov. 11-12.
Events included a ¡Salud! Cuvée Tasting and Big Board Auction, which drew a crowd of approximately 400 attendees to Ponzi Vineyards in Sherwood, Ore., and generated $173,300. The Dinner and Auction Gala, which this year returned to Portland’s Sentinel hotel, welcomed 340 guests and brought in $738,000 through live and silent auctions, ticket sales and sponsorships. The two highest grossing items were a week-long trip to France and VIP weekend experience at Domaine Serene donated by Ken and Grace Evenstad and Château de la Crée, and a week-long New Zealand excursion donated by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Villa Maria.
Since its founding in 1991, ¡Salud! has raised more than $13 million. The program is able to deliver three dollars of service for every one dollar spent because of collaborative relationships with partnering healthcare organizations.
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November 2016Private equity group buys Merriman Vineyard
Carlton, Ore.—Ackley Beverage Group, a private equity investment firm based in Seattle, Wash., has purchased Merriman Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of Oregon. The 44-acre vineyard was planted in 1999 mostly to Pinot Noir with a few acres of Chardonnay. The Merriman Vineyard will now supply more grapes for Montinore Estate, which Ackley Beverage Group partnered with in February. The vineyard is one of the largest Demeter certified Biodynamic vineyards in Oregon.
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October 2016JFW building Oregon winery
McMinnville, Ore.—Jackson Family Wines, JFW, plans to build an Oregon winery in McMinnville in time for the 2017 harvest. The winery will be used to produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris wines from the Santa Rosa, Calif.-based company’s estate vineyards in Oregon. The new winery is being built near the McMinnville airport on property that used to be the office campus of a now defunct air freight company.
“Since we began sourcing wine from Oregon, we’ve taken the time to study our estate vineyards so that we could deliberately design a winery to fit our winemaking style,” said Hugh Reimers, president of JFW in a statement released by the company.
According to JFW, the winery will be designed handle small lots of grapes, with hand sorting lines and multiple small, open-top fermenters. The former office space will be renovated to house a laboratory and offices for the winemaking and production team. Construction began in August and the winery is expected to be operational for the 2017 harvest season.
JFW has become one of the largest vineyard owners in the Willamette Valley, and the company’s Oregon portfolio includes Zena Crown Vineyard, Gran Moraine and Penner-Ash. La Crema and Siduri also offer Willamette Valley wines. The new winery footprint allows for future growth of these programs.
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September 2016Precept Wine buys 62 acres in Yakima Valley
Benton City, Wash.—Precept Wine purchased 62 acres bordering its existing Skyfall Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, located just south of Red Mountain outside of Benton City, according to a statement released by chief executive officer Andrew Browne. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
September 2016Culmina names new vineyard manager, winemaker
Oliver, B.C.—Jean-Marc Enixon is the new vineyard manager and winemaker at Culmina Family Estate Winery. Enixon worked for a decade at a Bordeaux winery and also has experience at wineries in Sonoma County and China. At Culmina, located in the Okanagan Valley, Enixon will work with consulting winemakers Alain Sutre and Pascal Madevon who recently transitioned from the winery’s full time winemaker to consultant.
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July 2016New winemaker at Milbrandt
Mattawa, Wash.—Milbrandt Vineayrds promoted Emily Haines to the post of head winemaker. Haines attended Eastern Washington University and graduated with a double major in biology and chemistry with emphasis in Biotechnology and Biochemistry. She worked at Desert Wind Winery in Prosser, Wash., during the 2008 harvest and in July 2009 became a lab tech at Milbrandt. Haines took over white winemaking for the 2011 harvest. Former winemaker Joshua Maloney is leaving the winery after five years to focus on his own brand Maloney and consulting.
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July 2016Abacela hires vineyard manager
Roseburg, Ore.—Chris Lake is the new manager of Abacela winery’s Fault Line Vineyards. Lake earned his bachelor of science degree in plant science from California State University, Fresno in 1993 and has more than 20 years of wine industry experience. Lake joins Abacela from Umpqua Community College where he oversaw the Southern Oregon Wine Institute for eight years. Lake will work with the winery’s owners Earl and Hilda Jones as well as Andrew Wenzl, head winemaker, and Ryan Dudley, assistant winemaker.
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June 2016Upchurchs open new winery and tasting room
Benton City, Wash.—Chris and Thea Upchurch celebrated the grand opening of their new Upchurch Vineyard winery and tasting room in the Red Mountain AVA on June 1. Upchurch is a veteran Washington winemaker and one of the four founding partners of DeLille Cellars. The estate vineyard is located in the southern tip of Red Mountain and managed by Dick Boushey. Upchurch has produced wines under his own label since 2007.
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April 2016King Estate promotes two in winemaking
Eugene, Ore.—King Estate Winery director of viticulture Raymond Nucio was promoted to the post of winery operations manager and Brent Stone was promoted from lab manager to director of quality assurance. Nucio joined King Estate in 2013 after consulting for the winery for two years. In his new role, Nuclo will oversee the winemaking team as well as all the vineyards the winery contracts with to purchase fruit, from the Columbia Valley of Washington and Oregon through the Willamette, Lorane, Umpqua and Rogue valleys.
Stone came to King Estate in 2011 with 10 years’ experience working primarily in quality control for Forbo, an adhesives manufacturer, and Oregon Ice Cream Company. Stone will now be responsible for bottling operations, packaging supply chain and quality control for winemaking.
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April 2016Long time sales manager for Gusmer dies
Fresno, Calif.—Ken Stewart, who was a technical sales manager for Gusmer Enterprises for more than 18 years, died on April 8. Stewart handled beverage accounts in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.
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April 2016Winderlea earns biodynamic certification
Dundee, Ore.—Winderlea Vineyard and Winery announced it has earned Demeter Biodynamic Certification for farming and winemaking at the 16.5-acre estate in the Dundee Hills. The winery also has earned organic certification from Stellar Certification Services. According to the press release from the winery announcing the certifications, Winderlea is now the 59th vineyard and 29th winery in the United States to earn Demeter certification.
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March 2016WAWGG elects board, officers
Kennewick, Wash.—The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers elected John Derrick of Mercer Canyons and re-elected Ken Lewis of Trail View Farm and Patrick Rawn of Two Mountain Winery to serve three year terms on the nine member board.
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March 2016Wine immersion program at Linfield College
McMinnville, Ore.—Linfield College is offering a new wine immersion course this summer as part of its wine education program.The immersion course is open to Linfield students interested in exploring the wine industry, as well as students from other colleges and universities and to members of the public interested to learn more about the Oregon wine industry. The eight-week program begins on June 14 and includes a series of field trips to local vineyards and wineries. In addition to meetings with wine industry experts, the visits will include hands-on experiences in the various aspects of grape growing, winemaking, marketing, sales and hospitality. For more information on the program visit: linfield.edu
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March 2016King Estate joins Willamette Valley AVA
Eugene, Ore.—King Estate Winery in Oregon announced it had successfully petitioned the federal government to expand the Willamette Valley AVA by 29 square miles to include the winery and estate vineyards.
According to a statement released by the winery, The U.S. Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved the request on March 3, 2016. This is the first time since it was established in 1983 that the Willamette Valley AVA has been expanded.
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February 2016Canada grants 1.5 million to bolster B.C. wine
Vancouver, B.C.—The University of British Columbia, UBC, announced the Canadian government granted it 1.5 million dollars Canadian to help fund a new partnership with the Kedge Business School of Bordeaux, France to support the area’s wine industry.
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January 2016Crimson acquires Seven Hills Winery
Walla Walla, Wash.—Seven Hills Winery, which is one of Washington’s iconic wineries, has been acquired by the Napa, Calif.-based Crimson Wine Group. The winery’s Bordeaux variety wines have helped establish the state of Washington’s reputation as a source for excellent wine grapes.
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January 2016Promotions at King Estate
Eugene, Ore.—King Estate Winery announced the promotion of Spencer Spetnagel to associate winemaker, and Barrett Rosteck to assistant winemaker. Spetnagel joined King Estate in 2012 as cellar lead and had been assistant winemaker since July 2014. He studied winemaking at Lincoln University in New Zealand, and has more than a decade of winemaking experience. In his new role, he will be involved more deeply in all aspects of winemaking at King Estate. Rosteck joined King Estate in 2013 and has 13 years of experience in winemaking and brewing in New Zealand and Oregon. He studied food and fermentation sciences at Oregon State University. His most recent position at King Estate was cellar master.
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November 2015Ice harvest begins in B.C.
Kelowna, B.C.—The British Columbia Wine Institute reports that 20 wineries plan to produce Icewine this year after freezing temperatures arrived in the region on Nov. 25 and 26. The Icewine harvest is expected to yield 722 tons from 169 acres, according to a statement released by the institute.
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October 2015New assistant winemaker at Hedges
Benton City, Wash.—Matt Rule is the new assistant winemaker at Hedges Family Estate winery. Prior to joining Hedges, Rule was the winemaker for the California State University, Fresno commercial winery and taught a class in wine production. Rule graduated from the Fresno State enology program in 2014.
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September 2015New GM at Balboa in Wash
Walla Walla, Wash.—Tammie Buchanan-Herron is the new general manager and controller at Balboa Winery. Buchanan-Herron will help oversee all day-to-day operations and long term planning with winery partners Tom and Amy Glase, Bob and Sharon Lewis and George and Elaine Killian. Buchanan-Herron will also manage all financial and business service activities for the winery. Prior to joining Balboa, Buchanan-Herron worked for 10 years as controller for Abeja winery, which is also located in Walla Walla.
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September 2015Red Mountain Alliance names executive director
Benton City, Wash.—Jennifer Nance is the new executive director of the Red Mountain AVA Alliance in Washington state. Nance will be responsible for planning and implementing a communications strategy to promote the Red Mountain AVA as an ideal appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. Nance is the former manager of direct to consumer operations for a nationally distributed winery and Northwest account executive for a Napa, Calif.-based marketing firm. Nance replaces Heather Unwin who retired in June to focus on her consulting and teaching career, according to a statement by the alliance.
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August 2015Walla Walla home to 2,836 vineyard acres
Walla Walla, Wash.—An assessment of the Walla Walla Valley AVA found the appellation is home to 2,836 acres of planted vineyards of which the majority, or 36.6%, is Cabernet Sauvignon. The report, organized by the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and the website Everyvine.com, also found 57% of all planted acreage is on the Oregon side of the appellation that also extends in to Washington.
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August 2015Staff changes at Dobbes and Wine by Joe
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July 2015Panther Creek appoints Pappe president
Dundee, Ore.—Bacchus Capital Management appointed Christopher Pappe president of Panther Creek Cellars, Chief Operating Officer of Madrigal Family Winery and senior advisor at Bacchus Capital Management. Pappe will oversee the establishment and implementation of strategic and financial plans as well as direct to consumer sales for Panther Creek and Madrigal and work with Bacchus Wineworks on the national sales and marketing of the two brands. Prior to joining Bacchus, Pappe was the vice president and general manager of Chatterbox Wine Marketing in Napa, Calif
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June 2015Latin Corner tasting room opens in Walla Walla
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June 2015King plans new winery in Willamette Valley
Eugene, Ore.—King Estate Winery plans to open a 50,000-square-foot warehouse and winery in Cottage Grove, Ore., which is located about 20 miles east of the winery on Interstate 5. The new facility will support the winery’s Acrobat program, which accounted for more than 130,000 cases in 2014. Construction for the new winery will begin in spring 2016 and is expected to be complete in time for the 2017 harvest. The warehouse will be ready this fall. "Our business is firing on all cylinders and we're preparing for an exciting future for Acrobat, independently of King Estate, with these investments in a new state-of-the art winery and a high efficiency warehouse," said winery CEO Ed King.
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June 2015New winemaker at Encore in B.C.
Summerland, B.C.—Lawrence Buhler is the new director of winemaking for Encore Vineyards, the parent company of McWatters Collection, Time Estate Winery and Evolve Cellars in British Columbia. Buhler has more than 10 years of winemaking experience and comes to Encore from Colio Estate Wines in Ontario. Encore is a fully-integrated wine company that owns the 60-acre Sundial Vineyard where the company is also building a 25,000-square-foot winery.
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June 2015Oregon's Olsens sell to investment firm
Monmouth, Ore.—The Olsen family have sold their Willamette Valley farmland and related assets to Farmland LP, an agricultural real estate investment firm.
The Olsens farmed more than 6,000 acres of owned and leased land, specializing in blueberries, hazelnuts, grass seed and peppermint, and was one of Oregon’s largest winegrape growers.
According to Roger Olsen, nanaging member at Olsen Agricultural Enterprises, “We have been looking for the right buyer for our extensive Willamette Valley holdings for some time now and with Farmland LP we recognized that we found the right way for our family to transition our farmland.”
Farmland LP acquires large-scale conventional farmland and adds value by implementing high productivity organic and sustainable agricultural practices. Founded in 2009, the firm manages more than 13,500 owned and leased acres in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. This latest acquisition was made by Farmland LP’s second investment fund, Vital Farmland REIT LLC.
International Wine Associates of Healdsburg, Calif., served as exclusive M&A advisors and represented Olsen in the transaction. “This is the sixth significant transaction that International Wine Associates has completed in the Pacific Northwest” Robert Nicholson of International Wine Associates, the mergers and acquisitions advisory firm, said.
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June 2015Penner-Ash hires GM
Newberg, Ore.—Patrick Connelly is the new general manager for family-owned Penner-Ash Wine Cellars. Connelly is tasked with overseeing the winery’s wholesale and retail business as well as day-to-day operations. Connelly is a native of Napa Valley and comes to Penner-Ash after working in management at several wineries there and in Sonoma County.
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May 2015Rosenthal promoted at Chatea Ste. Michelle
Woodinville, Wash.—Chateau Ste. Michelle announced the promotion of David Rosenthal to supervise the winery’s white wine program. Rosenthal will report to head winemaker Bob Bertheau and manage day-to-day operations at Chateau Ste. Michelle’s white wine cellar in Woodinville outside of Seattle. The company produces its red wines at its Canoe Ridge Estate winery in eastern Washington. Rosenthal was previously assistant winemaker and originally started with Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2006. He has nearly 15 years of experience in the wine industry in California, Oregon, Australia and Washington.
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May 2015New team at Scott Paul Wines
From left, Cameron Healy, Ian Burch and Shawn Bavaresco.Portland, Ore.—Cameron Healy, Shawn Bavaresco and winemaker Ian Burch have joined to manage and revitalize Scott Paul Wines. According to a statement announcing the change, the three plan to “breath bold, new life” into the Scott Paul brand as well as the company's new Wildstock brand. The trio also plan to remake the Scott Paul tasting room in Carlton, Ore.In 1978 Healy founded Kettle Foods, Inc., which is best known for the Kettle Chips brand and also co-founded Kona Brewing Co in 1994. In 2004 he became a partner in Scott Paul and bought the entire company in 2014. Healy brought on Bavaresco as partner in March of 2015. Bavaresco is the former creative director for Banfi Vintners’ global brands and founder of the VinMotion wine company that was acquired by Banfi in 2010. Burch is the former winemaker at Evening Land Vineyards.
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April 2015Hedges promoted to winemaker
Benton City, Wash.—Sarah Hedges Goedhart, daughter of Hedges Family Estate founders and owners Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges, has been promoted from assistant winemaker to head winemaker at the Red Mountain AVA winery. Hedges joined the winery in 2006 as assistant winemaker and has worked under the tutelage of her uncle and winemaker Pete Hedges who is retiring. In addition to her time at her family’s winery, Hedges has also worked at Preston Winery of Dry Creek winery in Sonoma County.
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April 2015Washington, Rhone collaboration
Woodinville, Wash.—Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Rhone winemakers Michel Gassier and Philippe Gambie have launched Tenet Wines to showcase Syrah and other Rhone varietals from Washington state. Tenet Wines consists of Tenet, a GSM, and The Pundit a Syrah from Washington’s Columbia Valley and Le Fervent Syrah from the Costieres de Nîmes in the Rhône Valley. Chateau Ste. Michelle winemaker Bob Bertheau and Michel Gassier are co-winemakers for Tenet Wines. Philippe Cambie is consulting oenologist.
According to a press release about the new brand, the three winemakers first convened in Washington State in the fall of 2012 to taste wines from that year’s just-completed harvest. They decided to begin their collaboration in the vineyard the following year, in order to align vineyard management and winemaking strategies.
This collaborative process continued when the grapes reached the cellar, with Bertheau lending expertise in picking decisions, phenolic profiles and tannin management, and Gassier and Cambie offering experience with stem inclusion and whole cluster fermentation and extended maceration. When the time came to assemble the final wines, the blending process was again a collaboration.
From the inaugural 2013 vintage, Tenet Wines produced just 1,069 cases of “Tenet” GSM, 8,113 cases of “The Pundit” Syrah, and 5,000 cases of “Le Fervent” Syrah. “Tenet” GSM will retail for $70, “The Pundit” Syrah will retail for $24.99, and “Le Fervent” Syrah will retail for $21.99.
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March 2015New sparkling winemaker for Michelle
Woodinville, Wash.—Domaine Ste. Michelle announced Paula Eakin will be the new winemaker for the company’s sparkling wine program Michelle. Eakin starts work in her new position in April after the retirement of 20-year veteran Rick Casqueiro. Eakin has worked with Casqueiro for the past two years and has more than 20 years of experience in winemaking for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “Eastern Washington’s dry, warm climate and cool night time temperatures produce balanced flavorful grapes with crisp acidity, which is critical for quality sparkling wine,“ Eakin said in a press release announcing her new job. “Our growing conditions and northerly latitude produce sparkling wines with delicate aromatics and flavors. I look forward to spending more time in the vineyards and working with our growers and vineyard managers to find the best fruit possible for our cuvées.”
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March 2015Biodynamic short course in Oregon
McMinnville, Ore.—Maysara Winery and Demeter USA are hosting a one-day seminar on Biodynamic grape growing and winemaking. The course, which will be held at the winery and costs $60 for general admission and $30 for students, will cover the history and background of Biodynamic agriculture, how a farm can be a living organism, soil and compost, pest management and other issues. The event takes place March 23 and includes lunch and a wine tasting. For more information or to buy tickets visit here.
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January 2015Oregon wine brings $3.35 billion impact
Salem, Ore.—Oregon’s wine industry contributes $3.35 billion to the state’s economy, according to the latest economic impact study commissioned by the Oregon Wine Board. According to the study by Berkeley, Calif.-based Full Glass Research, the industry generated $208 million in wine-tourism revenues and supports more than 17,000 jobs that pay $527 million in wages. The state’s wine grapes are worth $128 million and are now Oregon’s most valuable fruit crop. Since 2011, Oregon’s vineyard acres have grown by 18% and wine sales volume grew 39% to 2,780,237 cases. “Oregon’s wine industry is excited to be such a dynamic economic performer for the state,” said Ellen Brittan, chairwoman of the Oregon Wine Board.
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January 2015Idaho wine impact pegged at $170 million
Boise, Idaho—A study by Stonebridge Research on the economic impact of the Idaho wine industry determined it has a total impact of $170 million and supported 1,200 full-time jobs in 2013. The state produced 179,000 case of wine in 2012 and that production grew to 234,000 in 2013. “The numbers don’t lie and are backing up what we’ve been saying for years” said Idaho Wine Commission executive director Moya Dolsby. “It’s evident how far our industry has progressed and we’re still growing and evolving.”
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December 2014Scott Paul founders sell interest
Carlton, Ore.—Scott and Martha Wright, founders of Scott Paul Wines, announced they have sold their interest in the company to partner Cameron Healy. Scott Paul Wines was a combination of an import wine company and estate winery. The Wrights founded the company in 1999 in Yountville, Calif., but decided to focus on making Pinot Noir and moved to the Willamette Valley in 2000. Healy is the founder of Kettle Foods and Kona Brewing Co. and joined as a partner in 2003. Wright will stay on with the winery as a consultant for a year and the couple will retain ownership of Scott Paul Selections, which is the Burgundy and Champagne wine import company they launched in 2006.
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December 2014New winery opens in B.C.
Kamloops, B.C.—Monte Creek Ranch in British Columbia’s Thompson Valley near the city of Kamloops has made its inaugural release of wines from the 2014 vintage. The Sidhu family, established nursery and blueberry farmers from Mission, purchased the 1,200-acre ranch in 2009 to establish a vineyard and winery. The property now includes a 40-acre vineyard and an estate winery is currently being built. The vineyard is planted to cool-climate varieties such as Marquette and La Crescent. Michael Alexander is the winemaker and Eric von Krosigk is the consulting winemaker. Erik Fisher, formerly with Andrew Peller Ltd. in Ontario, moved to Kamloops to work as the winery’s general manager.
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November 2014Oregon auction raises $722,000
Hillsboro, Ore.—Tuality Healthcare Foundation’s ¡Salud! event focused on Oregon Pinot Noir raised more than $722,000 for healthcare services for seasonal vineyard workers and their families. The event held Nov. 14-15 included two auctions that raised $200,000 and $522,000. A trip to New Zealand donated by Argyle Winery was the highest grossing item at $13,000 and a dinner with winemakers from Ponzi Vineyards, Chehalem and Elk Cove Vineyards sold twice to raise a cumulative total of $23,000.
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November 2014Linfield College names wine education director
McMinnville, Ore.—Ellen Brittan, general manager at the Carlton Winemakers Studio and owner of Brittan Vineyards, has been named director of wine education at Linfield College. Brittan will work with Linfield’s Division of Continuing Education, DCE, to develop a wine education program that could include a variety of courses offered online or during the summer. Brittan is the former general manager and executive director of the Rudd Group in Napa, Calif. She and her husband Robert purchased a vineyard in Oregon in 2004 and moved to live in the state fulltime in 2008.
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October 2014B.C. vineyard acreage grows 4%
Vancouver, B.C.—The total wine grape vineyard acreage in British Columbia has increased 4.1% to 10,260 acres, according to a report recently released by the British Columbia Wine Institute. Canada’s westernmost province is now home to 929 vineyards of which 67.2% are winery owned or leased. The most widely planted variety is Merlot, 1,563 acres, followed by Pinot Gris, 1,114 acres, and Pinot Noir, 1,073 acres. Pinot Noir replaced Chardonnay as the third most planted variety since the institute issued its last report in 2011. The Oliver region accounts for the largest share of the vineyards at 35.5%, and the greater Okanagan Valley is home to 84% of B.C.’s vineyards. The complete report can be found here: winebc.org
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October 2014New Brooks winery opens
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September 2014Oregon Wine Services merges with Wineshipping
McMinnville, Ore.—Wine shipping, storage and transportation provider Oregon Wine Services, announced its merger with Wineshipping a Napa, Calif.-based wine shipping company. The merger creates one of the largest U.S. direct wine shipping companies utilizing a network of temperature-controlled distribution and storage facilities across the country. OWS will continue to operate as a separate entity led by current general manager Jeff Meader and vice president of operations Tim Moore.
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September 2014New VP at DeLille, Panther Creek
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August 2014Ledger David names first winemaker
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August 2014Frey joins Dusted Valley as winemaker
Walla Walla, Wash.—Griffin Frey is the new winemaker for Dusted Valley Vintners in the Walla Walla Valley. Frey will oversee the Dusted Valley program as well as the company’s other label Boomtown. Frey has worked in the Washington wine industry since 2010 after starting his winemaking career at wineries in Sonoma County.
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August 2014Winemaker joins Serendipity winery
Naramata, B.C.—Serendipity Estate Winery announced winemaker Bradley Cooper had joined its production team in time for the 2014 harvest. Cooper joins Serendipity after nine years at Township 7 Vineyards and Winery in Langley, B.C. Cooper will continue to produce his own wine brand, Black Cloud, but will now be making it at Serendipity’s facility.
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July 2014Maria Ponzi named president of Ponzi Vineyards
Sherwood, Ore.—Maria Ponzi is the new president of Ponzi Vineyards, which her parents Dick and Nancy Ponzi founded in 1970. Maria Ponzi has overseen the winery’s sales and marketing programs for more than 20 years and is co-owner of the business with her sister Luisa Ponzi who is the winemaker.
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July 2014Van Nice joins Soléna as president
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July 2014New owners at 40 Knots
Comox, B.C.—Brenda Hetman-Craig and Layne Craig are the new owners of 40 Knots Vineyard Vineyard & Estate Winery. The new owners are from …
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July 2014Winemaker promoted to VP of operations
Eugene, Ore.—King Estate Winery announced that winemaker Ben Howe has been promoted to the new position of vice president of operations. Howe j…
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June 2014Lt. Governor awards for BC wineries
Victoria, B.C.—British Columbia Lt. Gov. Judith Guichon's office announced the twelve wines that earned an Award for Excellence in British Columbia Wines. The 2014 competition drew 436 different wines submitted from 119 wineries. A panel of wine industry professionals tasted the entries blind. All wines submitted to the contest must be made with 100% British Columbia grapes to be eligible.
The winners are: 8th Generation Vineyard, 2012 Riesling; Bonamici Cellars, 2012 Merlot/Cabernet Franc; Fort Berens Estate Winery, 2012 Riesling; Hester Creek Estate Winery, 2011 Block 2 Reserve Merlot; Howling Bluff Estate Winery, 2013 Summa Quies Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon; Kraze Legs Vineyard & Winery, 2013 Skaha Vineyard Unoaked Chardonnay; Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, 2011 Haywire Canyonview Pinot Noir; Pentage Wines, 2010 Reserve Syrah; Quails’ Gate Winery, 2012 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay; Ruby Blues Winery, 2013 Viognier; Wayne Gretzky Okanagan, 2011 The Great Red and Laughing Stock Vineyards' 2011 Portfolio.
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June 2014Panther Creek opens tasting room
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June 2014Promotions at Oregon wineries
Dundee, Ore.—Quinton Jay was promoted to the position of president of Panther Creek Cellars in Dundee, Ore., and Gretchen Boock is now handling…
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June 2014Wine and culinary center opens in Washington
Prosser, Wash.—The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center officially opened on May 30. The center is intended to “tell the story of the Washington wine industry” with an exhibit on Dr. Walter J. Clore’s grape growing research and other features. Clore, who passed a…
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June 2014Archery Summit makes two key hires
Dayton, Ore.—Archery Summit Winery in the Dundee Hills area of Oregon announced that Tim Scott is its new vineyard manager and Eleni Papadakis is its new assistant winemaker. Both Scott and Papadakis come to Archery Summit from other wineries in Oregon: Scott is the former vineyard manager for Domaine Drouhin, and Papadakis is the former winemaker at Domaine Serene Vineyards & Winery. According to a news release announcing the hires, Scott and Papadakis will work to expand Archery Summit’s Pinot Noir program and adding Chardonnay to the winery’s portfolio.
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June 2014Force Majeure hires winemaker
Kirkland, Wash.—Force Majeure Vineyards winery in Washington’s Red Mountain AVA named Todd Alexander the company’s first head winemaker and general manager. Alexander is the former winemaker of Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley.
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May 2014Trout returns to Flying Trout
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May 2014Grant funding for Oregon wine center
Roseburg, Ore.—Umpqua Community College, UCC, won a three-year grant from the Walmart Foundation and the American Association of Community Colleges. The $180,000 gr…
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May 2014Union wine acquires Amity Vineyards
Tualatin, Ore.—Union Wine Co. announced its acquisition of Amity Vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Established in 1974, Amity Vineyards is regarded as one of Oregon’s pioneering wineries and has remained under the control of the original owners: Myron Redford, his wife Vikki Wetle and Janis Checchia. “I’m honored to steward the next chapter of Amity Vineyards and am dedicated to maintaining its heritage,” Union Wine Co. owner Ryan Harms said of the deal. Harms said Amity currently produces 6,000 cases of wine from 15 acres of estate vines and that he plans to manage the winery as a separate brand.
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April 2014Tinhorn names new winemaker
Oliver, B.C.—Andrew Windsor is the new winemaker at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. Former winemaker Sandra Oldfield will continue at the winery as CEO & President. Windsor is a native of Ontario and holds a masters of enology degree from the University of Adelaide. Prior to joining Tinhorn Creek, Windsor was a winemaker at Andrew Peller Ltd. in Grimsby, Ontario.
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April 2014Sagemoor Vineyards in Washington sold
Pasco, Wash.—Allan Bros., a fruit grower and packer based in Naches, Wash., will purchase Sagemoor Vineyards in a deal expected to close by the end of April.
An old vine at Sagemoor Vineyards.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
April 2014Snoqualmie debuts sustainable packaging
Paterson, Wash.—Snoqualmie Winery unveiled new sustainable packaging for its entire line of wines. The new packaging features light-weight ECO bottles, EarthLabel labels printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper and corks that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance.
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April 2014Brooks breaks ground on new winery
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April 2014Ledbetter joins Double Canyon
Prosser, Wash.—Jason Ledbetter is the new winemaker at Double Canyon Vineyards. Ledbetter is the former assistant winemaker at Pine Ridge Vineyards in Napa Valley.
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March 2014Elk Cove purchases vineyard
Gaston, Ore.—Elk Cove Vineyards purchased the Goodrich Road Vineyard in Yamhill, Ore. The 69-acre property includes 17 acres of Pinot Noir and four acres of Chardonnay. The vines were planted in 2007 in a high-density layout.
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February 2014Winery son named winemaker
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February 2014Bitner Vineyards earns LIVE certification
Caldwell, Idaho—Bitner Vineyards is the first vineyard in Idaho to earn certification from the Low Input Viticulture & Enology (LIVE) organization. Dr. Ron Bitner, who planted the 16-acre vineyard in 1981, learned about LIVE certification in 2010. Bitner, an entomologist and expert on bees, created a certification plan for the vineyard to support a beneficial environment for bees.
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February 2014WAWGG breaks attendance records
Kennewick, Wash.—The Washington Association of Winegrape Growers announced its annual conference set a record with more than 2,500 members of the wine industry attending the convention and tradeshow in the Tri-Cities area of Washington state. The tradeshow sold out and hosted more than 160 vendor booths and at the industry banquet a charity auction for the Walter Clore Scholarship Fund raised $4,600 for raffle tickets to wine magnums.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
February 2014WSU receives donation for Wine Science Center
Richland, Wash.—Patsy J. Mercer, the Mercer family and the Mercer Canyons company made a combined donation of $250,000 to help fund the construction of the Wine Science Center at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. The donation will establish the “Bud” Mercer Greenhouse in honor of Mercer’s contributions to Washington agriculture. The Mercer family own and operate an extensive farm and vineyard operation in Prosser, Wash., that includes Mercer Wine Estates.
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January 2014Adelsheim Vineyard hires winery accountant
Newberg, Ore.—Jeff Allen is the new winery accountant for Adelsheim Vineyard. Allen is currently enrolled in Washington State University’s viticulture certificate program and most recently worked as controller for Index Industries in Washington state.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
January 2014Joint Pinot Noir venture
Dundee, Ore.—Evening Land Vineyards founder Mark Tarlov and Napa, Calif.-based importer Old Bridge Cellars announced the l…READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
January 2014Security guards receive reward in stolen wine case
Seattle, Wash.—Chuck LeFevre, owner of Esquin Wine Merchants and MadWine.com, presented $20,000 to security guards Jim White and Terry Ottaway Jr. for their help in the recovery of more than $600,000 in wine that was stolen in from a Seattle wine store in November. White and Ottaway helped identify the two men arrested for the theft.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
January 2014Adam Lee joins Hawks View in Oregon
Sherwood, Ore.—Adam Lee is the new lead winemaker at Hawks View Cellars in Sherwood. Lee is also the owner of Siduri Wines in Santa Rosa, Calif., and has sourced grapes from Hawks View since the mid-1990s. Hawks View produces wines made with grapes from California, Washington and Oregon.
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December 2013Drouhin buys Roserock vineyard in Oregon
Salem, Ore.—The Drouhin family, which owns Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy, France, and Domain Drouhin Oregon, announced their purchase of the 279-acre Roserock Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The vineyard was developed and managed by Premier Pacific Vineyards and owned by CalPERS, California's public employee retirement fund. Roserock includes 122 acres of vines most of which are Pinot Noir.
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November 2013WSU offers Australia wine tour
Pullman, Wash.—Washington State University is offering its fourth international winery tour for students in its Viticulture & Enology Certificate program. This spring, the participants will experience the Australian harvest April 1-15. Thomas Henick-Kling, director of the WSU program, has planned visits to wineries in the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale. For more information, contact Theresa Beaver at tbeaver@wsu.edu.
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November 2013Oregon case sales up 16.6% to $312 million in value
Portland, Ore.—Oregon wineries sold nearly 2.4 million cases in 2012 with a total value of $312 million, according to an industry census report released by the Oregon Wine Board. The report was compiled through the Southern Oregon University Research Center. The state’s wineries crushed 50,186 tons of Oregon fruit and 51,364 tons in total. The leading grape remains Pinot Noir, which accounted for 57% of the fruit crushed in 2012 and 48% of the state’s total case sales. Of the 596 new acres of vines planted in Oregon, Pinot Noir accounted for 401 of those. In 2012, the price for Oregon Pinot Noir grapes averaged $2,471 per ton, with grapes from the North Willamette Valley fetching the state’s highest average price of $2,918. Details: oregonwine.org
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November 2013Hat Ranch to buy Vale Wine Co. in Idaho
READ MORE »The owners of Hat Ranch Winery in Caldwell, Idaho announced their purchase of the
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November 2013Oregon Wine Board ending sustainable program
The 2012 vintage appears to be the last for the Oregon Wine Board’s Certified Sustainable Wine Program, which was intended to bring multiple sustainable certifications under one logo. Launched in 2008, the program aimed to make it easier for consumers to find sustainable wines and clear up the confusion between different entities that certify sustainable products. Staff changes had left the program in limbo, and the board decided recently to end its support of the program and grant its remaining revenue of $10,600 to Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE).READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
October 2013Washington state launches 'The Recommendeuer' campaign and iPad app
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October 2013Kim Bellingar Promoted at Adelsheim Vineyard
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October 2013Culmina winery opens in B.C.
Donald and Elaine Triggs opened their new Culmina Family Estate Winery in Oliver, B.C. The winery is designed for gravity-flow winemaking and is situated on 100 acres, of which 56 are planted with Bordeaux-variety vines as well as Chardonnay, Riesling and what the owners say is the first Grüner Veltliner to be planted in the Okanagan Valley. Donald Triggs founded the wine company Vincor, which Constellation Brands Inc. acquired in 2006 for $1.2 billion (Canadian).
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October 2013Washington auction raises $2 million
The 26th annual Auction of Washington Wines raised more than $2 million through various events held Aug. 15-17. Proceeds from the auction support the Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Washington State University Viticulture & Enology Program. The top lot of the auction gala was a South African safari offered by Betz Family Winery that sold for $58,000.
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October 2013Bethel Heights hires national sales director
Nels Becker is the new national sales director for Bethel Heights Vineyard Inc. of Salem, Ore. Becker is the former national sales director of Gruet Winery in Albuquerque, N.M.
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September 2013New winemaker at Col Solare
Darel Allwine is the new winemaker for Col Solare Winery in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington. Allwine joined Col Solare in 2003 and most recently was cellar master at the winery.
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September 2013Callaway joins Quails' Gate
Nikki Callaway is the new winemaker at Quails’ Gate Winery Okanagan Valley in West Kelowna, B.C. Callaway has worked at wineries in France and most recently was a winemaker at Mission Hill Family Estate, also in West Kelowna.
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September 2013Sokol Blosser opens new tasting room
Calling it a “new standard” in hospitality and design, Sokol Blosser Winery in Dundee, Ore., opened its new tasting room. The 5,000-square-foot space features contemporary architecture and walls with striated cladding of cedar, Douglas fir and hickory wood that frame views of the estate vineyards and Dundee Hills.
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September 2013New director for Woodinville Wine Country
Sandra Lee is the new director of the Woodinville Wine Country trade association in Woodinville, Wash. Lee previously worked for JB Consulting Systems, a human resources and business consulting firm. Details: woodinvillewinecountry.com.
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August 2013Precept purchases Yakima Valley vineyard
Precept Wine purchased the 174-acre “Skyfall” vineyard in Washington’s Yakima Valley. The company plans to plant more than 100 vineyard acres.
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August 2013Father, son team up at Andrew Will
Chris Camarda, owner and winemaker of Andrew Will Winery in Vashon, Wash., announced that his son Will Camarda would join the winery as assistant winemaker. Details: andrewwill.com.
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August 2013Washington Wine Foundation earns grant
The Washington Wine Foundation received a $174,000 grant to develop safety training materials for small to mid-sized wineries. Materials will be available by July 2014.
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August 2013Hogue named to Hall of Fame
Mike Hogue, who co-founded Hogue Cellars, was inducted into the Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame at The Clore Center in Prosser, Wash.
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July 2013Adelsheim hires tasting room manager
Jillian Glazer is the new tasting room and hospitality manager for Adelsheim Vineyard in Newberg, Ore. Glazer is the former assistant manager of the Ponzi Wine Bar in Dundee, Ore. Details: adelsheim.com.
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July 2013Winery earns historic marker
HillCrest Vineyard in Roseburg, Ore., announced it will receive a historic marker from the state agency Oregon Travel Experience. The marker will be placed at the winery in spring 2014 to commemorate the first planting of Pinot Noir in Oregon in 1961. Richard Sommer established the winery that same year and is considered one of the founding pioneers of the state’s modern wine industry.
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July 2013College offers wine experience
Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., is offering students its “Oregon Wine Industry Experience” to help prepare them for careers in wine. The college’s four-part program includes winery work and classroom instruction about the different career paths available in the industry. Details: linfield.edu.
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June 2013Penner-Ash hires sales and marketing manager
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars in Newberg, Ore., announced Jane Box is the winery’s new direct sales and marketing manager. Box previously worked at Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy USA as well as running an online cooking website and personal chef consultancy in New York. Details: pennerash.com.
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June 2013Sage Hills makes inaugural release
Sage Hills Vineyard in Summerland, B.C., released its inaugural Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and a Syrah rosé, all made with fruit from the organic estate vineyard. The winery, owned by Rick Thrussell, is located on a former fruit orchard overlooking Lake Okanagan. Details: sagehillswine.com.
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June 2013Griffin winery marks 30 years
Barnard Griffin Winery in Richland, Wash., celebrated its 30th anniversary. Owners Rob Griffin and Deborah Barnard also announced that they have completed an expansion and renovation of the winery. “This is the next step for us as a business: to grow and to incorporate the second generation,” Griffin said in a statement. Details: barnardgriffin.com.
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February 2013New Head Winemaker at Bench 1775
Richard Kanazawa is the new head winemaker at Bench 1775 winery in Penticton, B.C. Prior to joining Bench 1775; Kanazawa was the winemaker at Red Rooster Winery and Blasted Church Vineyards. Details: icewines.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
December 2012Effort to build local support for Idaho wine
The Idaho Wine Commission initiated the “I Support Idaho Wines” campaign to fuel local demand for the state’s wines. Funds raised through the campaign will be used to help market and promote Idaho wines, assist Idaho wineries in submitting their wines to competitions and help pay for wine education scholarships, according to a statement released by the commission. Details: idahowines.org.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
November 2012Ste. Michelle buys charitable wine label
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates acquired O Wines, located in Woodinville, Wash. Stacy Lill and Kathy Johanson founded O Wines in 2006 to raise funds to provide scholarships for low-income young people. Ste. Michelle plans to add a red wine to O Wines’ production and will continue to donate a portion of proceeds to fund scholarships, according to a statement released by the company.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
October 2012Winery opens new tasting room
Woodinville, Wash.-based Patterson Cellars opened a new tasting room in a converted gas station that already houses another tasting room, winery and pizzeria. The 1,000-square-foot space includes a tasting bar and patio seating for Patterson Cellars wine club events. Details: pattersoncellars.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
September 2012Ste. Michelle partners on rail depot
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has teamed with Railex LLC to build a temperature-controlled distribution center. Railex is investing between $18 million and $20 million to build and operate a 500,000-square-foot distribution center in Wallula, Wash. The center is scheduled to open in February 2013. St. Michelle signed a long-term lease for the majority of the warehouse space. Railex currently operates a rail system linking Wallula and a Delano, Calif., center to a location in Rotterdam, N.Y. The company plans to open another location in the southeastern U.S. Details: railexusa.com, smwe.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
August 2012Soters form new partnership
James Cahill and Brian Sypher joined Michelle and Tony Soter in a partnership to form the new business North Valley Vineyards. Cahill, who has worked with Soter Vineyards for 10 years, continues his role as winemaker and director of operations. Sypher, who directs sales and marketing for the winery, previously represented Soter wines in the New York market. Details: sotervineyards.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
July 2012Wahluke Hires Winemaker
Wahluke Wine Co. based in Mattawa, Wash., hired Jeremy Santo as winemaker. Santo will be responsible for day-to-day management of the winery. Prior to joining Wahluke, Santo worked as assistant winemaker at Canoe Ridge Winery.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
June 2012New winemaker at Mercer Estates
Mercer Estates of Prosser, Wash., announced the hiring of Jessica Munnell as winemaker. Munnell will oversee all winemaking operations for Mercer Estates and Wine Out West. In 2008, Munnell started Wautoma Springs Wines and then produced wines at Artifex Wine Co., a custom-crush facility in Walla Walla, Wash. Details mercerwine.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
May 2012AVA group hires leader
Washington state’s Red Mountain AVA Alliance (RMAVAA) appointed Heather Unwin as executive director. Since 2007 Unwin has been the executive vice president for marketing at Terra Blanca Winery & Estate Vineyard, where she will continue in an advisory capacity. Details: redmountainava.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
March 2012New director for clean plant center
Ken Eastwell, a professor in the Washington State University Department of Plant Pathology based at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser, Wash., has been appointed director of the Clean Plant Center of the Northwest. As director of CPCNW, Eastwell will supervise the development and distribution of deciduous fruit trees, grapevines and hops that are free of viruses and virus-like agents. Details: healthyplants.wsu.edu.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
February 2012Penner-Ash hires national sales manager
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars hired Mark Melia as national sales manager. Prior to joining Penner-Ash, Melia worked as the Massachusetts and Rhode Island district manager for W.J. Deutsch & Sons. Penner-Ash is a family-owned winery located in Newberg, Ore.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
January 2012Oregon Wine Board hires executive director
The Oregon Wine Board and Oregon Winegrowers Association selected Tom Danowski as executive director. Danowski has managed a strategic marketing consulting business in the Seattle area for the past two years. As the executive director of both the OWB and OWA, Danowski will lead marketing, education and research programs for both groups. OWB and OWA represent the state’s wineries and vineyard owners.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
December 2011WSU debuts organic ag publication
Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences has launched an electronic newsletter focused on organic and sustainable agriculture. Subscriptions to the new, monthly e-newsletter called Green Times are free. Dan Bernardo, dean of CAHNRS, said the new publication will publish current research news, profiles of farmers and other regional industry professionals, publicize events and act as a focal point for the regional organic community. Details: bit.ly/greentimes.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
November 2011Grand Rêve becomes Force Majeure
The 1,000-case Grand Rêve Vintners, Kirkland, Wash., is transitioning its name to Force Majeure Vineyards in response to a trademark dispute. The last wine to be sold under the Grand Rêve label is the 2008 Collaboration Series III released this fall. All subsequent wines will be released under the Force Majeure label with Collaboration Series I, II, III, IV, V, VI bottlings. Visit: grandrevevintners.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
October 2011Washington state promotes wine in India
Winemakers from Washington state launched a marketing campaign in India during September. Winemakers hosted a series of trade tastings and winemaker dinners in Mumbai and Delhi featuring more than 75 wines. The free, invitation-only events targeted India’s leading food and beverage professionals, hoteliers, restaurateurs and importers. Visit: washingtonwine.org.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
September 2011Blasted Church blesses Wendenberg
The 20,000-case Blasted Church Vineyards of Okanagan Falls, B.C., Canada, has appointed former Sumac Ridge winemaker Mark Wendenberg as successor to Richard Kanazawa, who left Blasted Church in March. Founded in 2002, Blasted Church features varietals such as Pinot Gris, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir. Visit: blastedchurch.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
August 2011Woodinville Wine Country welcomes Mike Stevens
Washington’s Woodinville Wine Country elected Mike Stevens, managing partner of Brian Carter Cellars, as president. Stevens was elected by the association board following the resignation of Becky Snyder, co-owner of Hollywood Hill Vineyards. Stevens will finish Snyder’s term as president, serving through December 2011. Snyder resigned from the board to accept a marketing position outside the wine industry. Visit: woodinvillewinecountry.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
July 2011Walla Walla appoints Wollmuth
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance has appointed Duane Wollmuth as executive director. Wollmuth has experience in strategic leadership and business planning from Walla Walla Wines LLC in eastern Washington, and more recently he served as executive director of the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association. Details: wallawallawine.com.
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June 2011NW Wine Co. sets up in Oregon
Founded in 2003, the 120,000-case NW Wine Co. (NWWC) has purchased 35 acres from adjacent properties in Dundee, Ore. The site will accommodate the future home of NWWC, a custom grapegrowing and winemaking operation specializing in the process from vine to bottle. Visit: nwwinecompany.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
May 2011Idaho debuts website
The Idaho Wine Commission has launched a new interactive website showcasing Idaho wineries and vineyards. New features include interactive maps and currentREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
April 2011Loosen and Somers partner for Pinot
German winemaker Ernst Loosen of Dr. Loosen in the Mosel Valley has partnered with Jay Somers of 6,000-case J. Christopher Wines in Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley. The new venture, Loosen Christopher Wines LLC, will produce wines under the established J. Christopher brand. The venture has purchased a 40-acre site for a new vineyard. Planting of the first block of Pinot Noir will begin this spring. Visit: drloosen.com and jchristopherwines.com.
A to Z announces new sales force
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March 2011WSU wine research awarded $250,000
Washington State University’s Wine Research Center at Prosser is set to receive $250,000 over the next five years. The award came from Northwest Farm Credit Services, a provider of financing, related services and crop insurance to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, commercial fishermen, timber producers and rural homeowners. Details: foundation.wsu.edu/news.
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February 2011Gorden joins Novelty Hill and Januik
Dan Gorden has joined Novelty Hill and Januik wineries as northwest regional sales manager. This newly created position will be shared by the two independent wineries. Prior to joining Novelty Hill and Januik, Gorden was the western regional manager for Northwest Core Collection. Novelty Hill and Januik share a destination tasting room and production facility in Woodinville, Wash.
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January 2011A to Z names Mertz to lead U.S. sales
A to Z Wineworks, a 135,000-case winery based in Newberg, Ore., named Ron Mertz president of sales, based in Overland Park, Kan. The A to Z portfolio includes Rex Hill, A to Z, William Hatcher and Francis Tannahill brands.
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December 2010Rice joins Terra Blanca
Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyard in Benton City, Wash., has appointed Darrell Rice as new national sales director. Rice was formerly a district manager for Fosters Wine Estates, covering Washington and Alaska.
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November 2010Classic Wines Auction Board hires Hensen
The board of directors of the Classic Wines Auction, Portland, Ore., has hired Virginia Hensen as chief executive officer of its non-profit corporation, First Growth Children and Family Charities Inc., which raises millions of dollars for local charities through its annual auction and other charitable initiatives.
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October 2010Grant for Yakima vineyard/winery program
Yakima Valley Community College received a three-year, $570,504 grant from the National Science Foundation to redesign its two-year programs in vineyard and winery technology to better address the growing demand for employment in Washington state’s wine industry. Under the revised program, students will work in externships at local vineyards and wineries while completing associate degrees. Details: yvcc.edu.
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September 2010Stone rolls to Oregon
Larry Stone, managing director of Francis Ford Coppola’s 20,000-case Rubicon Estate, Rutherford, was named general manager of Evening Land, which makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, California’s Sonoma Coast and Santa Rita Hills and in Burgundy. He’ll continue making his own label, 1,000-case Sirita.
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August 2010Trotta joins Swiftwater
Linda Trotta, longtime director of winemaking at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Sonoma, Calif., has joined Swiftwater Cellars, Cle Elum, Wash., as associate winemaker, collaborating with consulting winemaker Tony Rynders.
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July 2010Goose Ridge opens second tasting room
Goose Ridge Vineyard in April became the 12th Eastern Washington winery to open a satellite tasting room in the Western Washington town of Woodinville during the past year. The estate vineyard was established in Benton City in 1998; the 40,000-case winery also has a tasting room in nearby Richland.
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June 2010Oregon wineries meet carbon challenge
Solar panels and lawn-mowing goats were among the tools employed by 14 Oregon wineries that completed the Carbon Neutral Challenge to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations. The wineries represent about 20% of the state’s wine production. The program was led by the Oregon Environmental Council in partnership with the Oregon Wine Board. Details: oeconline.org.
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May 2010Farthing leaves Oregon board
Ted Farthing, executive director of the Oregon Wine Board (OMB) since 2004, resigned in March to pursue a career in marketing consulting. OMB chair Sam Tannahill, A to Z Wineworks, will serve as acting executive director until a search committee finds a permanent replacement within three to six months.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
April 2010Pacific Winemaking reps new clients
Tonnellerie Mercier appointed Pacific Winemaking LLC as agent for the Mercier range of French and American barrels, oak tanks and oak products in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia. The company also represents Material Pera, French manufacturer of crushpad equipment and red grape processing technolgies. Details: pacificwinemaking.com.
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March 2010Precept buys Corus
Precept Wine Brands, Seattle, Wash., one of the state’s biggest wine producers, purchased Seattle-based Corus Estates & Vineyards from the Baty family. Dan Baty is also a co-owner of Precept. Corus has winemaking facilities in Alder Ridge, Wash., and Nampa, Idaho, and brands including Sawtooth Winery, Alder Ridge, 6 Prong, Zefina, Blue Pirate and Battle Creek. Precept will continue to source grapes from the Baty family’s Winemakers LLC, which retains Corus facilities in Oregon.
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February 2010New name, location for Sojen
Sojen Cellars, which started several years ago in a garage as Griffins Crossing, opened a new winery and tasting room in January in Everett, Wash. Owners Max and Jennifer Jensen adopted “Sojen” after Oregon’s Willamette Valley Vineyards claimed their original brand infringed on its Griffin Creek trademark. Although Sojen produces just 300 cases per year, it plans quickly to grow to 500 cases.
Bauer is Union winemaker
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January 2010Northwest
New wine tour operator in Oregon
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December 2009Northwest
Benson Vineyards opens courtyard
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November 2009Northwest
Temp staffing firm opens in Seattle
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October 2009Northwest
Okanagan has GPS wine tour
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September 2009NORTHWEST
Waters partners with Gros
Waters Winery, Walla Walla, Wash., announced it has partnered with international consulting enologist Claude Gros. Waters will be one of three U.S. clients served by Gros, who will visit several times throughout the year to collaborate with the winemaking team.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
August 2009NORTHWEST
Adelsheim has new marketing managerREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
July 2009Northwest
Innovative Oregon wine shop closesREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
June 2009Northwest News
WSU wine business management major
Washington State University, Pullman, will offer a new major through the School of Hospitality Management in its College of Business. Wine Business Management graduates will be educated across a broad range of wine business and related functional areas, from management of wine production to identification and development of demand generators. For details, visit business.wsu.edu.
Whatcom County wineries form groupREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
May 2009Northwest
600 and counting in Washington
Already the second-largest wine-producing state, Washington's tally of wineries recently topped 600. The state Liquor Control Board awarded the 600th license to Bridge Press Cellars in Spokane in February, and since then it has issued two more licenses--Rockwell Brown Wines, North Bend; and Tru Cellars, Walla Walla. The new total marks a nearly 300% increase in the past decade. Winegrape plantings have increased from 24,000 acres in 1999 to 33,000 this year, according to the Washington Wine Commission.
Tour firm launches wine store, registryREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
April 2009Northwest
Six have Oregon certification
Adelsheim Vineyard, Bethel Heights Vineyard, Panther Creek Cellars, Ponzi Vineyards, WillaKenzie Estate and Willamette Valley Vineyards all are producing wines certified by Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine. The OCSW-certified wines amount to a total of 210,241 bottles. Amity Vineyards, Anne Amie Vineyards, Sokol Blosser Winery, Soter Vineyards, Stoller Vineyards and Wooldridge Creek Vineyard have also started the certification process. The OCSW logo guarantees that the wine was crafted using responsible agriculture and winemaking practices.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
March 2009Northwest
Washington has a new AVAREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
February 2009Northwest
Nonprofit winery for OregonREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
January 2009Northwest
Tsillan celebrates 100% estate crushREAD MORE »News Briefs Northwest
November 2008Northwest
Henick-Kling to lead WSU program
Dr. Thomas Henick-Kling, the much-honored long-time grape and wine researcher at New York's Cornell University who last year became an enology professor and director of the national Wine and Grape Industry Center at Charles Sturt University in Australia, will return to the U.S. next March. He was named director of the viticulture and enology program at Washington State University, Pullman.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
October 2008Northwest
Washington festival raised $1.4 million
The 17th annual Washington Wines Festival Wine Weekend drew more than 300 guests to Carnation, Wash., and raised in excess of $1.4 million for Camp Korey, the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps and the Washington Wines Education Foundation. Next year's event is scheduled for July 10-11. For details, visit washingtonwinesfestival.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
September 2008Northwest
Idaho county supports industry growth
Canyon County in southern Idaho hopes to become a wine attraction. The Caldwell/Canyon Economic Development Council created a new logo and announced plans to promote tourism in the area, which now has nine operating wineries. Sunny Slope Food and Wine Co. is creating a custom-crush facility; two wine-themed residential developments are being built, and the Caldwell branch of Oregon's Treasure Valley Community College plans to emphasize its winemaking program.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
August 2008Northwest
Honeywood launches dog-friendly brand
Honeywood Winery in Salem, Ore., released its new brand called Dog Gone Wine. The first batch includes Pug Pear, Pomeranian Pomegranate, Basset Hound Blackberry and Poodle Pinot. The fruit wines retail for $12 per bottle; the Pinot's list price is $24. A portion of the profits from every bottle will go to support local dog nonprofit organizations. Currently, Dog Gone Wine is working with the Willamette Humane Society. Honeywood is Oregon's oldest winery, producing 24,000 cases per year. For more information, visit honeywoodwinery.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
July 2008Northwest
Kremer named Olsen Family winemaker
Olsen Family Vineyards, Monmouth, Ore., appointed Bill Kremer its winemaker. Previously, Kremer was with King Estate Winery in Eugene, Ore. Olsen Family produces Viridian Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
June 2008Northwest
Trio founds Walla Walla winery
Jason Huntley, Jamie Brown and Greg Harrington have formed a new winery in Walla Walla, Wash. Dubbed "Wines of Substance" it will focus on single-varietal wines from Washington state and host an interactive website to educate young wine enthusiasts. Learn more at winesofsubstance.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
May 2008Northwest
Naramata Bench to host seminars
Okanagan B.C.'s Naramata Bench Wineries Association will hold a series of wine seminars starting in early May with pending dates in July and September. The "Unfiltered" seminars May 5 and 6 will include vineyard tours and tastings, wine and food pairing instruction, winemaker lunches and dinners and accommodations, for $799 per person. For details on this and later events, visit naramatabench.com.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
April 2008Northwest
WSU workshop is April 12 & 13
Washington State University extension viticulturists and enologists will collaborate with industry professionals to host "Vine to Wine" in Prosser, Wash. The first day will focus on establishing a vineyard; the second will address winemaking, winery design and economics. For details of the workshop, sponsored by the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, visit winegrapes.wsu.edu.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
March 2008Northwest
Vintage will build Red Mountain complex
Washington has leased 404 acres of state land in the Red Mountain AVA to Vintage Partners, which plans to develop a vineyard and winemaking complex to accommodate about a dozen wineries in shared crush facilities. The development will include a 75,000 square-foot piazza with guest rooms. The 55-year lease will bring about $500,000 per year to the state school trust fund.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
February 2008Northwest
Oregon to boost sustainable growing
The Oregon Environmental Council is working with the state legislature to establish the Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Resources Center (OSARC), to provide a one-stop resource for information about sustainable agriculture. The Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences are leading supporters of a bill to establish OSARC, which will be considered by the legislature this month. For information, visit inr.oregonstate.edu/download/osarc.pdf.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
January 2008Northwest
Columbia Winery leaving Woodinville
Columbia Winery, one of Washington's oldest and best known producers, is moving its winemaking operations to Sunnyside, in Eastern Washington's Yakima Valley, where it shares a winery with Covey Run, also owned by Constellation Brands' Icon Estates. Columbia has operated at its current site for almost 20 years.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
December 2007Northwest
Hotel to anchor Woodinville development
Branded Lodging Company will create the $45 million, 100-room Hotel Varenna in Western Washington's new Woodinville Village mixed-use development. DeLille Cellars and Brian Carter Cellars will also anchor the project, designed as a culinary and wine destination.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
November 2007Northwest
Washington team wins IPM award
Researchers from Washington State University, and wine industry collaborators, were honored with the 2007 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Team Award. Led by entomologist Doug Walsh at WSU's Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser, the team devised a technique that virtually eliminates cutworm bud damage on grapevines.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
October 2007Northwest
Washington Convention in February
The Annual Meeting, Convention and Trade Show of the Washington Association of Winegrape Growers is scheduled for Feb. 6-8 in Kennewick, Wash. Themed "How To: Washington," the event will feature practical advice and information on topics including sustainability, start-ups and the TTB. For details and registration, visit wawgg.org.READ MORE »News Briefs Northwest
September 2007Northwest
Zepponi named Mission Hill president
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, appointed Daniel Zepponi as president. He oversees all operations of the family-owned winery. Previously, Zepponi was senior vice president at Fosterís Wine Estates in California.READ MORE »CURRENT COLUMN ARTICLES »
