[from original press release]
Chehalem Winery is honored to announce it has achieved B Corp Certification status, which assesses companies to ensure they meet the highest standard of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. The certification is in accordance with Chehalem’s philosophical core of stewarding its land, reducing its impact and enriching its community.
“Growing up in a farming family and small rural community, I have a deep appreciation for our land and desire to support our community,” said Bill Stoller, owner of Chehalem Winery. “What I appreciate about B Corp certification is that it reinforces our practices and serves as a North Star for our business to continue to advance our goals.”
Located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Chehalem has prioritized soil stability and structural health while promoting bio-diversity in our vineyards. More than 20 percent of vineyard sites are designated as eco-zones for native plants and habitat for animals. All three vineyard sites are independently LIVE Certified and Salmon Safe. LIVE takes a whole-farm and whole-winery approach to sustainability. The entire property, including non-grape crops, landscaping, building operations, labor practices, even packaging must be managed to LIVE standards.
Since inception, Chehalem Winery emphasized being a leader in its community. Chehalem pays a living wage and provides a comprehensive compensation package to all full-time staff. Leadership is spread equally among men and women across every department, and all employees are encouraged to take advantage of continuing education opportunities. More than 30 percent of spending is with local vendors within 50 miles of the winery. Chehalem is also a proud supporter of ¡SALUD!, a Pinot Noir auction supporting a unique non-profit collaboration between wineries and healthcare professionals that raises money to provide access to healthcare services for Oregon’s seasonal vineyard workers and their families.
Chehalem Winery joins its sister winery Stoller Family Estate along with A to Z Wineworks, Sokol Blosser, Winderlea and Patton Valley Vineyards, making it the sixth Oregon winery and 114th company in Oregon to attain the status. To date, more than 2,544 B Corporations span 130 industries in more than 50 countries around the world.
