Now in its sixth year of service, Oregon Wine Month 2017, presented by the Oregon Wine Board, features local wineries, winemakers and vineyards from across the state for the entire month of May. All 31 days are dedicated solely to Oregon wines and wine events focused on knowing and understanding Oregon wine, where it comes from and how it is being made. Lucky for us Pacific Northwesterners, we get to experience the legitmacy of local through this flourishing wine industry.
This wine-fueled May will expose enthusiasts from all over the state to new local wine experiences, from more than 700 wineries and 1,000 vineyards producing 72 grape varietals annually. Owner Carrie Wynkoop of Cellar503 is kicking off the month with an all-out wine festival on April 30. The inaugural Pour Oregon will take place at Castaway Portland, featuring over 40 wineries from various Oregon appellations. Each winery attending will have the chance to show off two bottle selections of their choice.
“I wanted to do something that was going to engage all of my winemakers and really show the broader community that these little folks are awesome and they’re making good wine,” Wynkoop says.
Wynkoop is thrilled to have attendees from all over the state exhibiting the abundance of local wine. Included in the Pour Oregon lineup is Southern Oregon’s Troon Vineyard. General manager Craig Camp of Troon had the chance to express his gratitude toward local Oregon wine.
“To actually see the people and what they do makes you realize that it is farming and agriculture,” Camp says. “You get an emotional connection to the wine and I think that’s the main reason to drink local. These are people that grew up here and I think that really adds to the local feeling. People have a commitment to the area.”
Camp has spent more than 30 years in the industry from Italy to Napa Valley and everywhere in between. Landing in Southern Oregon, Camp has brought an emphasis to the Applegate Valley’s local wine scene through his work at Troon Vineyard.
Not only will Pour Oregon feature wineries from the gorgeous hills of Southern Oregon, on the list will be tastings from Portland’s greater metropolitan area. Beth Klingner and Kevin Johnson of Dion Vineyard opened their tasting room right outside of Hillsboro for easy access to the urban community. With limited experience in the industry, Klingner married into the Dion Vineyard business and has developed quite a sense of belonging over the years, believing that local wine should be considered the same as local food.
“I know we have an advantage of what is made here and I think that’s awesome because you don’t have to go to the grocery store and pick out something because you like the label,” Klingner explains. “You can actually go taste it, decide if you like it or not and see if it fits your personal palate. You can meet the people who make it and support local business. It’s the same reason you go to a farmer’s market.”
The month of May will be packed with events for wine enthusiasts to learn more about viticulture throughout the Pacific Northwest. Restaurants, retailers, winemakers and distributors all across Oregon will provide various offerings each day. Tickets for Pour Oregon are available online at www.pouroregon.com with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Oregon Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For more Oregon wine events like Pour Oregon, visit www.oregonwine.org/oregon-wine-month.
