We always knew Willamette Valley wine was exceptional but now we have the endorsement of Wine Enthusiast Magazine to prove it. It’s official that Oregon’s Willamette Valley is the 2016 Wine Region of the Year.
The Wine Star Awards are regarded as some of the most important in the wine industry. Each year, the editors of Wine Enthusiast honor individuals, companies and regions that have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the wine and spirits world. The magazine will officially award the region at the Wine Star Awards gala on January 30, 2017 in Miami, FL. The Willamette Valley will also be featured in Wine Enthusiast’s December 2016 issue.
The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s leading wine region, has over two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to nearly 500 wineries. It is recognized as one of the premier Pinot noir producing areas in the world. Other cool-climate varieties such as Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewürztraminer are equally at home in the Willamette Valley.
According to Sheryl Kelsh, CEO of the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce and Board Member for the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, “We are seeing an increase in visitors to the valley based on this prestigious award. It is our hope that they will have a great experience and will tell all their friends to visit.”
While the number of wineries continues to grow, Willamette Valley winemakers haven’t lost their personal, handcrafted approach to making wine, or their desire to do things a little differently. Many winemakers in the Willamette Valley practice sustainable winegrowing techniques based on their respect for the land and desire to see future generations continue the winemaking tradition. Nearly half of all Willamette Valley vineyards are certified sustainable, making the valley the most sustainable wine region in the world.
“Wine lovers worldwide are traveling to Oregon to experience our valley first hand and find our winegrowers as welcoming as our valley is beautiful,” says Jim Bernau, Founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards. “The Willamette Valley is indeed a Star.”
Other 2016 Wine Region nominees include Provence, France; Champagne, France; Crete, Greece; and Sonoma County, California. The Willamette Valley is also home to two other nominees recognized for their achievements in the wine industry: Jim Bernau of Willamette Valley Vineyards earned a nomination for Person of the Year, and King Estate, located in the southern-most part of the Willamette Valley, was nominated for American Winery of the Year.
About the Willamette Valley: The Willamette Valley is 150 miles long and up to 60 miles wide making it Oregon’s largest AVA. It runs from the Columbia River in Portland south through Salem to the Calapooya Mountains outside Eugene. Named for the river that flows through it, the Willamette Valley has the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Oregon and includes six appellations within its borders: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill-Carlton.
About The Willamette Valley Visitors Association is a private, non-profit organization that supports travel and tourism in the Willamette Valley – Oregon Wine Country. Comprised of six destination marketing organizations, the Willamette Valley Visitors Association works to maintain the Willamette Valley as Oregon’s premier wine destination, while highlighting the culture, heritage and natural resources of the region. oregonwinecountry.org telephone 866-548-5018.
