Fifty/Fifty
By Sophia McDonald
In 2021, two of the Willamette Valley’s original wineries Adelsheim Vineyard in Newberg and Sokol Blosser Winery in Dayton are commemorating their golden anniversaries. Their influential leaders share some reflections on their past, talk about what they’re doing in the present and provide a glimpse into the future and, if the Oregon industry is so fortunate, the next 50.
David Adelsheim was in the Army during the Vietnam War; however, he was stationed 2000 miles away in Korea. There received his first serious introduction to the genteel subject of wine. “I had a captain who was from Puerto Rico who really knew wine,” he said. “We didn’t taste wine a lot, but from time to time, he would find a bottle, and he would talk about it in a much more serious way than I was used to hearing about wine.”
Drive to Succeed
By Hilary Berg
This month, OWP honors two golden anniversaries: Adelsheim Vineyard and Sokol Blosser Winery. Add together both histories for a solid century of knowledge, hard work and well-deserved recognition.
There’s so much respect for these early winemakers who have not only paved the way, but also created road rules (quality regulations) and helpful signs (leadership) for the industry to drive into the future.
Now look at the traffic (wine scene). It’s jam-packed, bursting with new drivers (personalities) steering a variety of cars (wineries) and making a lot of noise (media attention) along the way.
Sen. Ron Wyden receives Oregon Wine Leadership Award
Updated Feb 20, 2021;
Posted Feb 20, 2021
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden recently received the Oregon Wine Leadership Award in honor of his years of work helping Oregon s wine industry. (Mark Graves, The Oregonian/OregonLive)Mark Graves
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By Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/OregonLive
Sen. Ron Wyden has a new award to add to his collection: the Oregon Wine Leadership Award. The award, an etched glass decanter, was presented to Oregon’s senior U.S. senator by the Oregon Winegrowers Association (OWA) at their annual membership meeting on Feb. 17.
The award recognizes Wyden’s long history of advocacy on behalf of Oregon’s wine industry. Wyden’s efforts range from fighting to remove trade barriers that negatively impact American wines to cutting red tape for wineries at the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
Commemorative Wines and Merchandise
In observance of its 50th anniversary, Adelsheim will release numerous commemorative wines and merchandise throughout the year, including specialty magnums with collectable labels. The first such offering includes three vintages of Elizabeth’s Reserve. Elizabeth’s Reserve has historically been one of the winery’s most iconic wines, initially launched in 1986. Familiar and nostalgic to many, the wine - fondly referred to as “Lizzie” - encapsulates the terroir of the Willamette Valley. David Adelsheim and current winemaker Gina Hennen selected three vintages of the wine that are part of the winery’s Drink It Now Library Collection: 2009 ($100 per bottle), 2010 ($90 per bottle) and 2012 ($125 per bottle). The latest commemorative wines and 50thmerchandise can be found at www.adelsheim.com/50years.