My Latest in Wine Business Monthly:
Yamhill-Carlton 2022 Annual Spring Tasting Returns to Sold-out Crowds
by L.M. Archer
Blue skies, green hills, and sunshine greeted sold-out crowds to Yamhill-Carlton AVA ’s Annual Spring Tasting on April 23, 2022 at Abbey Road Farms. Traditionally the prequel to Oregon Wine Month, this year’s event offered four different tasting options, including one morning and one afternoon VIP session ($100 pp), plus one regular morning and one afternoon session ($60 pp). Will-call made it easy to purchase wines, too.
“It’s great to be back to be able to do this event,” said Brian O’Donnell, owner-winemaker of organically farmed Belle Pente. “This is something we’ve been doing – gosh, for almost 20 years now. It’s sort of the unofficial kickoff for for Oregon Wine Month. It’s changed and morphed a little bit over the years, but always the intention is a very casual event, with a lot of owner-winemakers participating. So it’s a great opportunity to get out and meet the people behind the labels.”
Truthfully, tasting wines sans masks left more than a few folks somewhat bewildered. “For me, it’s akin to coming out of a bomb shelter after an extended period of time,” admitted owner-winemaker Tony Rynders of Tendril Wines. “Everyone’s trying to figure out how to interact on a social level. Once again, we are good at distancing. Now it’s time to reduce the distance.”
Moreover, for many winery owners, the Yamhill-Carlton event offered more than just a chance to sell wine. “It’s a chance to come together, not as an industry, but as neighbors,” said Hilary Berg, co-owner of Roots Wine Company. “Some people haven’t seen each other since COVID started. When you live out in the country, you don’t see each other that often.” READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.