Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2004)
WINE continued from page 3 winemakers who traveled north in the early '80s. As a lobbyist, Bernau fought in 1983 to establish an Oregon wine ad visory board, which would receive rev enues for the research and promotion of an Oregon wine industry from two sources: a tax on wine and wine grapes. "I was approached by California wine makers who were interested in passing laws for establishing an Oregon wine in dustry, " Bemau said. "I really took a keen interest for what they were doing and 1 already had a strong appreciation for pinot noir. I think I am the first native Oregonian to buy land and own a win ery in Oregon following Prohibition." According to information provided by Silvan Ridge/Hinman Vineyards in Eugene, the Oregon wine industry's historical roots date back to around 1825, when the Hudson Bay Compa ny established the first vineyard at Fort Vancouver. The first commercial win eiy opened in 1883, and old zinfandel vines still exist near Hood River. "Oregon is not as new as people be lieve in the wine industry," Johnson said. Bernau said the wine industry is currently the sixth most important agricultural industry in Oregon with vineyards in the Willamette, Rogue and Umpqua valleys and the Colum bia Gorge. Altogether, Oregon winer ies produce more than 1 million cases per year, with gross revenues of approximately $220 million, placing the industry just behind milk and ahead of wheat and Christmas trees. "A lot of people don't realize just how important an industry it has be come," Bernau said. "It may even eventually surpass milk." In the national spotlight Although Oregon's largely small scale wine production pales in com parison with that of California and France, its pinot noir and pinot gris have gained national recognition. The Willamette Valley Vineyards and King Estate Vineyard labels have recently garnered accolades from USA Today and The Dallas Morning News, re spectively. USA Today columnist Jerry Shriver recently named the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2002 bottlings among the best in $ll-$20 white wines — placing Willamette in the "Great Producers" category. "Other Oregon wineries have had such recognition too," Bernau said. "Others have performed brilliantly in world competitions and in reviews." Willamette's wines have also been featured in "Wine Spectator" and "Bon Appetit" magazines and on prime time television shows. "(The 'Friends' chef) so loved our wines that she bought some and took them back down to the studio, and she shared them with the actors on the 'Friends' show," Bernau said. 'The actors ended up drinking it right on television." He said he was recently watching an episode of "The West Wing" where President Jed Bartlet, played by Mar tin Sheen, presented his wife with a bottle of Willamette Valley Vineyards wine before her birthday dinner. "He said, 'We've got this for the en tree, this for the dinner, and by the way we have Willamette Valley Vine yards pinot noir,'" Bemau said. "I was watching television and just about fell off the couch." Bemau said Oregon wine produc ers are setting themselves apart in pro tecting the environment while maintaining a viable harvest. His 260 acre winery operates to the standards HE 018835 / Lawrence 177, April 22nd-24th April 22nd & 23rd 8:15pm April 24th 6:00 pm Free with Student ID $2 for community members UNIVERSITY OF OREGON see website for complete listing www.culturalforum.uoregon.edu of the Low Input Viticulture and Enology, an organization with a set of standards established in Europe to protea the environment from harm ful byproducts produced by farming. "We use no herbicides or pesticides, and we use natural methods of improv ing soil nutrition and vine health and balance," he said. "We are very into be ing a good steward for the land." After harvesting the grapes in Oc tober, Bernau said the grapes are tak en fresh from the field to the fo menter in one day. "That's where quality comes from," he said. 'The fruit begins to break down the moment it comes off the vine." Baker said the pinot noir is a particularly difficult wine to grow right, with an average of six out of 10 mm m:-m -•mmww vintages receiving too much rain. "You really get superior flavor de velopment and complexity when it is struggling to get ripe," Baker said. "The pinot noir is a Holy Grail not just to consumers but winemakers as well. They feel it is one of the most se ductive, and — when you get it right — one of the most entrancing wines in the world." Bernau said although attention to detail is costly and time consuming, consumers notice the difference in taste and quality. 'There will always be a place in the world for high-quality low-level pro duction," he said. "I believe in time we will see a good return." Contact the freelance editor atjennifersudick@dailyemeraid.com. (Above) University alumnus Jim Bernau founded Willamette Valley Vineyards more than 20 years ago and now employs about 100 workers. (Far left) Workers in the Willamette Valley Vineyards barrel room move empty oak barrels for storage.(Left) Visitors can sample wines in the Willamette Valley Vineyard’s tasting room. Adam Amato Senior Photographer For the week of April 23rd! Sign-up for our weekly WebPage Update! www.bijou-cinemas.com . What the BLEEP do we Know!? How For Down the lUbbil Hole of Hysleriousntss Do Fob Wul to to?' Are you ready for a film that combines multi-dimensional visual effects and animation, a dramatic story and interviews with leading scientists and mystics? This is the film people are talking about and coming back to see again and again. A tour through the inner workings of the Universe, and, You! 5:00,7:15 & 9:30 Nightly Sun Mat 2:35 ! A WONDEROF A MOVIE "Q "Spclibindinc. .a Citizen Kane-uke mediation." MY ARCHITECT VZiZIXXSZi A Son's Journey 1:50 & 7:10 Nightly Sun Mat 2:25 Greendale?,ilmby Neil Young "An _ r_' briri^ the album to life in a way it transcends the traditional long-form music wteo and defies easy calegonzation.' -Ke* Crust. LOS ANGELES TIMES 9:35 Nightly SAT MAT 2:50 BIJOU LATENITE Fr-Sat $4 Su $3 icinating and utterly fresh , , Neii Youngs Greendale Fri, Sat, & Sun 11:25 pm SAT MAT 2:50 "A gorgeous animated film that's as avid a tribute to the Japanese capital as Lost In Translation." Fri, Sat, & Sun 11:45 pm SAT MAT 3:00 now open for 1745 W. 18th Ave. appointment 18th & Chambers monday - Saturday 431-1717
