2
CapitalPress.com
Friday, December 20, 2019
People & Places
Winery thrives on experimenting
with label art, vineyard practices
Western
Innovator
By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
ARGYLE WINERY
Owner: Lion, an Aus-
tralia-based food and
beverage company
Photos by Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press
Geoff Hall, vineyard manager for the Argyle
Winery, manages 375 acres of the compa-
ny’s vineyards in Oregon’s Yamhill County.
ArgyleWinery.com
The work of scholarship
winners from the Pacific
Northwest College of Art in
Portland appears on labels
for Argyle Winery’s “The
Art of Sparkling” wines.
375 acres of vineyards.
To invest its work crew
supervisors in the winemaking
process, the company allows
them to independently man-
age specific areas of the vine-
yard that they’ve identified as
producing unique grapes, said
Geoff Hall, Argyle’s vineyard
manager.
The idea is to isolate and
separately ferment wines from
those special “pockets,” blend-
ing them into finished products
according to their individual
properties, he said.
“We’re using their innate
knowledge of the vineyards to
get the best of these vineyards,”
Hall said. “They care a lot
Cathy Martin, marketing coordinator for
Argyle Winery, in the company’s tasting
room in Dundee, Ore.
more. You see it in their enthu-
siasm for the vineyards.”
This year, Argyle has coop-
erated with the USDA’s Nat-
ural Resources Conservation
Service and the Yamhill Soil
and Water Conservation Dis-
trict to begin expanding pol-
linator-friendly habitat at its
vineyards.
More than 3 acres were
planted with seven differ-
ent types of wildflower mixes
that are intended to boost pol-
linator populations while
being resilient enough to with-
stand machinery and vineyard
operations.
“We don’t want to guess
what we should be putting in
over the next few years, so we
went to the experts,” Hall said
of the collaboration with gov-
ernment agencies.
Once the company learns
which “islands” of wildflow-
ers are most effective, it plans
to expand the project to include
more land, he said.
“When we know what’s
working or not working, that’s
when we scale it,” Hall said.
Aside from being “the right
thing to do,” enhancing polli-
nator activity at Argyle’s vine-
yards is intended to create an
overall better environment
By GAIL OBERST
For the Capital Press
that’s conducive to beneficial
predatory insects that consume
pests.
“It’s our way of getting
more diversity into the vine-
yard,” Hall said.
This same approach of scal-
ing up is being used to explore
no-till practices in the vine-
yards with an eye for improv-
ing soil health.
While
reduced
till-
age creates more competi-
tion for water and nutrients
for Argyle’s grapevines, it
increases mycorrhizal fungi
in the ground that can unlock
nutrients not otherwise avail-
able to the plants.
Planting clover and other
legumes between the rows dis-
courages weeds while fixing
nitrogen that can be released
when those cover crops are
mowed or eventually plowed
under.
“With more diverse cover
crops, we hope to have more
diverse microbiology in our
soil and be less dependent on
chemical fertilizers,” Hall said.
“That’s the direction we’re
going to incrementally increase
the acreage we don’t till.”
Founded in 1987 by a
group of investors and eventu-
ally taken over by the Austra-
Operations: 375 acres
of vineyards in Oregon’s
Yamhill County, a tasting
room in Dundee, Ore.,
and a winery in Newberg,
Ore.
Production: 80,000 cases
a year of sparkling and
still wines
Varietals: Pinot noir,
Chardonnay, Riesling
Winemaker: Nate Klos-
terman
Vineyard manager:
Geoff Hall
lia-based Lion food and bever-
age company, Argyle is among
the “second wave” of winer-
ies to locate in Oregon’s Willa-
mette Valley, said Martin.
The company was started
with the idea of producing
both sparkling and still wines,
which provides it with flexi-
bility depending on a particu-
lar season’s temperatures and
weather, she said.
In warmer years, the higher
sugar content within the grapes
is preferable for traditional
still Pinot noir and other vari-
etals. In cooler years, more of
the grapes can be dedicated to
sparkling wine.
“You actually harvest the
grapes earlier,” Martin said.
“You don’t want them as ripe
as with still wine.”
Gail Oberst/For the Capital Press
Farm Bureau staffer Gail Greenman, left, congratulates
Barb Iverson after her election as president of the Ore-
gon Farm Bureau.
time with her family. As a
result, three candidates vied
for the top position at the
annual conference: Iverson,
Angela Bailey, an ornamen-
tal tree and shrub farmer in
Gresham, and Dylan Wells,
the Marion County Farm
Bureau president.
Before the election, Iver-
son was first vice president
and Bailey was second vice
president.
In a separate election,
Bailey was chosen first vice
president, and Bryan Gla-
ser, owner of Sod Farms in
Shedd, was chosen second
vice president.
“We need someone who
can step in today, and lead
this organization,” said Har-
ney County Farm Bureau
president and rancher Rusty
Inglis, as he seconded Iver-
son’s nomination. He said
that she visited almost every
chapter during her tenure as
first vice president.
Iverson said it has been
the greatest compliment
to be called “a farm kid”
by visitors to Wooden
Shoe during its annual
tulip festival.
“I’ve had a long history
with the Farm Bureau, but I
also have the scars of a long
family farm career,” she
said. Although best known
for its tulips, Iverson’s
1,200-acre farm near Wood-
burn is diverse, employing
100 full-time people who
grow hemp, seed crops,
squash and table and wine
grapes.
As part of her Farm
Bureau and farm experi-
ence, she’s worked with
local, state and national
agencies, and said she
understands how vulnera-
ble farmers feel in the face
of “issues beyond our con-
trol.” But her daily interac-
tion with the public gives
her hope.
“The majority wants to
support and trust us,” she
said. “Getting our message
out is important.”
Getting the message out
was also a top concern in
the delegation meetings that
took place over the two-
day conference. Members
debated the details of the
OFB’s policies, updated
each year to reflect Ore-
gon agriculture’s changing
landscape. Those policies
establish the Farm Bureau’s
political goals for the com-
ing year. Among new policy
changes approved:
• The Farm Bureau sup-
ported a “working wilder-
ness” designation for fed-
eral lands that would allow
agricultural activities in
those areas.
• Members opposed
a “one-size-fits all” rule
applied to farms with tide
gates and culverts. In addi-
tion to environmental con-
cerns, the rules should
take into consideration
economic feasibility and
whether the current struc-
ture is operating or failing.
The updated book of
2020 policies approved
December 12 will be avail-
able at oregonfb.org in a
few weeks.
The Farm Bureau has
6,587 members in 32 chap-
ters statewide. The non-
profit “…gives voice to
farm and ranch families at
the Capitol,” according to
its mission statement.
CALENDAR
Submit upcoming ag-related
events on www.capitalpress.com
or by email to newsroom@capital-
press.com.
MONDAY, JAN. 6
Idaho Range Livestock Sym-
posium: 8 a.m., American Legion
Hall, Marsing, Idaho. Adapting to a
changing rangeland environment.
Registration is required. Contact:
Scott Jensen, 208-894-4104, scottj@
uidaho.edu Website: https://bit.
ly/2DMjylR
TUESDAY JAN. 7
Idaho-E. Oregon Alfalfa and
Clover Seed Growers Meeting:
8 a.m., Caldwell Elks Lodge, 1015 N.
Kimball Ave., Caldwell, Idaho. Alfalfa
and clover seed growers from East-
ern Oregon, southwest Idaho and
the Magic Valley of Idaho will have
their annual meeting. Contact: Ben-
jamin Kelly, 208-888-0988, benja-
min@amgidaho.com
Idaho Range Livestock Sym-
posium: CSI Herrett Center, 315 Falls
Ave., Twin Falls, Idaho. Adapting to
Capital Press Managers
Entire contents copyright © 2019
EO Media Group
dba Capital Press
An independent newspaper
published every Friday.
Founded: 1987
Iverson elected new Oregon Farm Bureau president
GLENEDEN BEACH,
Ore. — Nearly 200 mem-
bers of the Oregon Farm
Bureau applauded as Sha-
ron Waterman, the group’s
first female president,
handed the gavel to Barb
Iverson, owner of the
Wooden Shoe Tulip Co.
“I’m honored to lead
this family,” Iverson said
at the awards ceremony
wrapping up the 87th anni-
versary of the Bureau’s
annual meeting Dec. 12 at
Salishan Resort near Lin-
coln City.
Before Waterman took
the reins in 2018, Boring,
Ore., farmer Barry Bushue
had been president for 19
years. When Bushue quit to
become the executive direc-
tor of the USDA Farm Ser-
vice Agency, Waterman, the
first vice president, took the
position as interim then was
elected by the membership
later that year.
Waterman
declined
to run again, saying she
wanted to spend more
Established 1928
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Kevin Blodgett ........... Advertising Director
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager
Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager
Company asks
art students to
design labels
DUNDEE, Ore. — Though
the design of a wine label is
considered a key element of
its appeal to consumers, the
Argyle winery doesn’t mind
experimenting sometimes.
Each year, the company
awards three scholarships to
art students who then spend
a day “immersed” in its vine-
yard, winery and tasting room
operations in Oregon’s Yam-
hill County, inspiring each to
design a wine label that cap-
tures the “essence” of Argyle.
“It’s the same information
going in and it comes out in all
these different directions,” said
Cathy Martin, the company’s
marketing coordinator. “We’d
like to see how they’d interpret
Argyle.”
The art students are selected
from applicants attending the
Pacific Northwest College of
Art in Portland based on their
previous work, but the winery
gives them free rein to design
the labels on their own.
“We never know what
we’re getting for the artwork,”
Martin said.
The unique process can
sometimes take the winery
“outside of its comfort zone,”
but each label is affixed to
bottles of Argyle’s Vintage
Brut sparkling wine and the
three-bottle packages are fea-
tured in its yearly holiday cat-
alog, she said.
“We do a lot of promotion
about it,” Martin said.
The “Art of Sparkling” pro-
gram, now in its fourth year, is
an example of Argyle’s collab-
orative approach to winemak-
ing, which also extends to its
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
a changing environment. Registra-
tion required. Contact: Benton Glaze,
208-736-3638, bglaze@uidaho.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/2DMjylR
TUESDAY-
WEDNESDAY JAN. 7-8
Cropping Systems Confer-
ence: 9 a.m., Three Rivers Conven-
tion Center, 7016 W. Grandridge
Blvd., Kennewick, Wash. The two-
day event features something for
everyone with a trade show, general
and breakout sessions, and research
poster sessions. Sponsored by the
Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Asso-
ciation. Website: http://directseed.
org Contact: agmgt@agmgt.com,
509-585-5460.
WEDNESDAY JAN. 8
Idaho Range Livestock Sympo-
sium: 8 a.m., Bannock County Veter-
ans Memorial Building, 300 N John-
son Ave., Pocatello, Idaho. Adapting
to a changing environment. Regis-
tration required.
Contact: Benton Glaze, 208-736-
3638, bglaze@uidaho.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/2DMjylR
THURSDAY JAN. 9
Idaho Range Livestock Sympo-
sium: 8 a.m., BYU-Idaho Ag. Science
Center, 525 S Center St., Rexburg,
Idaho. Adapting to a changing envi-
ronment. Registration required. Con-
tact: Benton Glaze, 208-736-3638,
bglaze@uidaho.edu Website: https://
bit.ly/2DMjylR
THURSDAY-FRIDAY
JAN. 9-10
Oregon Mint Growers Annual
Meeting: 8 a.m. Salishan Resort,
7760 North Highway 101, Gleneden
Beach, Ore. Make your plans to
attend the 71st annual meeting,
where you’ll hear the latest on the
mint industry. Contact: http://ore-
gonmint.org, 503-364-2944
TUESDAY, JAN. 14
Introduction to Food Safety
& HACCP Workshop: 8 a.m. U of
I Food Technology Center, 1902 E
Chicago St., Caldwell, Idaho. This is a
one-day overview course designed
for line workers, QC personnel, san-
itation professionals, supervisors,
and other employees of food pro-
cessing operations. Participants
will spend part of the day learning
about food safety prerequisite pro-
grams, which are used to ensure
food products are free from non-
hazardous objectionable contam-
inants. Cost: $355 Website: https://
bit.ly/2DJSOSP
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15
Farm and Ranch Succes-
sion Planning Workshop Series:
1-4 p.m. Multnomah Grange No.
71, 30639 SE Bluff Road. Gresham,
Ore. Register now for this free
series of workshops on farm and
ranch succession. Workshops are
held every other Wednesday from
Jan. 15 to Feb. 26 In addition to
these courses, no-cost, confiden-
tial, one-on-one business coun-
seling is provided free by an expe-
rienced Farm and Ranch Small
Business Development Cen-
ter adviser. Let us help you iden-
tify issues and evaluate options
in passing your farm and busi-
ness on to the next generation. A
complimentary light lunch is pro-
vided at 12:30 p.m. There is room
for 50 people. Presented by: Clack-
amas Small Business Development
Center and the East Multnomah
& Clackamas Soil & Water Conser-
vation Districts. Questions? Call
Diana Tourney at 503-594-0732.
WEDNESDAY-
THURSDAY
JAN. 15-16
Introduction to Safe Quality
Food: 8:30 a.m. U of I Food Tech-
nology Center, 1902 E Chicago St.,
Caldwell, Idaho. Instructor Jana
Hamlett will provide knowledge
of the roles and responsibilities of
the SQF practitioner and how they
ensure supplies are in compliance
with an internationally recognized
and accredited Food Safety Man-
agement System which will sup-
port compliance to the FSMA rules.
Website: https://bit.ly/2LmrLS3
Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is
published weekly by EO Media Group,
2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303.
Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR,
and at additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: send address changes to
Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR
97308-2048.
To Reach Us
Circulation ...........................800-781-3214
Email ........... Circulation@capitalpress.com
Main line .............................503-364-4431
News Staff
Idaho
Carol Ryan Dumas ..............208-860-3898
Boise
Brad Carlson .......................208-914-8264
Central Washington
Dan Wheat ..........................509-699-9099
Western Washington
Don Jenkins .........................360-722-6975
Eastern Washington
Matthew Weaver ................509-688-9923
Oregon
George Plaven ....................406-560-1655
Mateusz Perkowski .............800-882-6789
Graphic artist
Alan Kenaga ........................800-882-6789
Designer
Randy Wrighthouse .............800-882-6789
To Place Classified Ads
Telephone (toll free) ............800-882-6789
Online ...........CapitalPress.com/classifieds
Subscriptions
Mail rates paid in advance
Easy Pay U.S. $4 /month
(direct withdrawal from bank
or credit card account)
1 year U.S. ...........................................$55
2 years U.S. ........................................$100
1 year Canada .....................................$275
1 year other countries ...........call for quote
1 year Internet only .........................$49.99
1 year 4-H, FFA students/teachers .......$30
9 months 4-H, FFA students/teachers ..$25
Visa and Mastercard accepted
To get information published
Mailing address:
Capital Press
P.O. Box 2048
Salem, OR 97308-2048
News: Contact the main office
or news staff member closest to you,
send the information to
newsroom@capitalpress.com
or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press.
Include a contact telephone number.
Letters to the Editor: Send your
comments on agriculture-related public
issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or
mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital
Press. Letters should be limited to
300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday.
Capital Press ag media
CapitalPress.com
FarmSeller.com
MarketPlace.capitalpress.com
facebook.com/CapitalPress
facebook.com/FarmSeller
twitter.com/CapitalPress
youtube.com/CapitalPressvideo
Index
Dairy .....................................................10
Livestock ...............................................10
Markets .................................................12
Opinion ...................................................6
Correction policy
Accuracy is important to Capital Press
staff and to our readers.
If you see a misstatement, omission or
factual error in a headline, story or photo
caption, please call the Capital Press news
department at 503-364-4431, or send
email to newsroom@capitalpress.com.
We want to publish corrections
to set the record straight.