wine
BY LANCE SPARKS
Wines & Causes
Area wine people have a generous streak
T
his rap was born when my pal
Larry Malmgren asked me to draw
readers’ attention to a charity wine
auction to benefi t SMART (Start Making
A Reader Today). It’s a silent auction from
5:30 to 7 pm Tuesday, March 20, at 525 Mill
St., Springfi eld, featuring a wide variety of
wines from many sources. Larry has long
been a fi gure on the local wine scene and,
since he retired, active in connecting wines to
worthy causes. And he’s certainly not alone.
In fact, all across the state, vintners and their
friends have long been heavily involved in
supporting a broad spectrum of charitable
causes. Just two (of many) examples:
Robert Canaga is an artist and winefi end
who blogs about wine and frequently slogs
the vineyards to raise wines and bux for
the Oregon Mozart Players.
Jennifer Hilliard is deeply involved
with Greenhill Humane Society and
organizes the Pours for Paws wine event,
usually held at Meriwether, which donates
both space and wines.
The wineries and their principals
are daily deluged with requests for
contributions, and they give generously,
sometimes focusing their donations on
their particular interests. From a sampling
of our local wineries:
Matt LaVelle (LaVelle Vineyards) says
that the LaVelles are really committed
to supporting performing arts groups —
Eugene Symphony/Ballet/Opera — but
are lately taking special interest in their
kids’ local (Fern Ridge) schools, because
“they’re hurting so badly right now.”
Alan Mitchell at Territorial Vineyards says
their company is also interested in supporting
their local (Junction City) schools, “especially
if it involves music” because “the decline of
music (studies) really troubles me.” Mitchell
also notes that “donation requests are endless
… two or three every day.” Territorial does
“the best we can.”
Kacy Minnis, tasting room manager at
Sweet Cheeks Winery, says the “priority for
us is local charities” but they donate space
and wines for such organizations as Holt
International, Volunteers in Medicine and
Boys and Girls Clubs. They’ve dedicated to
their yearly fundraiser for scholarships with
LCC’s Women in Transition Program.
King Estate is our state’s largest
winery and they’re widely known for their
donations. LCC’s Culinary and Hospitality
Program is a frequent benefi ciary.
Ray Walsh (Capitello Wines, Eugene)
recently donated eight cases of wines
(that’s a lot for a tiny producer) for the
Angel Hair Foundation, supporting
children who’ve lost their hair for various
medical reasons (e.g., chemo).
More broadly, wineries all across
Oregon have made the annual Salud
Auction (November) — benefi tting
orchard workers and their families, often
Hispanic migrants — into a major event,
raising umpty-thousands of dollars.
These are just some tastes of the deep
generosity of the Oregon vintners in
support of charities. We should remember
that most of Oregon’s nearly 400 wineries
are small, family operations, some barely
eking by as businesses, but the people
who grow our grapes are among the most
community-minded of our citizens. They,
too, deserve support that comes around.
Which, as usual, brings us around to
this month’s quaffs:
Good Oregon pinot noir at under $20 is a
sign of the times, good and bad: Elk Cove
Vineyards 2009 La Sirene ($15)
delivers dead-center-of-the-palate cherry
fl avors framed with food-friendly acidity,
well-suited to rich foods like smoked salmon.
J. Albin 2010 Pinot Gris ($10) is
drinking beautifully right now, with pretty
citrus/pear-like fruit and zippy acidity and
a smooth texture. Don’t over-chill; serve
just cool for best fl avors.
It irks me to say so, but our big-shouldered
northern neighbors can make really good
wines at bargain prices. Chateau Ste
Michelle 2010 Dry Riesling ($6.50!) is
just fi ne, with fl avors of peaches and minerals,
a natural match for spicy Asian foods. The
sweeter version is also quite acceptable.
Watch for our kindly local folks’ 2010
and 2011 wines. We’ll be writing about them
next month, just returning some love. ew
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26 FEBRUARY 2, 2012
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