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UNCORKED
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The Giving Vine
A look at how the local wine industry gives back to the community BY LANCE SPARKS
T
ALAN MITCHELL
OF TERRITORIAL
V I N E YA R D S
PHOTO BY TRASK BEDORTHA
he popularity of Oregon wine, especially
our pinot noirs, has soared. From a handful
of wineries in the 1970s, we have seen a
near-explosion: Now there are more than
400 wineries in the state, with that number
increasing almost daily. Wine contributes several billion
dollars annually to Oregon’s economy. The wineries and
their owners also contribute greatly to various Oregon
charities and nonprofits.
How, and how much?
EW decided to discuss the matter with some local
wineries and their owners, known both for the quality of
their wines and their generosity to deserving causes. We
called Danuta Pfeiffer of Pfeiffer Vineyards; Jonathan Scott
Oberlander of J. Scott Cellars; Alan Mitchell of Territorial
Vineyards & Wine; and Ed King of King Estate. We asked
how often they get requests for donations of wine and how
they have responded.
Organizers for charities often approach prospective wine
donors with two pitches: first, the worthiness of the cause
(almost all meet this criterion) and second, that the winery
will benefit from exposure to guests invited to a benefit.
Since the requests for donations can come at a rate
that may seem overwhelming, some winery owners have
chosen to focus their donations on certain interests.
Winery owners who spoke to EW gave answers that
ranged from funny (one, who shall remain unnamed, says
the requests come so fast “it sounds like rain on a tin roof”)
to regretful (“We wish we could give to all. We just can’t.”)
As we talked, Danuta Pfeiffer checked her e-mail. She
had two requests: “Today, a local dog park asked for wine
— and diabetes!”
Jonathan Oberlander estimates the number of requests
at about “three a week.” Alan Mitchell processes “easily
once a week, minimum.” King put the number at “hundreds
a year, from all over the country.”
This rate has forced owners to focus their giving either
on the local communities or on specific charities that
somehow touch the owners’ interests.
Ed King is CEO of Oregon’s largest producer —
300,000 cases from 1,000 acres, plus other sources — and
King has resources to make some special contributions to
the community; for example, King Estate donated 4 acres
of land and partnered with Lane Electric and Solar City to
build a solar array on the property. All power generated by
the array goes directly into the grid, not just the winery.
King also sponsors Food for Lane County programs —
“because no one should go hungry,” he says — such as the
annual Chefs’ Night Out. Additionally, King Estate donates
food directly from its extensive orchards and gardens.
The Pfeiffers’ facilities are located near Junction City,
and Pfeiffer notes that they give frequently to their adopted
community: “Definitely Junction City High School, the
library, local food aid.”
Pfeiffer makes the point that their winery is also committed
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to furthering research into Fanconi anemia, the disease that took
the lives of two daughters (Kirsten and Katie) of the late Dave
Frohnmayer, former president of the University of Oregon.
Additionally, Pfeiffer Vineyards sponsors the area’s annual
Daffodil Festival, “a big community bash,” Pfeiffer calls it.
Sponsorship is a means of contributing money that
doesn’t involve contributing wine, very important for small
producers like Pfeiffer. Mitchell noted that Territorial’s co-
owners, Victoria and Jeff Wilson-Charles, sponsor The
Shedd musical programs, and Territorial is also a direct
sponsor of Art and the Vineyard. Partly because Mitchell
has kids in Junction City schools, the winery actively
supports JC athletics.
Michelle Kaufmann of the Oregon Wine Board (OWB)
summarized a report on charitable giving released this
year — in 2014, OWB studied contributions to charities,
using data from 2013, showing that wineries generated an
estimated $3.5 million in charitable giving for that year.
OWB found strong support, especially for Salud!, an
annual wine auction devised in 1994 by winery owners
and some physicians from Tuality Healthcare in Hillsboro,
intended to provide funds and medical services for the
seasonal workers who pick the fruit, prune the vines and,
as King says, “make wine possible.”
Since 2005, the November event has been hosted at
McMenamins Edgefield. Additionally, Portland-area
charities receive benefits from the March black-tie Classic
Wine Auction. Down south in Jacksonville (Oregon, that
is), the August-held Oregon Wine Experience raises funds
for Children’s Miracle Network.
In November, winemakers hold the Gorge Gives Back
and donate a percentage of sales “to area charities and
causes.” Wineries in Washington, California and other
regions are also active contributors.
Oberlander of J. Scott Cellars says, “We try to spread
the love around.”
Of their giving, Pfeiffer says, “It’s about being a
responsible, good neighbor.”
King puts it this way: “It’s part of our mission. We live
here, too. We’re proud to be part of this community.” F
Sweet Earth Vineyards
24843 Kyle Rd
541.914.3592
sweetearthvineyards.com
TeBri Vineyards & Winery
24880 Orchard Tract Rd.
541.740.8541
tebri.com
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