Drum Roll Please...

A few weeks ago I confessed that I had a "huge work project going on." And finally I am allowed to tell you what it is all about! I don't even know how I was able to keep it under wraps for this long. My record in keeping secrets is not-so-great, just ask my brother who knew every gift he was getting for Christmas and his birthday. Anyways, I have so much excitement for this project. It has been a blast to work on and I have full confidence that everyone who visits will be just as impressed.

Drum roll please....

McMinnville’s Downtown Historic District will soon be the home to a brand new business! It’s the brainchild of Jim Bernau, the founder and CEO of Willamette Valley Vineyards, and one of his employees, Meg Murray.

Always a man brimming over with innovative ideas, Bernau put together the state’s only stockholder-owned and financed winery operation in 1988. He then built it into the third largest winery in Oregon with distribution in all 50 states and seven foreign countries.

His latest venture, The Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center, combines elements that could only have been conceived by someone wearing the hats of both entrepreneur and industry booster.

Scheduled to open on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 300 N.E. Third St., the center is designed around “sustainability” — a commitment that runs deep in the Oregon wine industry.

Murray said they decided to locate in McMinnville because it is the perfect place to begin a wine adventure. She will manage a staff of eight, offering tasting, sales, interpretive displays and detailed information about North Willamette Valley wine country touring, lodging and dining.

Visitors will be able to take advantage of a concierge-style service wherein employees suggest possible touring alternatives, assist in planning itineraries, help make reservations and arrange appointments.

The center’s interpretive element sets it apart from other retail outlets. Visitors will be able to view displays explaining the region’s geology, complete with samples of actual soil types.

Enlargements of American Viticultural Area maps will give them a comprehensive perspective of key growing areas, as well as the extent and specific locations of vineyard development within them.

Bernau said they intend to explore the long-term potential of the Willamette Valley’s wine future. Within the super-AVA’s 3.3-milllion-acre boundaries, more than 100,000 still unplanted acres have been identified as well-suited to winegrapes.

That fact, along with all the attributes that brought Oregon’s wine pioneers here in the late 1960s and early 1970s, will be conveyed within the Center’s 2,800 square feet of floor space. Fittingly reflecting the fundamental “green” theme, the flooring itself is made from recycled cork.

On the left, as you walk through the front entrance, a large wall will feature a 9-by-5-foot area upon which will be projected ever-changing, wine country images, including photographs by Carolyn Wells-Kramer and award-winning photographer and author Janis Miglavs.

One particularly impressive feature is a 19-foot-long table designed to seat 20 people for formal tastings.
The massive wooden piece was custom made for the space out of reclaimed poplar.

The central focus, of course, will be on the local industry’s ecologically sensitive practices, including LIVE and Salmon Safe, as well as the values and benefits of organics and biodynamics. Though primarily concentrating on the North Willamette Valley, staff members will also be prepared to provide information on the industry statewide.

At any given time, as many as a dozen tastes of selected wines will be available from Willamette Valley Vineyards’ current portfolio. Tasting options will be divided into three categories- complimentary tasting, reserve tasting and comparative flight tasting.

Isn't it great? From 19' reclaimed wood table to 126" screen projecting incredible Oregon wine photography, it will surely display the Oregon wine industry impeccably. I am putting together the photography show next week and the pictures are so much more than your regular vineyard landscapes. Carolyn Wells-Kramer of CWK Photography put together a collection of emotionally stimulating images that feature winemakers, vineyard workers, and Harvest activities. It will amaze you! Oh, and make sure to check out the window display I created today (then tell me how much you love it-haha).

Okay, no more details! You will just have to check it out yourself! The Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center will be open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm with the GRAND OPENING taking place on November 21st & 22nd. Come enjoy complimentary tastings. I hope to see you there!

http://www.newsregister.com/blogentry/41998-wine+center+opening+downtown+mcminnville