The inaugural “Apertura: Opening Doors to Oregon Wine,” held April 11 on Linfield University’s McMinnville campus, attracted a sold-out crowd of 80 Oregon wine industry insiders and wine studies students.
The half-day event featured panels and workshops on how to make Oregon wine a more inclusive industry.
It was one of the first major initiatives from Anna Maria Ponzi, recently named director of Linfield University’s Center for Wine Education.
The afternoon included a wealth of panelists:
- McMinnville Mayor Remy Drabkin ’09, owner of Remy Wines and founder of Wine Country Pride
- Brandy Grey of Greywing Cellars, Oregon’s first Native-owned winery
- DeAnna Ornelas, president of AHIVOY
- Tiquette Bramlette, founder of Our Legacy Harvested
- Lois Cho of Cho Wines
After two panels, participants worked on revising and refining individual items in “50 Actionable Steps to Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Wine Industry,” a white paper produced by attendees at last year’s BIPOC Wine Symposium.
The day ended with a reception in the W.M. Keck Science Center atrium featuring wines from panelists — and fresh-cut flowers from Ponzi’s personal garden.
Read more:
- 50 Actionable Steps to Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Wine Industry — April 2024
- Anna Maria Ponzi named permanent director of Linfield Center for Wine Education — April 3, 2024
- “Apertura: Opening Doors to Oregon Wine” coming April 11 from Linfield Center for Wine Education — March 21, 2024
- Inaugural BIPOC Wine Symposium draws huge names and packs Graf Hall — April 19, 2023
In photos: “Apertura: Opening Doors to Oregon Wine”
