Oregon Wine Industry

Oregon is the third largest viniferous grape growing region in the U.S., with 463 wineries

Oregon Wine A-List

City Winery Named 2018 Oregon Wine A-List Award Wine Program of the Year Winner

Program recognizes restaurants that feature a diversity of Oregon wines, varieties and regions

City Winery Restaurant Group has been named Oregon Wine A-List Wine Program of the Year.

The Wine Program of the Year winner sets a standard of excellence for an Oregon wine restaurant program with its depth and breadth of Oregon selections, participation in Oregon Wine Month, and educational opportunities for staff and clientele alike. City Winery exemplifies these qualifiers as it has a well-curated, diverse selection of producers and both traditional and uncommon varieties of Oregon wines. They also host numerous Oregon wine events and make a house wine from Oregon grapes, which helps to increase visibility of the state on their house wine list, all done on a large scale.

As well as one Wine Program of the Year winner, there are 129 restaurants on the 2018 Oregon Wine A-List, spanning from Portland to New York City and Stockholm to Tokyo. The nomination window was open to the public from January to October, and all nominations were evaluated on the criteria of Oregon-based restaurants offering customers at least 30% of their wines or 30 producers from Oregon, and restaurants outside of Oregon having wine lists with 10 producers or 10% of the total list comprised of Oregon wines.

Thank you to all the industry members who submitted restaurant nominations in the fall. Please note: There are restaurants across Oregon, the U.S. and the world that should be on this list that the selection committee was not able to connect with or simply did not know about. The Oregon Wine A-List nomination form is open year round so if there’s a restaurant you’d like to see on the list, submit a nomination for 2019 consideration.

View the full press release here.

Now Accepting Nominations for 2018 Oregon Wine A-List Awards

Think about your best restaurant accounts around the country, your favorite local gem and that wine director who always seems to go above and beyond with their Oregon wine list and programming. Sound like someplace – or someone – you know? The window is now open until Oct. 31 to recognize their dedication to Oregon with a nomination for a 2018 Oregon Wine A-List Award. Submit a nomination.

The 2017 Oregon Wine A-List Restaurant Award Winners Revealed

Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine, with locations in Ashland and Medford, was named the 2017 Wine Program of the Year today by the Oregon Wine Board and the Oregon Wine Press as part of the 2017 Oregon Wine A-List Awards. This program recognizes restaurants around the world that display deep appreciation, enthusiasm and support for Oregon wines as seen in the diversity of regions and varieties on their wine lists.

This year the Oregon Wine A-List features 124 restaurants from 15 states and four countries. Nine Oregon Wine A-List restaurants received the Regional Spotlight award for their extraordinary commitment to crafting extensive Oregon wine lists.

Thank you to all the industry members who submitted restaurant nominations in the fall! Please note: There are restaurants across Oregon, the U.S. and the world that should be on this list that the selection committee was not able to connect with or simply did not know about. The Oregon Wine A-List nomination form is open year round so if there’s a restaurant you’d like to see on the list, submit a nomination for 2018 consideration. For more information, contact Christina DeArment.

Last Week for Oregon Wine A-List Award Nominations

Recognize top Oregon wine buyers at restaurants across the world

The nomination period for the 2017 Oregon Wine A-List Awards is closing on Nov. 1! This is your opportunity to express appreciation for and build relationships with Oregon wine’s biggest, most influential fans.

Think about your best restaurant accounts around the country, your favorite local gem and that wine director who always seems to go above and beyond for Oregon. Sound like someplace – or someone – you know?  Here are a few ways you can help recognize the best on-premise promoters of Oregon wine:

  • Nominate your top restaurant accounts for a spot on the 2017 list
  • Ask your national sales reps and distributor reps to nominate top Oregon wine accounts in each market
  • Share the nominations link through your social media channels
  • Ask your wine club members and mailing list to nominate their favorite restaurants featuring Oregon wine

For your convenience, recommended copy and images for emails and social media posts are available on the Oregon Wine A-List Awards Toolkit. There is also a downloadable one sheet about the program to share with your distributor and restaurant accounts.

The nomination period closes Nov. 1, with winners announced in January. If you have any questions about the program or the nomination process, contact Christina DeArment.

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The Oregon Wine A-List Awards celebrate restaurants across the world with wine lists displaying enthusiasm and deep appreciation for the diverse regions, varieties and producers of Oregon. 

Nominations Open for 2017 Oregon Wine A-List Awards!

Recognize top Oregon wine buyers at restaurants across the world

The nomination period for the 2017 Oregon Wine A-List Awards is now open! This is your opportunity to express appreciation and build relationships with Oregon wine’s biggest, most influential fans.

Think about your best restaurant accounts around the country, your favorite local gem and that wine director who always seems to go above and beyond for Oregon. Sound like someplace – or someone – you know?  Here are a few ways you can help recognize the best on-premise promoters of Oregon wine:

  • Nominate your top restaurant accounts for a spot on the 2017 list
  • Ask your national sales reps and distributor reps to nominate top Oregon wine accounts in each market
  • Share the nominations link through your social media channels
  • Ask your wine club members and mailing list to nominate their favorite restaurants featuring Oregon wine

For your convenience, recommended copy and images for emails and social media posts are available on the Oregon Wine A-List Awards Toolkit. There is also a downloadable one sheet about the program to share with your distributor and restaurant accounts.

The nomination period closes Nov. 1, with winners announced in January. If you have any questions about the program or the nomination process, contact Christina DeArment.

partnership-image

The Oregon Wine A-List Awards celebrate restaurants across the world with wine lists displaying enthusiasm and deep appreciation of the diverse regions, varieties and producers of Oregon. 

2016 Oregon Wine A-List Wine Program of the Year Announced, Program Expands

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At the Oregon Wine Symposium on Feb. 24, the Oregon Wine Board announced James Rahn of The Heathman in Portland as the winner of the 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Wine Program of Year. The Oregon Wine A-List Wine Program of the Year Award is the highest honor awarded by the Oregon Wine A-List restaurant awards program. For the past three years James has managed The Heathman’s wine program, which contains more than 6,000 bottles of wine from 20 of the world’s most esteemed wine growing regions, with an emphasis on France and Oregon. His dedication to showcasing Oregon wines to his clientele, engaging with the Oregon wine community and passionately educating his staff elevates the Oregon wine experience for guests at The Heathman. After his recognition on Wednesday, James said, “I have won a number of awards over the years – this one means the most to me.  To be embraced by a winemaking region that means so much to me feels wonderful.” Congratulations, James!

Learn More About the Oregon Wine A-List Awards

Also at Symposium during the Oregon Wine Board Update, the OWB marketing department gave a presentation on the Oregon Wine A-List Awards program’s objectives, strategies and recommendations for how wineries can get involved:

Oregon Wine A-List Awards Objectives

The Oregon Wine A-List Awards is a partnership between the Oregon Wine Press and the Oregon Wine Board. This program recognizes restaurants across the world displaying enthusiasm for Oregon wine and a deep appreciation of the diverse regions, varietals and producers of Oregon.

The objectives of this program are to grow the presence of Oregon wine on restaurant lists in Oregon, nationally and internationally by calling attention to restaurants setting a new standard Oregon wine representation. Also, to express appreciation and build relationships with Oregon wine’s biggest, most influential fans, and, ultimately increase the sales of Oregon wine at restaurants.

Oregon Wine A-List Awards Strategies

While this program is only in its second year, we’ve made a lot of exciting progress and have a lot planned for 2016. In addition to digital and print advertising, we are leveraging partnerships with large scale events which have demonstrated proven success such as Feast and Portland Dining Month  to not only increase awareness of the program amongst consumers, but most importantly, amplify exposure among key members of the trade. We are also continually pursing creative ways to drive earned media to enhance visibility of the program.

Oregon Wine A-List Awards Imperial Example

The A-List awards also provides the Oregon wine industry a platform to support the restaurants and wine buyers that advocate daily for our industry. It is our responsibility to return the favor. An example of this occurred in November. We were thrilled to see Willamette Week name A-List restaurant Imperial as Restaurant of the Year. The write up Willamette Week did on the restaurant was a beautiful piece highlighting Chef Doug Adam’s creativity and background, their excellent cocktail program and their impeccable hospitality…but not one mention of Imperial’s wine list, despite being one of the best in the city, particularly for Oregon wine. OWB collaborated with then Chairwoman, Ellen Brittan to craft a letter to Willamette Week’s editor calling out the oversight and purchased a Facebook ad on the Willamette Week and Oregon Wine Facebook pages to promote Imperial’s stellar wine list. The campaign resulted in over 50,000 impressions among consumers in the Portland area.

The A-List Awards program is an important platform for engaging key members of the trade around the world. There are many ways your winery can get involved:

Oregon Wine A-List Awards Get Involved

For more information about the Oregon Wine A-List Awards program contact Christina DeArment at [email protected]

Oregon Wine Board is partnering with Portland Dining Month to promote the Oregon Wine A-List Awards

Partnership will drive visibility of Oregon Wine A-List Awards program and 2016 winners through advertising and kick-off dinners

The OWB was approached with a last-minute, cost-effective opportunity to partner with Travel Portland on its Portland Dining Month (PDM) promotion in March. As Portland is an important market to many Oregon wineries and has the greatest concentration of Oregon Wine A-List restaurants anywhere, this provides a great opportunity to raise awareness of the Oregon Wine A-List program, support those restaurants that support our industry and encourage diners to drink more Oregon wine.

Oregon Wine A-List restaurants are recognized specifically for their commitment to highlighting wines representing a diverse selection of our state’s acclaimed growing regions. For the complete list of 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Award winners or to learn more about the awards, visit the Oregon Wine A-List Awards website.

The features of the Oregon Wine A-List Awards / Portland Dining Month promotion include:

  • Special notation of Oregon Wine A-List restaurants on PDM promotional materials
  • Extra exposure of the Oregon Wine A-List Awards through Downtown Portland and Travel Portland social media channels, digital advertising on OregonLive.com and print advertising in The Oregonian‘s special Portland Dining Month section
  • Incorporation into PDM press releases and other media outreach, enabling Oregon Wine A-List to reach a different media audience
  • A consumer sweepstakes during February to raise awareness of the Oregon Wine A-List among consumers and encourage them to get out and drink Oregon wine during March
  • An invitation to participating Oregon Wine A-List restaurants to host a winemaker on Tuesday, Mar. 1 for Oregon Wine Kicks Off Portland Dining Month!

The PDM organizers have contacted the eligible restaurants to invite them to participate in the Oregon Wine Kicks Off Portland Dining Month! opportunity; many have already signed up and are in the process of organizing with their selected winemakers to be on hand and offer a pairing flight with the restaurant’s three-course Portland Dining Month menu.

This concentrated period of activity provides wineries around Oregon a prime opportunity to reach out to these restaurants with their own ideas for partnering with individual restaurants during Portland Dining Month and beyond. Consider pitching a pairing flight, by the glass special or a dinner event of your own to capitalize on the extra exposure these restaurants will be receiving.

The Portland Dining Month 2016 partnership is an exciting first step toward further engaging with the on-premise community and increasing the visibility and value of the Oregon Wine A-List program. It is expected to set a foundation upon which to build on-premise programs with more opportunities and greater lead time for individual wineries to get involved in the future.

The list of Oregon Wine A-List restaurants participating in Portland Dining Month can be found here. If you have any questions about this partnership or the Oregon Wine A-List program, contact Christina DeArment.

About Portland Dining Month, a Travel Portland program: Since 2009, food-loving Portland has dedicated a whole month to celebrating our acclaimed dining scene. With the city’s top restaurants offering three-course meals for just $29, Portland Dining Month gives diners the opportunity to experience one of the nation’s most talked-about culinary destinations — affordably.

The 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Restaurant Award Winners Revealed

The Oregon Wine Board and Oregon Wine Press are happy to announce the 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Restaurant Award winners. This year 41 new restaurants were added to the list, making a grand total of 112 restaurants from 12 states and three countries. Fourteen Oregon Wine A-List restaurants received the Regional Spotlight award for their extraordinary commitment to crafting extensive Oregon wine lists; most of the Regional Spotlight award winners typically dedicate 30-40% or more of their wine list solely to Oregon wines. The Wine Program of the Year winner, selected from among the Regional Spotlight winners, will be revealed on Feb. 24 at the Oregon Wine Symposium Industry Awards Luncheon. This final award will recognize a restaurant and its wine buyer who has gone above and beyond to support and promote Oregon wines on their wine list.

Thank you to all the industry members who submitted restaurant nominations last fall! Please note: there are restaurants across Oregon, the U.S. and the world that should be on this list that the selection committee was not able to connect with or simply did not know about. The Oregon Wine A-List nomination form is open year round so if there’s a restaurant you’d like to see on the list, submit a nomination for 2017 consideration. If you’d like to be on the 2017 Oregon Wine A-List Awards Selection Committee, contact Christina DeArment.