Thursdays the BottleBlog will feature an update on various exciting things going on at Joe Canal's: Reports of our travels, special event coverage, and more!
On Friday, March 11th, Jim Bernau from Willamette Valley Vineyards appeared at our Lawrenceville location to answer our customers' winemaking questions and pour samples of fantastic Willamette Valley wines. Founder Jim Bernau is intense. He admits he drove his friends to distraction years ago, talking about the potential for Pinot Noir in Oregon. He either inspired them or wore them down. In any case, Willamette Valley Vineyards is an unusual enterprise.
What began as a small group of understanding fellow Pinot Noir enthusiasts, the winery has grown to over 4,500 owners.
Having developed an interest in wine at an early age, Jim explains he began as an adolescent home winemaker interested more in wine's effect than its attributes. As a small business lobbyist at the State Capitol, he helped the emigrating California winemakers pass legislation to develop an Oregon wine industry. This lit a path for Jim resulting in his planting in the South Salem Hills.
Trips to Burgundy and UC Davis and time with Oregon winemakers helped define his strategy. The cool climate of the Willamette Valley could deliver the expression of pure varietal fruit character, subtle layers of flavor and fine tannins with the balanced acidity he wanted.
Jim loves this land and has now lived at the vineyard for 23 years. Using a small tractor, he cleared away the blackberry vines and remnants of a pioneer plum orchard in 1983 and began planting Pinot Noir. The neighbors were convinced he was serious when he watered the over 1,000 feet vine rows with many sections of garden hose by hand. He speaks passionately about the soil and the steps taken to protect it and the ground water underneath.Care is taken to meet strict standards of viticulture practices earning the Estate Vineyard and the Tualatin Estate Vineyards purchased in 1997 certification as LIVE and Salmon Safe.
When the winery began its first crush, Jim served as its first employee and cellar rat guided by a consulting winemaker. The winery quickly grew into Oregon's leading producer of wines selling at $15 and above only three years after its first release of Pinot Noir.
He has contributed his expertise in governmental affairs over the years serving as the industry's first Political Action Committee Chair, Legislative Committee Chair and as President of the Oregon Winegrowers Association.
In addition to lobbying for passage of the original Oregon Wine Advisory Board and its financing provisions, he drafted and advocated passage of laws permitting wineries in exclusive farm use zones, direct shipment of wine to consumers, in-store wine tastings and a winery marketing tax credit. His contributions have earned him the industry's Outstanding Service Award and most recently the Founder's Award for his work on establishing the new Oregon Wine Board.When asked where he would most like to be, it is in the vineyard. He believes Oregon wine quality and the unique attributes contributed by the Willamette Valley's growing conditions will determine the industry's success in the northern part of the state. His financial gift to Oregon State University established the first professorship in Fermentation Science.
He takes pride as a native Oregonian following the lead of the emigrating winemakers to build a world class Oregon winery by organizing the energy and resources of thousands of wine enthusiasts. Jim explains a consumer-owned winery is naturally oriented to the long term, sustainable interests of the community. His ground breaking work on conducting the nation's first successful self underwritten public offering has led to a new fabric of federal and state laws facilitating small business capitalization.
For the little time he spends away from the winery, the bulk is traveling to out-of-state markets with the balance hiking and fishing in the Oregon Cascades.
Bio courtesy of Willamette Valley Vineyards.
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