White House 'Made in America' Showcase features Oregon's Willamette Valley Vineyards

Emily Teel
Statesman Journal

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly reflected the status of contracts between California winery Copper Cane Wines & Provisions and Oregon growers of wine grapes. The contracts remained in place after California winery Copper Cane Wines & Provisions rejected 200 tons of grapes, allegedly due to wildfire smoke impact.

Turner-based Willamette Valley Vineyards was the sole Oregon representative at the Made in America Product Showcase held at the White House on Monday.

The third such event, the Made in America Product Showcase celebrated goods of all types manufactured in the United States: Luke’s Toy Factory from Connecticut, Snake Bite bottle openers from Missouri, Nokona leather goods from Texas, and many more. 

Willamette Valley Vineyards was the sole wine producer to be featured and, along with Ocean Organic Vodka from Hawai'i, one of only two producers of alcohol. 

Christine Clair and Jim Clair show a selection of Willamette Valley Vineyards and Oregon Solidarity wines in the State Dining Room of the White House on July 15, 2019, at the Made in America Product Showcase event.

Founded in 1983 by Jim Bernau, Willamette Valley Vineyards now produces estate vintages and those made with grapes grown in the Rogue Valley and elsewhere in Oregon. 

One of the wines at the showcase was a chardonnay from the Oregon Solidarity project.

In autumn 2018, when Rutherford, California winery Copper Cane Wines & Provisions rejected more than 2,000 tons of contract-grown Southern Oregon grapes, allegedly due to wildfire smoke impact. Willamette Valley Vineyards winery director Christine Clair was worked with three other wineries -  The Eyrie Vineyards in McMinnville, and King Estate Winery and Silvan Ridge Winery, both in Eugene - to create the project.

The wineries collectively purchased over 140 tons of grapes, paying $323,750 to six growers, with plans to make a collaboration vintage of about 7,500 cases. 

Emily Teel is the Food & Drink Editor at the Statesman Journal. Contact her at eteel@statesmanjournal.com, Facebook, or Twitter. See what she's cooking and where she's eating this week on Instagram: @emily_teel

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