FROM THE CELLAR…
News from our resident wine steward Mike Dietrich


“Virtual Wineries”

Throughout my many years in the Oregon wine industry, I have seen tremendous change and growth. Oregon currently produces more than 400 different Oregon wine labels. Many of the wineries are what we call “virtual” - they own no vineyards and do not own a winery. This is part of what makes Oregon so interesting. There are numerous wineries that crush and produce wines for many different labels.

Some of the best wines in Oregon come from people who own no vineyards. Wine enthusiasts who want to produce their own wines without purchasing a vineyard start by finding a good source of grapes. Next, the wine producer will enter into a contract to purchase a certain number of tons of those grapes and contract with a winery to make the wine. Through this “virtual winery” process, smaller wine producers can be a part of the Oregon wine industry without the expense of owning and operating their own vineyard.
Oregon’s combination of “virtual wineries” and vineyards with complete wine production facilities makes Oregon wine tasting a unique adventure. Visitors to Oregon Wine Country can experience the full spectrum of the winemaking process, from the small boutique “virtual winery” to the breathtaking estate vineyard.

2006 Harvest

So far this year is looking very good for the Oregon wine industry due to the potential for a tremendous vintage for both quantity and quality. It has been some time since Oregon vineyards have had a normal production level vintage. Oregon vineyards have averaged 20-30 percent lower yields for the past number of vintages. So far this year Mother Nature has not limited Oregon crops with poor fruit set, hail or other exciting things, so this should be a great production year for our vineyards. We could also see a 15 percent increase in production as more new vineyards begin to produce. This is certainly a very exciting time for the Oregon wine industry and its continued growth and recognition in the world wine market.

Mike Dietrich is a Wine Steward with 25 years of experience in the Oregon wine industry. Would you like to ask our Wine Steward a question? E-mail your questions to info@luxwinetours.com. Your questions may be posted on our website.