Wine Enthusiast names Oregon Solidarity as Innovator of the Year

Nothing about the release of Oregon Solidarity wines was planned in advance.

Last year, when a California-based winery abruptly rejected 2,000 tons of grapes from Southern Oregon just days before harvest over concerns of smoke taint from wildfires, a group of Willamette Valley winemakers rushed to save as much of the stranded crop as they could.

The effort resulted in a unique vintage of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and rosé wines that have garnered acclaim and recognition within the industry. On Nov. 5, Wine Enthusiast announced that Oregon Solidarity has won the 2019 Wine Star Award for Innovator of the Year.

"Today's leaders honor the importance of mutual respect and cooperation, especially in times of need," writes Paul Gregutt, contributing editor for Wine Enthusiast. "As a shining example of these touchstone beliefs, Wine Enthusiast names Oregon Solidarity as the 2019 Innovator of the Year."

* News sourced from www.capitalpress.com