Oregon wine industry’s top restaurants, wine director nominated by public
PORTLAND, Sept. 1, 2015 – Public nominations open today for the 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Awards, which honor restaurants that do an exceptional job of offering and promoting Oregon wine on their wine lists. Anyone who wishes to make a nomination for a restaurant or for Wine Director of the Year can do so until Nov. 1 at oregonwinealist.com.
Sponsored by the Oregon Wine Press and Oregon Wine Board (OWB), Oregon Wine A-List Award winners will be selected by a panel of wine and culinary experts. The 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Award winners will be announced in January.
“The Oregon Wine A-List program continues to grow in scope and visibility every year,” said Ellen Brittan, chairwoman of OWB. “The on-premise channel is vital to the continued growth of our industry and we are thrilled to recognize the restaurants and wine professionals who wholeheartedly support and recommend Oregon wine to their guests.”
The 2015 list included 72 restaurants from Oregon and beyond, including two international listings from Sweden and Japan. The Joel Palmer House in Dayton, OR received the coveted Restaurant of the Year award. Andy Zalman of Higgins in Portland received the Wine Director of the Year award for his dedication to developing creative ways to integrate Oregon wines into the restaurant’s offerings and sharing his passion for Oregon wines with the restaurant’s clientele.
“Our partnership with OWB has helped the Oregon Wine A-List Awards to become a richer program,” said Hilary Berg, editor of Oregon Wine Press. “New marketing initiatives have allowed this program to really highlight the important role restaurants play in building Oregon’s reputation as a leading producer of wine with exceptional quality.”
All Oregon Wine A-List Award winners are profiled online at oregonwinealist.com, where consumers can quickly locate restaurants in their region. Winners also receive special recognition from Travel Oregon in its online listings (traveloregon.com), inclusion in the Oregon Wine Almanac and the upcoming Oregon Wine touring guide. Additionally, all restaurants will receive materials suitable for display to identify them as an Oregon Wine A-List restaurant. The winner of the Oregon Wine A-List Restaurant of the Year award will also be featured in OWB’s sponsorship activities at Feast Portland 2016.
Criteria for the Oregon Wine A-List Award: This award is given exclusively to restaurants that display a distinguished commitment to Oregon wine by featuring wide range of varieties of Oregon wine from multiple regions throughout the state on their by-the-bottle and/or by-the-glass wine selections. The Oregon Wine A-List designation is awarded to as many nominated restaurants as, in the opinion of the judges, meet the qualifications for inclusion on the list.
Criteria for Oregon Wine A-List Wine Director of the Year Award: This award is presented to the restaurant wine director who has excelled at developing creative and innovative ways to integrate Oregon wines into their restaurant’s offerings and share their personal passion for Oregon wines with their clientele.
About Oregon Wine Press
Oregon Wine Press is a monthly consumer publication dedicated to Oregon wine and food, as well as industry happenings. Established in 1984, OWP was acquired and re-imagined in 2006 by the News-Register Publishing Co., which is located in the heart of Oregon wine country, McMinnville, OR. Visit oregonwinepress.com.
About OWB:
The Oregon Wine Board (OWB) is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The OWB works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. Visit industry.oregonwine.org.
