Program expands to recognize more restaurants with outstanding Oregon wine lists
PORTLAND, Jan. 4, 2016— The winners of the 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Awards were announced today by the Oregon Wine Board and the Oregon Wine Press. The program was expanded to recognize 112 restaurants from around the world that display enthusiasm for Oregon wine and a deep appreciation of the diverse regions, varieties and producers of Oregon.
“It’s exciting to see the list grow by more than 50% this year,” said Hilary Berg, Oregon Wine Press editor. “The increased number of restaurants from outside Oregon is evidence that restaurant professionals and diners throughout the world are discovering the excellence and food-friendliness of the wines made here in Oregon.”
Of the 112 restaurants, 14 have been honored with the 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Regional Spotlight award. The special designation recognizes a select set of restaurants each year whose wine lists set a standard of excellence for an Oregon wine restaurant program. The 2016 winners typically dedicate more than 30% of their wine offerings to Oregon wine from a diverse collection of AVAs around the state, thoughtfully organized in a way to educate and help consumers navigate.
The winner of the prestigious 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Wine Program of the Year will be chosen from the Regional Spotlight winners and will be announced at the Oregon Wine Symposium on Feb. 24 in Portland during the Industry Awards Luncheon. Tickets for the Oregon Wine Symposium can be purchased at symposium.oregonwine.org.
“The Oregon Wine A-List Awards allow us to recognize the restaurants here in Oregon and around the world that support our celebrated wineries,” said David Beck, Oregon Wine Board chairman. “We are proud to honor each of the winners whose wine lists bring the beauty of Oregon terroir to their clientele.”
Oregon Wine A-List Award nominations are open to the Oregon wine industry, distributors and the public throughout the year at oregonwinealist.com. Nominations are evaluated by a committee of Oregon wine industry professionals.
The 2016 Oregon Wine A-List Award winners, organized into nine geographic regions, can be found online at oregonwinealist.com.
About Oregon Wine Press
Oregon Wine Press is a monthly consumer publication dedicated to Oregon wine, Pinot noir, food, vineyards, winemakers, and insider-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, Oregon. Visit www.oregonwinepress.com
About the Oregon Wine Board
The Oregon Wine Board 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 Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. Visit oregonwine.org. \
