Funds Raised at the 29th Annual ¡Salud! The Oregon Pinot Noir Auction Funds Ongoing COVID-19 Screening and Treatment for Vineyard Workers
Portland, Ore. (November 17, 2020) — ¡Salud! The Oregon Pinot Noir Auction raised more than one million dollars during its 2020 virtual fundraising events. The 29th annual fundraising season included the Summertime E-Auction from July 14 to 16 and the just-completed November Auction, which spanned November 9 through 16. Both events were bolstered by ongoing fundraising efforts during an especially challenging year for vineyard workers and their families. In total, ¡Salud! raised $1,021,581 in 2020.
Thirty-six winemakers comprising ¡Salud!’s Vintners Circle auctioned a 2019 Pinot Noir, each sourced and blended especially for the auction. In lieu of a walk-around tasting event, ¡Salud! expanded the reach of winemakers and its mission by hosting a six-part series of virtual winemaker panels November 9 through 11. Hosted by Brian Bushlach, ¡Salud!’s Winemaker Conversations were attended by bidders and wine lovers across the country. In these sessions, winemakers shared their impressions of the 2019 vintage, tasting notes on their special cuvées, their personal experiences with ¡Salud!, and the organization’s impact on the winemaking community. The sessions can be heard on the Vintage podcast here.
A Live/Silent Auction took place virtually November 13 through 16, offering unique wine packages from Oregon and beyond, one-of-a-kind wine experiences, and more. Example lots included a collection of 36 large format bottles of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, one from each member of the Vintners Circle; a custom-etched wine barrel bar featuring the ¡Salud! logo plus 12 bottles of library ¡Salud! Cuvée Pinot Noir; a week-long wine country escape with private house stays and tasting experiences at both Stoller Family Estate and Chehalem Winery.
On Saturday, November 14, ¡Salud! hosted a one-hour livestream gala with the goal of raising funds for a second mobile unit. The live hosts presented video testimonials and interviews with winemakers Rollin Soles (ROCO), Kate Payne-Brown (Stoller), and Gary Horner (Erath), ¡Salud!’s medical team, and a patient who received treatment while battling COVID-19. During a special appeal, ¡Salud! raised more than $360,000, reaching their goal of purchasing a second medical unit, an opportunity to double ground covered and communities supported.
Funds raised during the annual auction provide direct support for ¡Salud! and its clinical service team. Under guidance and with support of OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Center, ¡Salud! has responded to the ongoing global health crisis among vineyard workers and their families, providing care and essential resources for Hispanic and LatinX communities. The organization is entirely reliant on philanthropy and the support of the wine community.
The 2020 wineries in the ¡Salud! Vintners Circle producing a 2019 Pinot Noir ¡Salud! Cuvée, include: 00 Wines, Adelsheim Vineyard, Amalie Robert Estate, Archery Summit, Ayoub, Beaux Frères, Bethel Heights Vineyard, Big Table Farm, Brittan Vineyards, Chehalem Winery, Cristom Vineyards, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Domaine Roy & fils, Domaine Serene, Dukes Family Vineyards, Dusky Goose, Elk Cove Vineyards, Erath Winery, Flâneur Wines, Hamacher Wines, Ken Wright Cellars, Patricia Green Cellars, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, Ponzi Vineyards, Purple Hands Winery, Rain Dance Vineyards, Résonance, ROCO Winery, Shea Wine Cellars, Soléna Estate, Soter Vineyards, Stoller Family Estate, Trisaetum, Twomey Cellars, WillaKenzie Estate, and Winderlea Vineyard & Winery.
ABOUT ¡SALUD!
¡Salud! is a project of OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Center working to address the healthcare hurdles faced by vineyard workers and their families. The program serves approximately 2,500 patients each year, providing comprehensive health services through mobile clinics, which operate in vineyards and wineries throughout the growing season. ¡Salud! also provides important case management and advocacy for families as they navigate the healthcare system. In 2020, ¡Salud! shifted its focus to combatting COVID-19, providing worksite screening and coordinating treatment for vineyard workers and their families. To date, ¡Salud!’s clinical service team has conducted over 1,000 Covid-19 screenings at more than 50 worksite clinics. Learn more about ¡Salud!’s ongoing work on Facebook and Instagram at @saludauction.
