Two exceptional students awarded scholarships to the Evenstad Center for Wine Education
February 2nd – Dayton, OR ⬧ The Evenstad Center for Wine Education at Linfield University, America’s only multi disciplinary wine education program, has awarded its 2021-22 academic scholarships to two exceptional students. Recipients Citalli Cruz Reyes and Emma Libby are the first to receive the Domaine Serene Endowed Scholarship for Wine Education. Established in 2020 through a donation by Ken and Grace Evenstad, founders of Domaine Serene Winery, this scholarship program was created to assist underrepresented populations in receiving a top-rated wine education.
“The Evenstad Center for Wine Education is designed to meet the needs of the wine industry by preparing and educating diverse, well-rounded candidates to develop specialties in wine beyond just winemaking and viticulture,” said Ryan Harris, President & CEO of Evenstad Estates. “It is encouraging to see such a high level of passion from these two scholarships recipients who, to us, represent the future of the industry. Each student brings a different expertise to the table, and we look forward to the lasting impression they will leave on the industry and community as a whole.”
The two standout students, Emma Libby and Citlalli Cruz Reyes, are studying different aspects of the wine industry. Emma Libby is a double major in wine studies and journalism / media studies pursuing a public relations and communications career in Oregon Wine. And, Citlalli Cruz Reyes is currently undecided though interested in vineyard management and winemaking, pursuing a five-year bachelors and master’s degree studying at Linfield and the École Supérieure d’Agricultures in Angers, France. This year’s recipients were honored during a presentation at halftime of the Portland Trail Blazers game on January 25 at Moda Center, where Domaine Serene and the Trail Blazers have partnered to merge the interaction between wine and basketball with the Domaine Serene Wine Studios. “We are proud to partner with Domaine Serene to provide support to students who are passionate about working in the wine industry,” said Tim Matz, Director of the Evenstad Center for Wine Education, Domaine Serene Chair in Wine Business, “Helping these two students will allow them to focus more on their academic pursuit and ultimately become stewards for the Oregon Wine Industry.”
The Evenstads are longtime supporters of Linfield University, establishing the Evenstad Center for Wine Education in 2018. The Evenstad Center for Wine Education at Linfield University integrates numerous wine education programs and activities into academic and experiential learning for student and adult learners. The curriculum currently offers an academic major and minor in wine studies, as well as certificate programs in wine management and wine marketing and Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses. Linfield’s Wine Studies Program also offers a five-year cooperative program with Ecole Superieure d’Agriculture in Angers, France, in which students earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree upon completion.
To learn more about Evenstad Estates and future projects, visit our locations, or join the wine club or mailing list, visit www.DomaineSerene.com, call 503-864-4600 and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
About Evenstad Estates
Founded in 1989 by Ken and Grace Evenstad in the Dundee Hills, Evenstad Estates produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sparkling Wine in Oregon and Burgundy, under the award-winning Domaine Serene, Château de la Crée, and Maison Evenstad labels.
The Evenstads became the first Oregon vintners to own land and produce wine in Burgundy with the 2015 acquisition of Château de la Crée and 25 acres of prime vineyards in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay, and Maranges. This led to the development of the Maison Evenstad label.
In June 2021, the Evenstads expanded its Burgundian vineyard holdings by taking control of the renowned 15-acre Domaine Christian Confuron et fils estate, comprised of prestigious Grand Cru vineyard blocks in Bonnes Mares and Clos de Vougeot, Premier Cru parcels in Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges, and village blocks in Comblanchien, Gilly-lès-Cîteaux, and Premeaux-Prissey.
In Oregon, Evenstad Estates operates the Domaine Serene Clubhouse, a state-of-the-art winery and tasting room overlooking the Dundee Hills. Domaine Serene launched the innovative Domaine Serene Wine Lounge brand in 2018, creating outposts in Portland and Lake Oswego, with the third location opening in Bend in fall 2021. The winery currently produces wines from six individual vineyard estates, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Evenstads own nearly 1,000 total acres of land in the hills of Yamhill County, with 300 acres planted to vine.
Having earned 95 points and above by wine critics an astounding 140 times and counting, the wines of Evenstad Estates represent the achievement that is possible in Oregon and Burgundy, the two finest regions in the world for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
For more information, visit www.DomaineSerene.com or www.la-cree.com/en/.