February 6, 2024 4:00 a.m. 

In the KQEN Cultural Spotlight:

Wine lovers from all over the northwest gathered to celebrate wines from the Umpqua Valley on Saturday and raised over $4,000 for a local non-profit organization in the process.

The 52nd annual Greatest of the Grape took place at Seven Feathers Casino Resort, with the event returning to the venue after a five-year hiatus. UVW Executive Director Ali Rodgers said over twice as many people attended this year’s celebration in comparison to 2023.

Rodgers said over 500 guests were able to taste over forty wines and vote for their favorite red and white wines. This year’s winner for best red wine was Girardet Vineyards for their 2021 Baco Noir. The award for best non-red wine went to JosephJane Winery for their 2023 Nouveau, a rose wine. JosephJane Winery also took home the award for the best overall wine, winning the “Greatest of the Grape” title for their 2023 Nouveau.

Rodgers said this is the first time a non-red wine has won the best overall wine title. Both wines are current releases and can be tasted in the winery’s respective tasting rooms in the Umpqua Valley.

Twenty-one wineries were pouring their wines. That included a few wineries that are new to the Umpqua Valley: Knoll Vineyards and Haines Creek Vineyard & Tasting Room.

The event was a fundraiser for the Family Development Center. The organization raised $4,300 from guests who spun the “Wheel of Wine”. Donors paid $25 and received a bottle of wine that had been donated by Umpqua Valley wineries.  Rodgers said, “This is a great way for our wineries to give back to the community and support the important services offered by the Family Development Center”.

A silent auction also raised almost $6,000 for the Umpqua Valley Wine Growers Association. Funds will go towards their mission of marketing and educating people about Umpqua Valley wines.