Oregon Wine Industry Honors David Adelsheim

The Oregon Wine Board (OWB) honored David Adelsheim, Co-Founder and President of Adelsheim Vineyard with its 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at this evening's Industry Awards Dinner.

Adelsheim has lead his winery to become of Oregon's largest and most recognized producers of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. Adelsheim Vineyard is comprised of 11 estate vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, totaling 237 acres. The winery was recently expanded to a production capacity of 50,000 cases and last year celebrated its 40th anniversary.

While his contributions to the Oregon wine industry are numerous, he is specifically known for his work with Oregon State University setting up a clonal importation program that has given growers access to European vines better suited to Oregon's growing conditions. He also drafted Oregon's strict labeling regulations that help maintain quality. He is the past Chair of the Oregon Wine Board (8 years of service), currently serves on the Oregon State Wine Research Institute, and was a Founder, Director and President of both the International Pinot Noir Celebration and Oregon Pinot Camp (two of the industry's most successful promotional events). He was instrumental to the formation of the new Oregon Wine Board by leading the effort to garner industry-wide consensus.

"The Oregon wine industry has been blessed since its beginnings by the dedication and sheer determination of its pioneers. David exemplifies that dedication," said Michael Donovan, Chairman of the Oregon Wine Board. "Because we stand on the shoulders of giants like David, Oregon's wine industry has become one of the state's most important economic assets/ We all owe a debt of gratitude to David Adelsheim for the selfless time and energy he has devoted to creating and growing the Oregon wine brand."

Fun fact: Adelsheim is one of three producers in the United States making Auxerrois (oak-sair-wah). Planted from Alsatian clones brought into the country in 1977, the wine has aromas of fresh herbs, pear and citrus with subtle notes of minerality. It is a lively and refreshing wine similar to Sauvignon Blanc that is wonderful on its own as an aperitif, with crab or cured salmon. Summer after summer, this is a go-to white.