If B Corps are the wave of the future, then Oregon wineries are happily surfing the crest of that wave.
A Certified B Corp is a business that meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. They have gone beyond just merely turning a profit; they have joined a community of 2,600 other businesses who work toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and creating high quality jobs with dignity and purpose.
Of Oregon’s 123 B Corps, eight are certified B Corp wineries and vineyards, making up more than any other state or country in the world. Oregon wineries and vineyards comprise 30% of B Corp wineries globally. They are:
- A to Z Wineworks
- Winderlea Vineyard and Winery
- Sokol Blosser Winery
- Patton Valley Vineyard
- Stoller Family Estate
- Chehalem Winery
- Brooks Winery
- Et Fille Wines
Said Amy Prosenjak, president of A to Z Wineworks, “We are earnest believers in the power of the B Corporation movement, which is why we became the world’s only B Corp winery in 2014. Now that the movement has grown, the time is right to better educate shoppers as to how their choices influence economic, environmental, and social outcomes.”
In the spirit of collaboration, together with California’s Fetzer Winery and Vermont’s Cabot Creamery, Oregon’s A to Z Wineworks created a national Vote Every Day B Corp awareness campaign, which launched after the November 2018 mid-term elections. The campaign encourages consumers to exercise their voting power with daily shopping choices by spending dollars on brands that reflect their values.