No Shortage of Kindness for Families and Responders in Oregon Wine Communities in the Line of Fire

True to Oregon’s collaborative nature, winemakers talk to each other, rely on each other for information, tools and support, and follow techniques from wine regions around the globe. The communities where winemakers make their homes are generous and collaborative, too. Here is a roundup of kindness put forth by businesses related to wine across the state:

Jump to: Willamette Valley  |  Southern Oregon

North Willamette Valley

  • Even Pull Farm of McMinnville is offering a free box of veggies to evacuates and to people who are housing them. Send an email to [email protected] to set it up.
  • Ruddick/Wood in Newberg has linked up with World Central Kitchen (Jose Andres’ global mutual aid project) and are handling meal coordination for front-line responders. Ruddick/Wood is working with them to supply 350+ meals daily for Molalla and Bald Peak fireline crews, and potentially will grow to Clackamas crews, too. They will continue to offer meals to other Newberg community folks. Help is needed to sustain this effort for an unknown period of time. Email Paul Losch, [email protected] if you’d like to volunteer, all shifts and all abilities needed, experience not required.

    Lil llama and mama at their temporary home, Frog Pond Farm
  • Frog Pond Farm in Wilsonville has taken in evacuees and their animals including 40 llamas, five turkeys, some pigs, and “too many chickens to count.”
  • The Kitchen on Court Street, Taproot Lounge & Cafe and Rafns’ Restaurant in Salem teamed up to help provide food for evacuees. With all of the volunteers and help, they were able to assemble and deliver approximately 1,400 meals.
  • King Kong Phou of King’s Kitchen in Fork Forty Food Hall in Salem solicited donations which he then used to purchase snacks, toiletries, and coloring books and activities for kids of families displaced by fire. He brought them to the Fairgrounds where Salem evacuees are staying.

South Willamette Valley

  • Sweet Cheeks Winery will be donating 100% of all tasting fees collected between September 25, 2020 and October 4, 2020 to United Way of Lane County | Wildfire Response and Recovery Fund. Sweet Cheeks will also accept additional donations, outside of tasting fees, to be donated to United Way of Lane County. Sweet Cheeks Winery’s tasting rooms are located at 27007 Briggs Hill Road and upstairs at the Fifth Street Public Market.
  • An anonymous donor purchased 200 rides on the historic Albany Carousel for displaced families staying at Linn County Fairgrounds to help keep children entertained and calm.
  • Heritage Distilling Co. in the Eugene/Springfield area is matching hand sanitizer donations sales to relief organizations
    Plank Town Brewing in Springfield area is helping serve meals at the Silke Field shelter
  • Busy Bee Café in Springfield is preparing all meals by donation only – pay what you can afford. Displaced persons and emergency workers are no charge; all donations goes toward keeping people fed.

Southern Oregon

2Hawk announced its contribution to rebuild homes, lives, and livelihoods destroyed by the Almeda Fire; a special wine release called 9-1-1 c.2, with 100% of the proceeds going to Almeda Fire victims. 9-1-1 c.2 is a red wine produced from an experimental block of 2Hawk’s vineyard where the most challenging soil, grape vines blossom and thrive, thanks to careful tending until they reach maturity, representing the path ahead for Almeda Fire survivors.

  • Dozens of Rogue Valley wineries have come together to support families impacted by wildfires. In collaboration with 24 wineries as well as key sponsors, Rogue Valley Vintners launched a relief program called Rogue Valley Wine Country Cares, running through October 26. Participating wineries are donating at least $10 for every bottle of “Cares” wine sold – more than 50 exceptional wines to choose from. To learn more, visit www.roguevalleywinecountry.com to buy wine or donate directly to Rogue Valley Wine Country Cares.
  • Talent’s first urban winery and tasting room was Simple Machine, started by Clea Arthur and Brian Denner in 2017. The Alameda Fire tore through and destroyed it in a matter of hours the week of September 7. By the end of the week, a ton of donated Pinot noir grapes was waiting for Denner at Barrel 42, a custom crush winery in Medford. They have also received offers of equipment, barrels and winery space from other Rogue Valley wineries. He told the Oregonian: “Herb Quady, Brian Gruber and Nicole Schulte at Barrel 42, along with so many other friends and colleagues in the valley, are coming to our rescue. It’s inspiring.”
  • In order to rebuild Simple Machine Winery, they are currently offering pre-buy packages called “After Fire” wine club with white and rosé wine made with donated and purchased grapes. Red to come later. Wines will be available for pickup or delivery in 2021.
  • Several Rogue Valley wineries and other property owners have offered their parking lots for RVs, campers, and trailers for temporary housing and others are planning to provide meals for firefighters and are serving as donation collection sites.
  • The Asante Foundation offered Rogue Valley Vintners a generous supply of KN95 masks for vineyard and winery staff