Ravissant Cellars — Where Legacy, Landscape, and Hospitality Shape a New Rogue Valley Experience
It was intense. Four full days and nights this June in Sonoma County with a close cadre of 17 wine writers, educators, promoters, and students.
Ravissant Cellars — Where Legacy, Landscape, and Hospitality Shape a New Rogue Valley Experience
It was intense. Four full days and nights this June in Sonoma County with a close cadre of 17 wine writers, educators, promoters, and students.
Southern Oregon is a little slice of heaven for wine aficionados, regularly earning accolades from esteemed writers at The New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, Sunset and Forbes. And while residents and visitors alike have grown accustomed to the seemingly endless stream of new wineries and tasting rooms opening throughout the Rogue, Applegate and Umpqua valleys, one winery’s tasting room with something new to the region opened in Jacksonville late last year.
It was bound to happen. Southern Oregon’s pioneering wineries are passing from their founding fathers and mothers to the next generation. If you haven’t visited these featured Southern Oregon wineries, autumn is a lovely time to make the trip! Here’s your travel guide.
When Kevin Breck picked up a book called “The Game of Wine” in the 1990s, he had no idea it would change the course of his life—nor that he would have to wait a quarter-century to fulfill his dream of becoming a winemaker. After 25 years of working as an attorney, Kevin was ready to realize that vision. He completed the Southern Oregon Wine Institute (SOWI) viticulture and enology program and worked harvests in both Southern Oregon and Spain before founding North Bar Cellars in 2017.
In 1939, seven-year-old Traute Moore fled to St. Louis from her hometown of Vienna, Austria, with her mother following the Anschluss. Before her father was able to join them, Hitler banned travel by boat. Five years later, they were reunited, and Traute’s life was to become marked by a series of happy coincidences that would lead to her and her husband, retired physician Don Moore, embarking on a viticultural adventure at Quail Run Vineyards.
When you hear “historical destination winery in Medford,” RoxyAnn Winery probably comes to mind immediately. With 11 spots on the National Register of Historic Places and a farming heritage dating back four generations, RoxyAnn Winery’s stunning grounds carry a fascinating history that makes an unbeatable backdrop for wine-tasting, weddings, and their Wine + Music Series.
Following is the inaugural edition of a new series of interviews featuring Capiche clients. We are delighted to introduce Terry Brandborg of Brandborg Vineyard & Winery, based in Elkton, Oregon.
Are you suffering from bad news fatigue like I am? It’s one thing after another—COVID-19 hitting us in March. Now, the fires. And the constantly changing rules and regulations for restaurants, bars and tasting rooms.… With so many moving parts, how do we plan for OND—October, November, December—the biggest annual boon to all retailers?
In just a matter of weeks, the nature of the wine business in the US—and the world in general—has drastically changed. Restaurants and bars have been shut down, wineries have closed their tasting rooms, and wine retailers have had to rethink the way they do business. Some have closed altogether, at least for now.
Ravissant Cellars — Where Legacy, Landscape, and Hospitality Shape a New Rogue Valley Experience
“I first met Chris while we were both students at Southern Oregon Wine Institute. Combining that knowledge with her three decades of marketing experience, Chris has become deeply involved in the Southern Oregon wine industry by advising individual wineries and writing for the Southern Oregon Wine Scene and Oregon Wine Press. Marketing is often the winemaker’s least favorite part of the job. Chris is uniquely positioned to help wineries to discover and define their brands and to sell that beautiful bottle of wine.”
“We used Capiche to help us redefine our goals and who we are as a company. Chris was instrumental in helping us come together to create a meaningful strategy through a series of five easy and productive sessions. She not only has extensive knowledge of the wine industry but also seamlessly integrated into our team. We are excited to move forward and have her back to check on our progress!”
“We are so grateful for the support you have given us and all of the wineries in Southern Oregon. The two of you add to the many who continue to elevate the Southern Oregon wine brand, and we look forward to being a part of that story.”
“I have been working and collaborating with Chris Cook of Capiche for several years now. Her professional yet easygoing demeanor makes for a great flow of ideas and top-notch results. The many photo shoots I have done for Chris are always well-planned and thought out to create the best product for her clients. Chris will be an effective and knowledgeable asset for your marketing campaign regardless of the size of your project.”
“When I launched Southern Oregon Wine Scene, surrounding myself with the wine industry’s most talented writers and industry advocates was at the top of my list. Working closely with Chris at Capiche has proven to be one of the best business decisions ever made! Not only is her writing engaging and interesting, she always beats deadlines and genuinely cares about me and my clients.”
“Thank you, Chris, for working with the UVWA Board on the Strategic Marketing Plan. We now have a very organized plan to focus our efforts on moving forward. You have been very patient with our group and I really appreciate your professionalism in moving us through the process. I like your style!”
“Thank you for organizing SO WINS (Southern Oregon Wine Industry Network) for 4 years. It was lots of fun and a great way to get to know you and many in the Southern Oregon wine community. Both Nick and I have enjoyed the connections, the contacts, and the sense of community that you have brought to our industry. I know it has taken a lot of effort and commitment on your parts and believe me, it was much appreciated.”
“Working with Chris has been very effective. She took the time to get to know us and our business and didn’t waste any time making things happen. In an age where marketing opportunities are everywhere, Chris helped to take the guesswork out of which ones would be beneficial to us. In short time, we found ourselves in feature articles and cover stories in targeted publications and on TV—creating a buzz around 2Hawk’s change in ownership and quality. This really helped to set the stage as we introduce a new era of quality wines.”
“One of the best examples of how connected and committed Chris is to the wine industry can best be illustrated by her recent cover story that featured 2Hawk Winery owners Ross and Jen Allen. The story served to not only capture the essence of their personal story but the emerging story of the entire region. Working with a writer and advocate who truly gets the gist of what’s happening here is worth its weight in gold medals!”
“I have been collaborating with Chris Cook on a range of creative projects—publications, websites, marketing collateral, ads, branding, and graphic identity—for a decade. I am always impressed by her clarity of vision, crisp communication style, astute observations and thoughtful guidance. She is a delight to work with, and the process is not only exceptionally effective but also fun!”
“Chris rocks! If you are looking for a leader who knows Oregon, knows wine and knows marketing, look no further than Chris Cook of Capiche. I have worked with Chris on projects centered on travel and tourism as well as wine education and marketing. She is steady, savvy and fun to work with. As the Oregon wine business booms, we will see new leaders and entrepreneurs stepping up—as we already have with Chris Cook.”
“Doing a Wine Club Member Survey with Capiche was a very special gift. We got real answers, real information, confirmation about what we were executing correctly and where we needed improvement. I would highly recommend Capiche Marketing & PR. The team was professional and provided information that we could use immediately. Capiche engaged our staff to discuss ideas and work toward the same goals.… We walked away with several ideas—including recommendations and feedback from our very loyal wine club members. I am so pleased. Thank you.”