Oregon grapes bursting with popularity
LORANE, Ore. - Memorial Day is also an important marker for the wine industry. This weekend typically un-corks a tasting tradition, but now more than ever, Oregon grapes are popular.
The 2007 crop of Oregon wine grapes crushed other commodities in the state. For the first time, the wine industry is now one of the top 10 biggest agricultural businesses in Oregon.
"The big trees, the water - this is the essence of Oregon," said Linde Kester, co-owner of Chateau Lorane winery. Chateau Lorane is full of life on Memorial Day weekend, a winery by the water where crowds sip on unique wines. The list of Oregon wines are bursting with popularity, making the wine industry the 10th biggest agricultural business in the state.
"We get reports and there seems like there's more and more people that are planting grapes and there's more and more wineries popping up like that so I think it's good for the whole state actually," Kester said.
Chateau Lorane's owners were going to sell the winery but are putting a cork in the sale and enjoying Oregon as a premiere wine growing state.
"We don't have to convince people of that like we did 10-15 years ago, it's a fact now," Kester said.
The 2007 crop of wine grapes hit $68 million.
