Oregon Wine Experience, formerly known as the World of Wine Festival, is now in its 19th year (7th year since becoming Oregon Wine Experience). The founders are the late Lee Mankin of Carpenter Hill Vineyard, Joe Ginet of Plaisance Ranch and Cal Schmidt of Schmidt Family Vineyards.
For many years, the event was hosted at Del Rio Winery in Gold Hill, Oregon. In 2011, the event moved to the Bigham Knoll Campus in Jacksonville, Oregon.
In 2014, Asante Foundation partnered with the local wine industry to manage the event as their annual signature fundraising effort. The combined support helped the event gross nearly $300,000 in its first year of the partnership, benefitting Children’s Miracle Network and Asante Foundation.
In 2016, the Oregon Wine Competition expanded to include participants from all of American Viticultural Areas located in Oregon and we introduced the Founders’ Barrel Auction to the series of events in August.
This year, the event is as strong as ever raising more than $8.2 million for charity since its inception, and has expanded many of its offerings, allowing guests to experience unique wine and culinary talent throughout the state.