6 The RAPS Sheet November 2020 A first for Portland State: its own wine club! BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC and those dreadful negative politcal ads, you’re probably ready for some good news. Here it is: Portland State now has its own wine club. Really! Finally, something we can all toast. Vikings on the Vine—that’s the name of the wine club— features wineries with strong connections to PSU. Club members receive two shipments of four bottles every year, one in fall (October or November) and one in spring (April or May). Winemaker notes and tasting profiles come with each shipment. Club prices for the wines are less than their prices at the winery. Each shipment of four wines will cost $90 to $130, plus tax, shipping, and handling. Membership is open to everyone (21 and over) and makes a great gift for Portland State moms, dads, grads, and friends. All proceeds from the wine club support alumni and student programming for the PSU Alumni Association. The fall wines started shipping on October 26, but as of press time there were still six spots available. If you’re interested in getting in on the fall wines—or have questions about the club—contact Charlie Hall, assistant director of Alumni Relations, at 503-725-4909 or by email at hallc@psuf.org. You can learn more about Vikings on the Vine at www.pdx.edu/alumni/wine-club. You’ll also find a link to join the club. This fall’s wineries are Chehalem, in Newberg, which is owned by Bill Stoller ’79, and Sokol Blosser Winery, in Dayton, owned by siblings Alex ’97, ’03 and Alison Sokol Blosser ’00. Chehalem Bill Stoller, a native Oregonian, was raised on his family farm outside of Dayton. He received a degree in business and economics from Pacific University, as well as an MBA from Portland State University. In 1983, Bill co-founded Express Employment Professionals, currently the largest privately held staffing company in the world, with more than 800 offices in three countries. Shortly thereafter, he entered the wine industry as a vineyard investor before joining Chehalem as co-owner. Bill then bought his family farm with the vision of cultivating a world-class vineyard and establishing a namesake winery. In 2001, he founded Xenium, a human resources outsource company. Success in business has enabled Bill to pursue his passion of wine and reinvest in his community to help it continue to thrive. True to his Oregon upbringing, Bill sees himself as a custodian of the land he loves, and cares deeply about sustainability and environmental protection. Sokol Blosser When Susan Sokol and Bill Blosser planted their first vines in the Dundee Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area) of the Willamette Valley 1971, they needed all of their youthful self-confidence, energy, and determination to make their way because, at the time, there was no wine industry in Oregon. Today, with more than 700 wineries and 30,000 acres of planted vineyards, Oregon has grown exponentially and its wines are available throughout the world. Sokol Blosser is proud to be family owned and operated, with the second generation now at the helm: siblings Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser. Alex is co-president and winemaker, and Alison is co-president and CEO. Achieving B Corp certification—a private certification reflecting an assessment of “social and environmental” performance—in 2015, the estate has grown to more than 128 acres under cultivation, and the winery works to create wines of world-class quality, produced in a sustainable manner. Featured wines for fall l Chehalem Ridgecrest Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2017 l Chehalem Mountains Riesling, 2018 l Evolution Pinot Noir, 2018 l Sokol Blosser Dundee Hills Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris, 2018 The logo of PSU’s very own wine club.
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