Ponzi Blog
Governor's Trade Mission to Japan
Governor Kate Brown invited Ponzi Vineyards President Maria Ponzi to represent the Oregon wine industry on a trade mission to Japan promoting Oregon products and tourism. The 4-day mission to Tokyo will include a reception with the Governor, featuring Ponzi wines served at the reception; a Women in Leadership event; and a seminar on doing business in Oregon and an Oregon Food Showcase. Representatives from Business Oregon, Travel Oregon, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and other women-owned, Oregon businesses will attend and promote help foster trade and tourism between Japan and the Beaver State.
The Trade Mission Updates
Ponzi Vineyards President Maria Ponzi and Oregon Governor Kate Brown toast trade between Japan and Oregon with Ponzi Pinot Noir at the Friends of Oregon reception in Tokyo.
Maria Ponzi visits Nissin World Delicatessen in Tokyo, where they carry Ponzi wines, and poses with Ponzi Pinot Noir and wine department manager, Mitsuo Takenaka.
Director of Oregon Department of Agriculture, Alexis Taylor, posed with signed Ponzi bottles at Nissin World Delicatessen.
Ponzi President Maria Ponzi and National Sales Associate Brenna Patterson visit the Filcon Service offices in Tokyo. They distribute Ponzi in Japan.
Thursday morning, Maria held a tasting at Winart Magazine, during which they staff tasted these Ponzi wines: 2016 Ponzi Pinot Gris, 2014 Ponzi Chardonnay Reserve, 2015 Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir, and 2014 Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve.
At a wine tasting and signing event at Sogo in Kawaguchi area, Maria found an in depth display of Ponzi wines. They even carried the Vino Gelato!
Brenna signed Vino Gelato for an adoring fan, as well!
The Ponzi Chardonnay Reserve was a huge hit at Seibu in Ikebukuro, where Maria bonded with Chardonnay lovers over this beautiful wine.
At a tasting in the Funabashi area, Maria poured the 2015 Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir, and praised the Willamette Valley as a world class vineyard location for beautiful Pinot noirs and other cool climate varietals. The store created great signage and promotional materials featuring Maria and Luisa Ponzi.
To read the official trade mission press release, click here>>
Follow Maria Ponzi's travels on our blog & social media >>
Oct 9, 2017 at 10:26 AM
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Charity of the Month, October: Breast Friends
Throughout the Month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a portion of tasting fees from the Ponzi Vineyards Tasting Room will help to "minimize the fear and isolation of cancer" through Breast Friends. Come taste Ponzi new release wines, watch the vines turn from green to bright gold and know you are helping to support an important nonprofit organization.
Ponzi National Sales Associate Brenna Patterson chose the October charity because breast cancer effects so many women, including members of the Ponzi team, our friends and families. From Breast Friends, "Every woman in America will be touched by breast or other women’s cancers in her lifetime. One in eight women will be diagnosed, and the other seven will know her. [Breast Friends] goal is to reach the seven in order to help the one." The great work this charity does to support female cancer patients is near and dear to Ponzi Vineyards.
In addition to donating a portion of the tasting fees during the month of October, Ponzi team members will volunteer at the 2017 Annual Breast Friends Luncheon on October 21 at the Double Tree Lloyd Center.
Here's a little more about Breast Friends:
Mission
Breast Friends ensures that no woman goes through cancer alone. We are a unique resource for women, their family, friends, co-workers and the community to minimize the fear and isolation of cancer. For over a decade our programs have empowered thousands with emotional support and hope. We are survivors and professionals helping others celebrate the joy of life.
Tactics: Support for Every Step
Regardless of where you are in your journey, Breast Friends has volunteers on hand to discuss your issues with you. We are not licensed counselors, but we are women who have walked in your shoes. We've been down your path, some of us several times. We offer individual support either through one-on-one contact via phone, or in person, as well as support groups customized to meet the needs of our patients.
For more about Breast Friends, visit breastfriends.org.
Update: Breast Friends Annual Luncheon
On October 21, Ponzi staffers were thrilled to be able to participate in the Annual Breast Friends Luncheon. The event was a celebration of survival and community, women building a network of support for one another. The team stuffed gift bags, directed attendees to educational sessions, took donations and handed out bouquets of flowers to models in the fashion show. We are honored to be a part of Breast Friends! #PonziCares
Oct 2, 2017 at 10:02 AM
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Charity of the Month, September: Adelnate Mujeres
We are pleased to announce that by visiting Ponzi Vineyards Tasting Room this month and sampling our lovely current release wines, you can help us support Adelante Mujeres, a charity benefitting lower income, often overlooked and marginalized Latina women and their families. This local organization is focused on the providing education, empowerment and enterprise to the Latina community. Adelante Mujeres means, “women rise up, move forward” and has helped over 4,000 families to do just that since its foundation in 2002. Currently, they need help to purchase a building in Forest Grove, OR to home their educational programs. The organization believes education is essential to empowerment and offers a variety of child and adult focused classes including agricultural curriculum.
Winemaker Luisa Ponzi chose this charity because she cares about our vineyard and winery workers and their families. Ponzi and Adelante Mujeres not only share a commitment to the community, but also a dedication to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This is why they were chosen to be our September charity of the month.
Here’s a little more about Adelante Mujeres:
MISSION
Adelante Mujeres provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low income Latina women and their families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community.
VISION
Adelante Mujeres envisions a community where all families thrive.
VALUES
Believe in yourself and others and commit to personal growth.
Be in solidarity with the community.
Love and respect the earth.
To learn more about programs and services offered by Adelante Mujeres, click here.
Sep 1, 2017 at 10:15 AM
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Comments (3703)Capital Press: Willamette Valley vineyards fund health care van for workers
An article discussing the growth of ¡Salud!, a healthcare group dedicated to serving Willamette Valley vineyard workers, recognizes Nancy Ponzi as one of the influential advocates who pioneered the organization.
Off the Vine: Ponzi Sisters Have Winemaking in their Blood
Al Vuona of the Telegraph praises the Ponzi sisters’ passion for winemaking in this Off the Vine article. He writes, “...Wines worth noting include the Classico and single vineyard pinot noirs, especially the Avellana, which is just marvelous. Each of these wines embodies what the Ponzi family set out to accomplish some 40 years ago, to make the best wines possible. After all, it’s in their blood.”
Charity of the Month: Farmers Ending Hunger
Join us in supporting Farmers Ending Hunger throughout the month of August by visiting the Ponzi Vineyards Tasting Room and enjoying a tasting of current release wines. A portion of the proceeds from these tastings will benefit Farmers Ending Hunger.
Farmers Ending Hunger
Mission
The mission of Farmers Ending Hunger is to eliminate hunger in Oregon by increasing the amount of high quality food available to hungry local communities through a partnership of farmers, food processors, Oregon Food Bank and the public.
Growing Crops
Farmers Ending Hunger begins with Oregon farmers and ranchers who raise hundreds of acres of produce, grain and cattle. With a little extra effort, each farmer donates an acre or two to feed the hungry and suddenly our network has thousands of tons of fresh food!
Transportation
After it is harvested, some of the donated food leaves the farm or ranch for processing facilities, where it becomes canned pears, frozen peas or pancake mix. A portion of the produce is delivered fresh to Oregon Food Bank.
Processing
Local processors help Farmers Ending Hunger preserve the harvest by canning and freezing it. The majority of fresh crops must be turned into shelf stable food that can be added to emergency relief boxes throughout the year.
Food Distribution
Finally the food arrives at Oregon Food Bank where it is distributed to Oregon’s hungriest individuals. With your help every acre and row have been transformed into cans of green beans, packages of ground beef and stalks of fresh broccoli, ready to feed and nourish.
Adopt-an-Acre
Adopt-an-Acre was created to get fresh food from the field to the mouths of the people who need it. Cash contributions from the urban community in support of this effort are used to cover the remaining costs associated with product sorting, canning and freezing to extend the life of fresh produce, processing wheat to make pancake mix, storing the food and delivering it to Oregon Food Bank.
Aug 14, 2017 at 4:59 PM
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Ponzi Vineyards supports local scholarship fund
Each month Ponzi Vineyards supports a different local charity by donating a portion of the proceeds from tasting fees. In June we featured LIVE, Inc. We are proud to share that our donation will help fund a scholarship for first-generation students enrolled in the Wine Studies Program at Chemeketa Community College.
LIVE supports environmentally and socially responsible winegrowing through third-party certification and education. Since 2000, all four Ponzi Vineyard sites have been certified by the organization.
From LIVE:
Al MacDonald/LIVE Wine Studies Scholarship Fund
The Oregon wine industry employs many promising young people of color. Our goal is to provide assistance to first-generation students enrolled in the Wine Studies Program at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR. Funds will be used to help defray tuition costs and other educational expenses. Participating students must enroll or be enrolled in classes and make consistent progress toward their degrees or certificates in the Wine Studies Program.
Donations will be generously matched up to the $5000 milestone by Al MacDonald, one of the founders of both LIVE and the Wine Studies Department at Chemeketa Community College. This scholarship has been named to honor his lifetime of service in education and sustainable agriculture.
Donations above the $10,000 milestone will be used to further fund this scholarship, and to establish similar endowments at other community colleges with wine studies programs in the Pacific Northwest.
LIVE is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that promotes environmentally and socially responsible winegrowing practices in the Pacific Northwest. Our third-party certification of vineyards and wineries is internationally recognized as the gold standard for sustainable winegrowing programs.
Questions about this scholarship or about sustainable agriculture can be emailed to LIVE Executive Director Chris Serra at chris@livecertified.org.
Celebrating Women of Pinot at Ponzi!
Ponzi Vineyard’s second generation sisters, Maria and Luisa Ponzi welcomed Lucie Lawerence of New Zealand’s Aurum Wines, Julie Cooper of California’s DuMOL Winery and Ludivine Ambroise of Burgundy’s Maison Ambroise for a magical evening celebrating these four women winemakers of Pinot noir. Ponzi Vineyards Culinary Director Tom Ghinazzi’s fresh, summer-inspired menu complemented each wine expertly, combining stunning vintages with delicious food for a truly remarkable dinner. Courses included a Foie Gras with raspberry, frisee and apricot, wild salmon garnished with hazelnuts and thyme, and a chateaubriand of prime beef topped with bordelaise, lavender and chanterelles. Stories from the winemakers regarding their experience in the field and individual philosophies offered further insight into the secrets and complexities of the industry. Finally, as the evening wound down, guests enjoyed Ponzi Vineyard’s stunning views of a pastel sunset over the Chahelem Mountains.
