Ponzi Blog
#PZHarvest2017 Update - Punch Downs are Team Effort
This week the pace of harvest accelerated, with fruit coming in from a lot of vineyards. The winery staff and harvest interns have been hard at work to keep up with all the fresh grapes coming in. Ponzi's other departments volunteered to help punch down tanks. Sometimes harvest is a team effort!
Punching down the tanks makes sure the juice gets plenty of skin contact and flavor. Here's the view from above a punch down:
More harvest updates to come on the blog. But if you can't wait, stay abreast of all the action in real time by following #pzharvest2017 on Instagram and Twitter.
Oct 6, 2017 at 11:04 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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Harvest Interns Welcomed to #pzharvest2017
Harvest has arrived in the Willamette Valley and so have Ponzi's lovely interns. These wine lovers are here to work hard from now until the end of harvest. They clean tubs, punch down grapes, clean the destemmer, drive fork lifts, pull juice samples for Winemaker Luisa Ponzi to taste, and generally help us with all the tough stuff needed to make harvest 2017 a success.
Harvest is hard work, but there are some perks too! Luisa hosted a potluck mixer with three generations of the Ponzi family, the full time Ponzi team and the interns.
Delicious dishes paired with world class wine. The view of the sunset over the Chehalem Mountains served as a perfect dessert.
Sep 29, 2017 at 3:41 PM
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Ponzi Receives a Warm Welcome at Cambridge's EVOO
EVOO, an acclaimed Boston restaurantand Ponzi account, hosted Maria and Luisa Ponzi for a delicious meal and an opportunity to learn more about Ponzi Vineyards wines. The evening was as informative as it was enjoyable. Thanks to the EVOO staff for their enthusiasm for Ponzi wines.
Sep 8, 2017 at 4:47 PM
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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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Total Eclipse in Wine Country
We had the pleasure of viewing the eclipse at Ponzi Vineyards this morning. While we weren’t completely in the path of totality, the event was nothing short of extraordinary.
The Ponzi team gathered on the winery plaza to share the experience together. The anticipation and excitement were palpable. An eerie shadow swept across the valley as the moon eclipsed the sun. Just as quickly as the landscape darkened, the sun’s steadfast rays came shining through once again, flooding the winery grounds in light.
Missed the eclipse? You won’t have to wait long. While Oregon won’t be in the path of totality, the next total solar eclipse will sweep across the United States in 2024!
Aug 21, 2017 at 12:04 PM
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Eclipse 2017: Get Ready for the Total Solar Eclipse
The countdown begins to the total solar eclipse and Oregon happens to be right in the path of totality. The team here at Ponzi Vineyards is gearing up to experience history in the making. In an effort to ensure everyone stays safe watching the eclipse across the world, here are some tips from our friends at NASA:
Reputable Vendors of Solar Glasses
On Monday, August 21st, the Ponzi Vineyards Tasting Room will be open regular hours, 11-5:30pm.
Comments (6651)A to Z Wine Works and Rex Hill Visit
Members of the Ponzi Vineyard’s team visited A to Z Wineworks for an inspiring afternoon of facility touring, wine tasting and education with A to Z Founder Cheryl Francis.
Aug 17, 2017 at 12:14 PM
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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.
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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