Argyle Winery Unveils Second Annual Ojo Brilloso Collection to Support Wine Industry Diversity, Healthcare and Education
DUNDEE, Oregon – January 26, 2022 – Argyle Winery is delighted to announce the launch of its second annual Ojo Brilloso collection, which features a trio of limited-production, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from renowned Knudsen, Spirit Hill and Lone Star vineyards. Created to honor the knowledge, wisdom and skill of Argyle’s acclaimed winemaking team, each of the three wines was crafted in conjunction with the Vineyard Supervisor overseeing their respective vineyard. Building on the philosophy of the Ojo Brilloso program, which strives to recognize and empower vineyard workers, Argyle has partnered with three leading nonprofit organizations and will make a meaningful commitment to of time, resources and charitable contributions in the important mission of each organization. This includes Salvation ! A project of OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Centeris on a mission to provide health care to workers in Oregon’s vineyards, AHIVOYthe mission to provide education and professional development to Latino and Hispanic wine workers in the Willamette Valley, and The Roots Fundis committed to investing in communities of color to provide opportunities in the wine industry through scholarship, wine education and job placement. The collection of three Ojo Brilloso bottles is available online at argylewinery.com for $150.
What is Ojo Brilloso? That was the question Argyle winemaker Geoff Hall found himself asking when he joined Argyle in 2017. As he began to learn about Argyle’s famous 400-acre vineyard program, he would often hear his team members say “ojo brilloso” (ō-hō bree -ō’-sō), which loosely translates to “beautiful observation”. Hall quickly realized that these “beautiful observations” reflected his team’s intimate knowledge of the vineyards and were the building blocks of Argyle’s success, which in turn inspired the Ojo Brilloso program.
The 2019 vintage of Ojo Brilloso highlights the talents of the three Argyle Vineyard Supervisors: Francisco Ponce, who oversees Spirit Hill Vineyard, Jose Sanchez, who guides Knudsen Vineyard, and Hector Cabrera, who oversees Lone Star Vineyard. Each Vineyard Supervisor has selected a small block or section of Pinot Noir from their vineyard that they have personally managed throughout the excellent 2019 growing season to create wine that embodies their connection to the site and the pride that he derives from his work. The wines were then produced in collaboration with renowned Argyle winemaker, Nate Klostermann.
“Vineyard workers are the backbone of our industry, yet their contributions are so often overlooked. Together with Ojo Brilloso, we are working to change that,” said winemaker Nate Klostermann.
Each of the three vineyard supervisors selected and managed their Ojo Brilloso blocks, applying personalized foliage, pruning and canopy management techniques to bring out the full potential of each site. Because of the quality of Ojo Brilloso’s wines, the Argyle vineyard team has already begun adopting select pruning and foliage methods applied by vineyard supervisors for use in other sections of vineyards around the Argyle area.
“This project makes me proud,” says Argyle Vineyard supervisor Francisco Ponce. “The company takes us into account and reminds us that we are the foundation of the company, the pillars.” For vineyard supervisor Jose Sanchez, Ojo Brilloso is a reflection of his relationship with the vineyards. “This wine reflects our love for plants. It’s a sign of how much we respect plants. It feels good to know that this wine is the fruit of our humble work.
To support Ojo Brilloso’s mission to empower vineyard workers and create a more equitable and inclusive wine industry, Argyle will make a cash donation equal to ¡Salvation ! A project of OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Center, Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad (AHIVOY), and the Roots Fund. The donation to ¡Salvation ! will support their mobile health clinic program, while AHIVOY’s donation will fund scholarships for vineyard workers. In addition to the cash donation, support from the Roots Fund will include two annual harvest internships for BIPOC members in the wine community.
“We are deeply grateful for the financial support and advocacy work of Argyle through the Ojo Brilloso Project,” said the AHIVOY team. “We appreciate and celebrate the recognition that the Ojo Brilloso Project gives to the important work that the vineyard stewards contribute to every bottle of wine.”
The Ojo Brilloso three-bottle collection features original label artwork created by Eduardo Soto, who was one of the Argyle’s 2020 The Art of Sparkling scholarship holders. Influenced by artwork from the Mexican mural movement, the three de Soto labels are part of a larger work depicting the vineyards of the Argyle Estate in winter, spring and during harvest. 800 collector’s boxes were produced in the 2019 vintage, and the wines are sold in a stunning three-bottle box, with cut-out glass windows showing the labels. To order the collection, go to www.ArgyleWinery.com.
About Argyle Winery
As Oregon’s original and most acclaimed sparkling wine house, Argyle Winery has been creating wines in the Willamette Valley since 1987. What began as a belief in cultivating world-class sparkling wine has grown to include an acclaimed portfolio of pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling. Argyle operates over 400 acres of vineyards in the Willamette Valley and welcomes guests daily to the Argyle Tasting House, located in the same space in downtown Dundee that they have called home from the start. To learn more, visit ArgyleWinery.com.
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