Somewhere in wine heaven Richard Sommer is sipping a 1961 Chateau Latour and smiling at his handiwork. I'm sorry I never got the chance to meet Richard as I'm sure he had some great stories to tell about the early days of Umpqua Valley wines. I have however had the enormous pleasure to taste recently his 1989 Cabernet Sauvignon. And they said you couldn't grow wine grapes in Oregon!!
At least that's what the "experts" at the UC Davis school of enology told the young 31 year old Richard Sommer. That didn't stop Richard from believing in Oregon wine. His dream helped fuel the Renaissance of fine wine in the state. Today there are 395 wineries in Oregon. Do you ever wonder what those "experts" are thinking of their advice today!
Some day Umpqua Valley will be on every serious wine enthusiasts list of wine destinations. And in no small measure it will have been due to the vision of one man. We have lost an icon of the Oregon wine industry with Richard's passing, but gained a powerful ally in the spirit which he left behind.
Salut Richard!
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