Business & Industry
Good Drop Wine Shoppe Opens in Downtown Bend
he Good Drop Wine Shoppe, which opened October 2 in downtown Bend, is hosting a grand opening celebration over the week of December 5– 12. The new wine store and tasting venue will be open 11am to 6pm for anyone who wants to come downtown to taste “bubbles” and unique wines for free, and shop for unique gifts at special, grand opening prices for the wine lover on their list In addition, a portion of the proceeds from sales over the week will be donated to
by VALERIE CLARK CBN Feature Writer
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rinn and Jerry Shaw believe that wine should be for everyone, from bluebloods to blue collars, and their new business aims to educate people about reds and whites in a non-intimidating way. “I love to drink wine,” Jerry Shaw says simply when asked about his background in the industry. “My experience in the wine industry has always been from a consumer standpoint.” Jerry’s family owned a 700-acre cattle ranch, so he has always had an interest in agriculture. He brought that background with him when he started to develop an interest in wine and the science behind the countless varieties. “I really became interested in why there was such a difference in the wines,” Jerry said, explaining that he began to study different types of soils and their effect on the taste of wine. His interests were honed when he traveled all over the world during his military service, tasting different kinds of wine along the way. He also spent some time in San Francisco, where he frequently attended wine tastings and made trips to
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon. “This will be a truly special week-long wine event like no other,” said The Good Drop’s owner Chris Oatman. “We’ll be pouring free tastings of bubbles, but also at times will bring out vintage wines that are probably out of stock everywhere else or extremely hard to find. It will certainly be a memorable celebration of great wine and good times. And while the event and tastings are free, any sales made during that time will benefit a great cause.”
Throughout the week, Oatman, a vintage and rare wine specialist, will greet guests, answer questions, and have wine tastings available as they peruse the unique selections of wine and wine-related gifts. For years, Oatman has collected, sold, and shipped wines to wine connoisseurs across the world. Now these same wines are available in downtown Bend at the shop at 141 NW Minnesota Avenue, and through www.gooddropwineshoppee.
com. It carries vintage, hard-to-find, rare, and everyday fine wines at affordable prices. According to Oatman, “Being so close to the Willamette and Columbia Valleys, Walla Walla, Yakima, and the California wine regions, means we can offer a wide selection of well-rounded, diverse, and high-end wines at a price that’s often lower than wine connoisseurs might expect.” Information: www.gooddropwineshoppe.com or 541-410-1470.
Wine Education for Everyone the Napa Valley wine country. “I’ve always enjoyed finding new wines,” he said. “To me wine is a very interesting product because it’s never the same. That has always piqued my interest.” Jerry’s wife Erinn shares his interest in wine, more from the marketing and hospitality side. She took him to countless wine tastings, helping him to educate his palate. Together, they decided that their different areas of expertise could make for a wine consulting and education business. Their goal is to make the world of wine, which can seem intimidating at first, accessible to everyone. “We want to get the public perception of wine away from: it’s a snobby thing,” Jerry said. “We don’t want people to feel like if they’re drinking wine, they’re out of their league. There’s wine for everybody.” With that goal in mind, Vinified Visions was born. The business offers personal consulting, including wine coaching, shopping and cellar management; classes covering subjects ranging from “Wine Vocabulary”
to “Food & Wine Pairing 101;” custom wine tasting workshops and trade services. According to its mission statement, Vinified Visions aims to: Take the snobbery out of wine and wine education, provide wine services to individuals and businesses of all sizes, and utilize an approachable and enthusiastic method to learn more Jerry Shaw stated Vinifield Visions with his wife, Erinn. about wine tasting and service. The Shaws offer private events cover- available as well. “Improve staff service skills and wine ing everything from dinner parties to book clubs or bachelorette parties. They knowledge in order to improve overall standards of service and your bottom also offer restaurant consulting. “Whether you have an existing wine line – sales,” the mission statement says. Just in time for the holiday sealist or you are a new restaurant seeking expert advice on building your son, Vinified Visions offers personalmenu, we will work with you to make ized wine labels, with no minimum sure your wine list brings out the best purchase required. Information: Erinn Shaw, 541-350-8785; of your cuisine,” says the Vinified Visions mission statement. Server training is Jerry Shaw, 541-390-9098
photo courtesy of vinified Visions
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December 2, 2009 • Cascade Business News • 15