Willamette Valley Vineyards Wines Featured at Exclusive Events

Rubbing shoulders with influential wine reviewer James Suckling and pouring White Pinot Noir for wine enthusiasts in the Rocky Mountains are two memories Suzanne Shultz will take with her from the summer of 2024. 

Suzanne, Willamette’s Industry Relations Manager, traveled with Terry Culton, our Director of Winemaking & Vineyards, and showcased two high-scoring wines at James Suckling’s Great Wines World 2024 in New York. James Suckling invited Willamette to the June event after awarding our 2021 Willamette Valley Vineyards Elton Pinot Noir a 92-point score. 

Suzanne Shultz, James Suckling and Terry Culton at James Suckling’s Great Wines World 2024

“It was an honor to be included among these great winemakers from around the world and represent Oregon and the Willamette Valley,” Suzanne said.

Attendees enjoyed pours of the Elton Pinot Noir and our 94-point 2019 Vintage 46 Chardonnay. Suzanne said she received great feedback on the wine. 

“We had a line out of our booth all night,” she said. “There were only four wineries there from Oregon and not much Pinot Noir.”

For Suzanne, the highlight of the event was meeting James Suckling and talking to him about sparkling winery Domaine Willamette and its recent Demeter Biodynamic Certification.

Aspen Food & Wine Classic

Suzanne and Field Execution Manager Paul Smith also traveled to Colorado in June for the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado. The event is known as a premier culinary event for wine and food enthusiasts. 

The pair poured a selection of nationally-distributed wines including the 2022 vintages of our Bernau Block Pinot Noir, Estate Pinot Noir, White Pinot Noir and Dijon Clone Chardonnay as well as the 2023 Whole Cluster Rosé.

Suzanne Shultz and Paul Smith the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado

“People were obsessed with the White Pinot Noir,” Suzanne said. The wine recently won a Best in Class and Gold Medal from the Sunset International Wine Competition. Suzanne noted that attendees were intrigued by the less common variety and excited to try a wine that expresses both red and white wine characteristics.

Suzanne and other members of Willamette’s National Sales team pour wine at events throughout the year and around the country. We send out periodic emails about these events and add them to our events calendar. Be sure you’re subscribed to our emails if you’re interested in learning more.