As the national debate on health care and insurance continues, the Oregon Wine Industry does something about health care for the community. It all started with the unnecessary passing of a young girl named Virginia Garcia, a child of one of the vineyard workers.  At the time there was no insurance for injured or ill workers or their families. This incident deeply affected the leaders of the Oregon wine industry along with Tuality Healthcare physicians and was the catalyst for an event and organization now known as ¡Salud!.  ¡Salud!’s mission is simple and straightforward: “We work to provide access to healthcare services for Oregon‘s seasonal vineyard workers and their families.”

Funding is raised at an annual auction called ¡Salud! “The Oregon Pinot Noir Auction”.  Invited wineries prepare wines specifically for Salud! that are only available during the “Big Board Auction”. In addition there is a dinner and auction held the next day with wines packaged with events and or trips for the successful bidders. Leveraging the funds raised from the auction and grants provided over $500,000 of services to clients last year. Anyone can use the services of the Garcia Clinics.  They are billed for services based on their ability to pay and no one is refused care.

The highly anticipated 20th anniversary celebration for ¡Salud! Oregon’s premier Pinot Noir auction will take place at Domaine Drouhin  winery AND at Portland’s historic Governor Hotel on November 11 and 12, 2011. Marking this milestone, forty-two of Oregon’s most respected winemakers have created small lots of unique, hand-crafted premier cuvees from the 2010 vintage, exclusively available during the two days. Youngberg Hill has been a proud supporter of ¡Salud! and we would encourage you to be part of the solution while having an amazing time.  This special event makes the wine you purchase have meaning beyond what you can see and taste.

Have you made your reservations?