Queer Wine Fest V: How We Went Out on Top
Queer Wine Fest the Fifth Edition, was by every measure, the best one yet. The sun was shining, despite threats of rain, the curated wine selection ensured every producer sold something, the outdoor art gallery put local original works into people’s homes, the aerialists were flying high, the drag was on point and Camp Crush…crushed the music.
And the question on everyone’s mind was why end it?
It wasn’t because it failed; it’s because it succeeded. If you want me to wrap it up in an over-simplified analogy; Grogu and Mandalorian bombed at the box office but no one missed Star Wars V; and they still talk about it, and how it moved the story forward. Like Star Wars, the story is more interesting than the title alone.
When we launched Queer Wine Fest in Oregon Wine Country, we had a specific set of goals: put queer winemakers on a national stage, build community where there wasn’t one, demonstrate that wine festivals could operate differently, and prove that queer travel drives real economic impact. Five years later, every one of those boxes is checked and then some. Ending on your own terms is rare; we chose it intentionally.
A national and international platform for queer winemakers. Over five years, Queer Wine Fest earned coverage in more than 60 publications, podcasts, and television programs including AFAR, Bloomberg, Bon Appétit, the Boston Globe, Forbes, the New York Times, Robb Report, Time, Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Vogue, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Wine Industry Advisor, Parade, Passport, Hemispheres and Worth Magazine – to name a few. Thrillist called it “the gayest wine event in the country.“ It appeared in Modern Farmer and Shondaland in the same year. Queer winemakers from Oregon, Washington, California, and beyond found audiences they’d never had access to before. That is a lasting impact, it didn’t end with the fest.
A professional network with no geographic borders. One of QWF’s quietest but most lasting achievements is the network it seeded. Winemakers who didn’t know each other now collaborate. Sommeliers who attended as guests now champion queer producers in their programs. Connections made under a tent in Dayton, Oregon extended to New York, Chicago, Texas, and Canada. The queer wine community is measurably larger and more connected because this event existed. I was thrilled to learn that a professional tasting group is emerging from Queer Wine Fest – it’s called – Tastes Queer. I love it. Bravo to the winemakers who told me they’ve put on something similar in their areas. Can you, dear reader, almost feel those reverberations across time and place?
A new model for how wine festivals should work. From the beginning, QWF did things differently. Participating wineries were compensated for their time, a modest stipend, but a meaningful one, rather than charged for the privilege of pouring. All supplies were provided. Sales were handled by event staff. The philosophy was simple: if the system is broken, you fix it in the small places first, and the big changes follow. That’s not a platitude. It’s what we did, year after year, with real wineries and real checks.
A zero-waste event standard. With the support of local farmer/queer icon and hortivangelist, Ramsey McPhillips, founder of Zero Waste McMinnville, Queer Wine Fest operated as a zero-waste event every single year; we maintained a 91.5% diversion rate from the landfill. Every cup, plate, and bottle found its way to compost, recycling, or reuse. Environmental sustainability and community celebration are not in conflict. We proved that too.
Economic impact for queer-led businesses. Each year, Queer Wine Fest supported more than 30 queer-led businesses; from catering and marketing to tattoo artists, drag performers, aerialists, security staffing, winemaker’s lunch and art curators. Businesses like Renegade Catering, PDX Wine Events, One Ton Consulting, Bombshell Transformations, Tattoos by Savvy, Turtle Island Security and artists like Jessica Hage and Lylac all had a place at the table. The event was a revenue driver, not just a feel-good moment.
A fundraising engine for Wine Country Pride. Queer Wine Fest is one of the two largest annual fundraisers for Wine Country Pride, the nonprofit that was born on this same lawn, with Lylac doing drag in rural Oregon, creating queer visibility and community support in a place that had none. Today, Wine Country Pride runs year-round events, distributes community grants, and awards scholarships to schools, businesses, and nonprofits across the region. It is run entirely by volunteers. A portion of ticket proceeds and all merch sales went to Wine Country Pride and many of our vendors dedicated all or some of their income from the event as well.
Proof that queer travel is real and powerful. Guests came specifically to Remy Wines for Queer Wine Fest from Canada, New York, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and California. That’s not a footnote. That’s a travel market. In our economic impact survey, 58% of respondents stayed overnight and about half of all respondents traveled over 50 miles to get here. That also means about half of the attendees were locals, this event served our immediate community and brought people here. Gretchen managed a sliding scale ticket program every year, sponsoring dozens of tickets while Wine Country Pride volunteers were able to enjoy the event for free. My friend Deb, from Travel Oregon has attended every year, she took me aside at the fest this year and said, “We all see what you’re doing here.” Oregon Wine Country is not only a destination for wine lovers. It is a destination for queer travelers and allies; Queer Wine Fest put that on the map.
What People Said
“One of the most gorgeous queer events I have ever attended. It had so much heart, and of course it did — everything you both create is truly both community building and tastefully heartwarming.”
“Thank you for making an event to raise the profile of queer winemakers.”
“This was one of the best festivals I’ve ever been to.”
Thank You
None of this happened without people. The Remy Wines team has given tremendously over the years, no one as much as Gretchen Phelps, she made this event possible in ways that can’t be overstated, it could not have existed without her. Help me show her our gratitude and drop a thank you note or postcard in the mail addressed to her (17495 NE McDougall Road, Dayton OR 97114). Play Nice PR put QWF in front of the world. Camp Crush brought the music that made every year feel like the best year. Visit McMinnville showed up big, Erin Palmer from PDX Wine Events donated her time the first couple of years to run social media, seeing the importance of the event. The winemakers who traveled here, brought their wines, their stories, and their presence made this what it was. There are so many individuals that made this event possible, this list of names is too long for a newsletter but there is one more person I need to mention – YOU! The guests who came back year after year, who traveled hundreds of miles (like “Aunt Roberta” in the fabulous dress that made Queer Wine Fest into her annual family visit), who took home bottles and committed to supporting these wineries in the future, you are why this worked.
What’s Next?
That is the question everyone should be asking. That’s the same question that led to Queer Wine Fest in the beginning. Guess you’ll have to stick around to find out.
Love,
Remy
