• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Contact Us
  • Wine of the Week newsletter
  • Wine submission guidelines
Great Northwest Wine

Great Northwest Wine

News, reviews and info about the wines of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho

  • Home
  • About us
    • Awards and honors
    • Advertising on Great Northwest Wine
    • Wine submission guidelines
  • e-edition
  • Events calendar
    • Submit an event
  • Reviews
    • Latest wine reviews
    • Wine of the Week
    • Best Buys
    • Washington wines
    • Oregon wines
    • Idaho wines
    • British Columbia wines
  • Competitions
    • Cascadia International Wine Competition
    • Idaho Wine Competition
    • “The Invite” – Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition
    • Platinum Awards
    • Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition
    • Washington State Wine Competition
  • Explore
    • Wine news
    • Grapes and viticulture
    • Washington wine
    • Oregon wine
    • Idaho wine
    • British Columbia wine
    • Product reviews
    • Recipes
    • Podcast

World-class cheese, wine represented on Oregon Tourism Commission 

July 2, 2022 by Eric Degerman Leave a Comment

David Gremmels, owner of world famous Rogue Creamery in Central Point, Ore., has received a governor’s appointment to serve on the Oregon Tourism Commission. (Photo courtesy of Rogue Creamery)

Cheese and wine rank among life’s most delectable treats, and starting Friday leading figures in both industries are members of the Oregon Tourism Commission when David Gremmels of Rogue Creamery received an appointment and Maria Ponzi, past-president of Ponzi Vineyards, was granted another four-year term.

Gremmels’s post became official on the 20th anniversary of his purchase of the Central Point creamery — July 1, 2022.

“Travel Oregon is thrilled to retain Maria’s expertise and looks forward to welcoming David Gremmels and his unique industry perspectives and insights,” the agency stated in a news release.

Gremmels replaces Don Anway, COO of the Neuman Hotel Group, an Ashland business leader who served on the commission since 2014. Vice-chair of the nine-member board is Richard Boyles, co-founder of Iris Vineyards in Eugene. The four-year term of commissioner Erin Stephenson, founder of the Atticus Hotel in downtown McMinnville, ends in 2025. (The Iris Vineyards 2020 Pinot Gris won best of show at this year’s McMinnville Wine Classic, and the Atticus is an on-going supporter of the judging.)

Travel Oregon, the dba for the Oregon Tourism Commission, announced Thursday the appointments made by Gov. Kate Brown, who is in the last summer of her second and final term in Salem. Three times, Gremmels, a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, has received governor appointments to the Sustainability Board of Oregon — the past two from Brown.

Rogue Creamery, Gremmels win best of show at 2019 World Cheese Awards

The four-year term of David Gremmels on the Oregon Tourism Commission began July 1, 2022, which marked the 20th anniversary of Gremmels taking over Rogue Creamery from the Vella family. (Photo courtesy of Rogue Creamery)

Soon after acquiring Rogue Creamery from acclaimed second-generation cheesemaker Ignazio Vella, Gremmels and then-partner Cary Bryant began taking the company to another level and helped raise the culinary profile of Southern Oregon along the way.

In 2003, the Rogue River Blue earned the title of Best Blue at the World Cheese Awards. In 2019, Gremmels used the Rogue River Blue to win best of show at the international competition in Bergamo, Italy, a historic first for the U.S. cheese industry.

News of Rogue Creamery’s title made headlines in the New York Times, a report that highlighted one of the keys to Gremmels’s success  — wrapping the cheese in Syrah leaves soaked with pear spirits. In recent years, those leaves have been from the Biodynamically certified Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden in nearby Jacksonville.

Gremmels is credited with spearheading the Oregon Cheese Festival and creation of the Oregon Cheese Guild, which began in 2006. Portland native Katie Bray, who spent eight years as the marketing and events director for the Oregon Wine Board, has served as the executive director of the Oregon Cheese Guild since 2015. Prior to the pandemic, the two-day Oregon Cheese Festival drew 4,500 cheese lovers to the Rogue Valley.

For the past five years, Rogue Creamery has earned recognition from the international Certified B Corporation with a “Best For The World” ranking – an achievement for being among the top 5% of all B Corps worldwide for its environmental work. Brown, during her time as Oregon’s secretary of state, is credited with inspiring Gremmels to seek B Corp. status for Rogue Creamery  — a three-year process that led to its certification in 2016.

His civic work includes having served as President and Chairman of the American Cheese Society. He’s currently Ambassadeur, Secretary and Treasurer of the North American Chapter of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers.

A passion for cycling also prompted Gremmels to ride in Cycle Oregon’s Magnificent Seven – a 2014 tour that provided views of seven Cascade peaks in the same week.

Filed Under: News, Oregon wine Tagged With: featured, ticker

About Eric Degerman

Eric Degerman is the President and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of daily newspaper experience and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest magazine with Andy Perdue and served as its managing editor for a decade. He is a frequent wine judge at international wine competitions throughout North America and orchestrates 10 Northwest competitions each year.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Wine of the Week

Mt. Hood Winery 2018 Gunkel Vineyard Barbera, Columbia Valley $38

July 8, 2022

Latest Wine Reviews

Trella Vineyards 2016 Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley $16

July 23, 2022 By Great Northwest Wine

Flora Jane Cellars 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $22

July 23, 2022 By Great Northwest Wine

More Northwest Wine News

Footer

Grapes

Northwest vineyards enter August as much as 12 days behind normal

Oregon stands out throughout Pinot Gris tasting

The Wine Knows: Mastering the magical blend of GSM

Sniff, Sip, Swirl: Holmes family unveils Arneis on Red Mountain

Northwest Merlot remains memorable in talented hands

Food

Match Maker: Thiessen puts his brand on WW with Walla Walla Steak Co.

Match Maker recipe: Chocolate Crémeux Tart with Cocoa Nibs and Hazelnuts

Ellen on Wine: 19th century French chef’s legacy inspires 21st century NW women in hospitality with Les Dames d’Escoffier

Match Maker recipe: Cast Iron Cowboy Ribeye with Marinated Spring Vegetables

Expect heavy bidding as Reveal Walla Walla wine auction returns 

History

Ellen on Wine: 19th century French chef’s legacy inspires 21st century NW women in hospitality with Les Dames d’Escoffier

Kiona, Barnard Griffin toast 40th Red Mountain harvest with fundraiser Cab

Parks Redwine, owner of NorthWest Wine Summit competition, dies in Atlanta

Yakima Valley thrives as historical heart of Washington wine

Washington Wine Hall of Fame Gala raises record $105,000 for Clore Center

© 2022 Great NW Wine. All Rights Reserved.