Willamette Valley Vineyards Hires Joe Padilla as Chief Operating Officer
Willamette Valley Vineyards is proud to announce the hiring of Joe Padilla as our Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Joe will oversee operations of the growing company, including winemaking, vineyard and direct sales operations.
The addition of Joe in this new role supports the company’s ongoing expansion in 2022 and 2023, with the opening of a new sparkling winery in Dundee, Oregon, and Tasting Room & Restaurant locations throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as continued growth in its wine production and sales.
“Joe’s passion to see people and businesses succeed through world-class service is a major asset for us as we seek to bring the Oregon wine story to more outlets,” said Founder and CEO Jim Bernau.
Willamette Valley Vineyards COO,
Joe Padilla
“He leads with relational and management skills essential in any business, especially those with expanding markets and a desire for innovative thinking."
Joe brings over 30 years of management experience to his new position. Before joining Willamette, he spent 11 years with Summerland Wine Brands in Buellton, California, where he most recently led strategic business development in a senior vice president role. During his time, he was known for positively impacting the company, its culture and earnings.
Joe started his hospitality career opening restaurants in California, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. He and his wife Lisa started an upscale Italian restaurant and private club. A growing family led the couple to sell the restaurant and open a wine brokerage that grew into one of the largest in Utah. The brokerage’s success prompted Young’s Market Company to purchase his company and take Joe on as its Utah State Manager, a position that included managing 300 wineries. After completing his contract with Young's, Joe moved his family to Santa Barbara so they could open a winery of their own. The change ultimately brought him to Summerland and further experience in nearly every aspect of the wine business.
Joe earned his undergraduate degree in English Literature from St Mary’s College of California and his MBA from Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute.
In July, Joe and Lisa will celebrate 30 years of marriage. They have four adult children and the youngest is a freshman at the University of Oregon. They make their home in McMinnville, Oregon.
Jun 29, 2022 at 3:27 PM
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Avoiding Heat Damage to Shipped Wines
The summer heat wave moving through the country earlier this year made one of Senior Winery Ambassador Duska Jensen’s customers nervous about receiving wine for an important family gathering in the southern United States. Duska helped the customer receive her shipment with special temperature-controlled shipping and avoided sending bottles damaged in the heat.
Warm temperatures, while welcome in the vineyard, are not always desirable when it comes to sending wine to customers. A wine that sits in temperatures above 90 degrees for an extended period can suffer damage if the cork expands due to the heat and starts to break free of the bottle because that exposes the wine to oxygen, Duska said.
“In extreme cases, the cork can pop out fully, creating a messy and wasted wine delivery for the
customer,” she added.
Instead, we encourage customers who are experiencing hot summer weather (or freezing temperatures in the winter) to call the winery and ask a Winery Ambassador about having their shipments sent with temperature control. Shipping this way provides consistent temperatures for the wine’s journey and lets our team and carrier know that the delivery needs to be handled with extra care.
Talking to a Winery Ambassador about temperature-controlled shipping is important because timing and location affect which shipping option is right for the customer.
Willamette Valley Vineyards Senior Winery Ambassador, Duska Jensen
“Shipping with temperature control is tricky to track, so it will be ideal for you to have a point of
contact to communicate with in case you have questions about your shipment,” Duska said.
“Our Winery Ambassador team specializes in keeping you informed about new releases and
knowing your wine preferences so we can make sure you are aware of special offers, including
discounted temperature-controlled shipping.”
To start a conversation, simply call the Estate at (503) 588-9463 and ask to speak with a Winery Ambassador. Your Winery Ambassador is someone you can reach out to for wine recommendations, as well as help with shipping. You might ask for their thoughts on the best wines for summer sipping, what wine pairs well with BBQ ribs and which rosé wine – our Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir or Bernau Estate Brut Rosé – best suits your upcoming summer soirée.
Temperature-Controlled Shipping FAQ
Question: Will my wine arrive chilled?
Answer: Temperature-controlled shipping, also known as FedEx Cold Chain Shipping, does not mean that wines arrive cold. Instead, this shipping method provides consistent temperatures for the wines from the time they leave our winery until they reach the carrier’s hub. The last leg of the journey – from the carrier’s hub to your home – is not temperature controlled but lasts a short time.
A crucial step in the process is having someone over the age of 21 available to receive the shipment when it arrives to avoid delays. If you anticipate being at the office on the day of your wine delivery and not at home to receive and sign for the wine, then we recommend having the shipment delivered directly to your place of work if possible.
Three bottles are wrapped and ready to be shipped.
Q: How much does it cost to ship with temperature control?
A: Temperature-controlled shipping can cost $35 to $50 and is dependent on your order.
Q: I live in Oregon. Should I choose temperature-controlled shipping?
A: We don’t typically recommend temperature-controlled shipping for our customers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and northern California, as those shipments typically take just two days. Additionally, Oklahoma customers are unable to receive shipments via FedEx, but other carriers are available. Calling the winery and asking to speak to a Winery Ambassador will help you select the right shipping option for your situation.
Jun 24, 2022 at 12:52 PM
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