The Dalles Copa di Vino is inviting the public to a party this Friday, May 31, to celebrate the company’s spectacular growth in the past three years.
Copapalooza is set for Friday, May 31 at the Sunshine Mill.
The event will be a chance to take in ongoing renovation at the historic Sunshine Mill, meet the people behind the business and wine industry dignitaries, learn more about the future of this historic property, enjoy Copa Di Vino and Quenett wine tastings, and dance to the music of Northwest blues icon Curtis Salgado.
Doors open to the public at 6 p.m. at 901 E. Second St. Tickets are $30 and are limited. They are available at The Sunshine Mill Winery, by phone at (541) 298-8900 and by email at info@sun
“Copapalooza is a celebration of everything that’s happened in the past few years,” said James Martin, who with wife Molli started Copa Di Vino in 2009. “The warehouse was going to be destroyed and the silos were going to come down to make way for a highway project. But because of Copa Di Vino, we saved both. And we’ve created a lot of jobs at the same time.”
Special tours of the warehouse will be accompanied with tastings of Copa Di Vino wines. VIP tasting will also be offered throughout the night in locations throughout the Sunshine Mill campus including the Silo Cellars and the Port tasting in the Boiler House Bar.
There will also be a preview of the next parts of the Sunshine Mill development, which include a future silo winery hotel that will transform the mill’s 12 silos.
Salgado takes the stage from 8:30 to 10 p.m. The performer was just awarded B.B. King Entertainer of the Year by The Blues Foundation, which also selected his latest album, “Soul Shot,” as Soul Blues Album of the Year.
Gorge favorite Carinne Carpenter opens at 6:45 p.m., performing home-style country, Americana and roots music.
Martin brought Copa Di Vino into the public’s consciousness with March 2011 and April 2012 appearances on the popular ABC reality show “Shark Tank,” where he was offered an investment on the single-serve technology but stuck to his guns, declining to separate the innovative packaging from the wine side of the business.
While the first two Copapaloozas celebrated Martin’s “Shark Tank” exposure, the upcoming third event focuses on what’s happened closer to home. A local landmark — the Sunshine Mill with its distinctive 125-foot tall grain silos — has been repurposed for a new industry.
The 125-year-oldwarehouse has been redeveloped for wine production, packaging and sales. And the local economy has benefited — three years ago, seven people worked at Copa Di Vino. Today, there are 115 employees between the winery and the vineyard.
In addition to quality wine, food may be purchased from Solstice Wood Fire Pizzeria, named best pizza in Washington by the Food Network Magazine.
For an event schedule and ticket information, visit www.sunshinemill.com.
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