A large-scale event introducing wines from Oregon and Washington, the two representative wine regions of the U.S. Northwest, was held in Seoul.
On the 27th, according to the industry, the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Show, hosted by the Oregon Wine Board and the Washington State Wine Commission and organized by Wine21, was held to great success on the 21st at The Westin Josun Seoul in Sogong-dong, Seoul.
Lisa Allen, agricultural counselor for the U.S. Embassy in Korea, attended the event and, in her congratulatory remarks, emphasized the importance of the Korean market. Allen said, "This year marks the meaningful 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and the start of agriculture, and during that time the U.S. wine industry has achieved remarkable growth," adding, "Korea ranks No. 5 as an export market for U.S. agricultural products and around No. 2 in the wine sector."
The event consisted of a master class and a walk-around tasting. In the master class, Bree Stock, the first and only female Master of Wine (MW) from the U.S. Northwest, took the podium to lead a seminar on the theme "An in-depth exploration of diverse soil types in Oregon and Washington." Stock emphasized that the distinctiveness of the two regions' wines lies in their geological background before climate.
Stock said, "What makes Pacific Northwest wine special begins in the ground before climate," adding, "Geological processes accumulated over long periods—tectonic plate collisions and volcanic activity, glaciers and floods, wind and erosion—have shaped today's unique terrain and soils, and these exert a decisive influence on the character and style of the wines."
At the walk-around tasting, a total of 44 wineries—24 from Oregon and 20 from Washington—set up booths, and about 300 people from the domestic wine industry attended. Fourteen wineries not yet introduced to the Korean market also took part, engaging in active business meetings with Korean importers.
That evening, the U.S. Embassy residence in Korea hosted the "Pacific Northwest wine producers' invitation dinner reception," attended by visiting wine producers and key figures from Korea's wine industry.
James R. Heller, chargé d'affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Korea, offered congratulations on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and said, "American wine has actively combined experimental attempts while grounded in tradition and craftsmanship," adding, "From world-class Oregon Pinot Noir to Washington Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, the Pacific Northwest is the region that best showcases the harmony of tradition and innovation in the U.S. wine industry."
Choi Seong-sun, CEO of Wine21, which organized the event, said, "Since holding the first event in Korea in 2013, the Oregon Wine Board and the Washington State Wine Commission mark the 14th year this year," adding, "With continued interest in the Korean market supporting steady growth, the Pacific Northwest is a region with even greater promise ahead."