Blue skies spreading sunshine over acres of vineyards. An open bottle of wine, ready to be shared with a loved one. Memories to cherish.

Oregon has a long history with the wine industry. Some Rogue Valley vineyards go back to before the founding of the state. When prohibition put our wine production on hiatus, it took a then little-known varietal to bring us back into the spotlight.

Pinot noir: This lush, light bodied red wine has won the Willamette Valley international acclaim for being one of the few places in the world that Pinot Noir can be grown. Now Willamette Valley Vineyards is offering you a chance to enjoy the splendor first hand during its 9th annual Why I Love Oregon Pinot contest.

The contest runs from May 1 through July 31, and asks participants to “creatively” express the reasons why they love Oregon Pinot Noir. These can range from short essays, to photos or videos, expressing why, when or where you fell in love Oregon Pinot. 

Grand prize wins an all-expense paid getaway for two to the heart of the Oregon wine country, valued at over $4,000.

So grab a pen and paper (or whatever), and get inspired! To get the creative juices flowing, here's a quote from Galileo: “Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” 

If that doesn't help, wine will.