Greatest of the Grape Invites Local Artists to Participate in 2027 Celebration

UMPQUA VALLEY, Ore. - Local artists will have two opportunities to share their work through the 2027 Greatest of the Grape, as organizers expand the annual wine celebration’s focus on art and its connection to the Umpqua Valley.

The Umpqua Valley Winegrowers Association is inviting artists and makers to participate in a postcard art competition and an art-focused silent auction. The opportunities include two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork, with guidelines available through the event’s website.

According to the association, artists will receive 70% of the proceeds from the sale of their artwork. Organizers are seeking original work inspired by the Umpqua Valley, bringing local creative work into an event traditionally centered on the region’s wines.

The effort highlights a connection the association sees between the two: both reflect the landscape and the people who live and work here. Painters, photographers, potters, jewelry makers, and glass artists draw inspiration from the valley’s rivers, hills, and changing seasons, just as winemakers work with the conditions of individual vineyards.

In announcing the opportunities, the association emphasized the role art plays in preserving a community’s identity and supporting local livelihoods. Purchasing work from an area artist, organizers said, helps sustain the studios, families, and small businesses behind it.

The Greatest of the Grape awards gala is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027, at Seven Feathers Casino Resort. Ticket sales are scheduled to begin Nov. 1.

The gala will feature wine tasting, food pairings, live music, and the silent auction. It is part of a broader celebration running Feb. 5-7, with a Friday VIP dinner and Sunday tasting opportunities also planned.

The association describes Greatest of the Grape as Oregon’s oldest wine celebration. Founded in 1970, the event began as a way to celebrate local wines and promote wine grape growing as an agricultural industry in Oregon.

Businesses and community members can also participate through event sponsorships or by donating items or experiences to the silent auction.

Artists interested in participating can find links labeled “Postcard Art Competition” and “Art for the Silent Auction” on the Greatest of the Grape event page, along with sponsorship and donation information.

The Umpqua Valley Winegrowers Association is a nonprofit membership organization that promotes the region’s wineries, vineyards, and wines, working with community and tourism partners to support wine sales, tourism, and recognition of the Umpqua Valley.