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ENLARGE
Taste of Spain
A decorative plate is passed around during a meeting of ‘The Spanish Connection’ at Abacela Winery Thursday evening. About 35 people attended the informal gathering to talk about Roseburg’s new sister city of Aranda de Duero and ways to increase interest in the program.
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ENLARGE
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Meeting
Flanked by the Spanish flag, Earl Jones listens to comments made at ‘The Spanish Connection’ meeting Thursday evening at Abacela Winery.
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A river runs through it, and hills surround it. Grapes are grown, sheep are raised, and butter is churned at a local dairy. About 25,000 people call it home.
Roseburg?
No, it's Aranda de Duero, Spain, and it's Roseburg's newest sister city. The cities easily rate as twins, as they share an abundance of similarities.
In terms of climate, they are alike as well. Both cities sit close to the 43rd parallel, an ideal latitude for wine-producing, although in Aranda de Duero the practice dates back centuries.
"The place is very much like Roseburg," said Dr. Earl Jones, owner of Abacela Winery in Winston. "...It's a town of 28,000. It's in a very similar rural area that we're in. It's on a river (Rio Duero) much like the Umpqua."
Jones has been traveling to Spain for a dozen years to learn how residents in wine-growing areas of La Rioja and Ribera Del Duero grow their vines and make their wine.
That wine-producing similarity got the notion flowing for a Roseburg-Aranda pairing.
But the relationship building -- Roseburg became a sister city of Shobu, Japan, in 1993 -- didn't come about without some logistical and political hurdles.
It required Jones's persistent trips to the Spanish countryside, where eventually he found bucolic Aranda de Duero, tucked into a valley and built over a labyrinth of underground wine cellars, as the perfect match to Roseburg. The idea gained steam through legwork and translation help from two women in Spain with Roseburg connections. And it survived a setback of international proportions -- namely Spain's vocal opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year.
Stephen Reustle, owner of Reustle Vineyards and Winery in Umpqua, joined Jones on a trip to Spain in January, when the sister city linkage was firmed up.
"When they had two Americans coming in talking about a sister city relationship they were very hesitant," Reustle said.
<b>'THINGS WARMED UP'</b>
In mid-January, Jones and Reustle flew into the Madrid airport, 90 minutes south of Aranda de Duero, where they met Sandra Piper, whose brother, mother and aunt live in Roseburg.
Piper, who has lived in Spain for more than 30 years, and her daughter had spent 10 days in Roseburg over Christmas visiting relatives. She also visited Abacela Winery, offering to accompany Jones and Reustle to Aranda de Duero on their upcoming trip.
With Piper along for the trip -- neither Jones nor Reustle are proficient in Spanish -- "things warmed up pretty quick," Reustle said.
"When we told them what the advantages would be, they were all for it," he said. "I was surprised by the hospitality they showed Earl and I."
On the second day of the visit, Aranda de Duero's minister of cultural affairs accompanied Jones, Reustle and Piper in a chauffeur-driven car, provided by the mayor, which made the rounds to area wineries.
"We were treated like royalty, to be honest with you," Reustle said. "By the time we got to one of the wineries, the TV crew showed up and put us on Spanish TV that evening. So I was pretty impressed, actually."
In an e-mail to The News-Review, Piper, who lives in Madrid, said she was happy to serve as an interpreter for Jones and Reustle's visit.
"They treated us very warmly," she said of the Spanish contingent. "They were especially interested in the possibilities of setting up some exchange programs for students of English from Aranda, and Spanish students from Roseburg, as well as other possible cultural and commercial exchanges, possibly a booth at the local fairs, maybe a gastronomical exchange (there are some exceptionally good restaurants in Aranda). And the 'wine connection' is also certainly interesting, since it can benefit both places."
A specific grape grown by Jones at Abacela especially intrigued the Spaniards, Piper said.
"They were amused and fascinated by the fact that Roseburg is the first place in the U.S. where their traditional tempranillo grapes are being grown, and also gave us interesting climatological information about their winemaking region."
<b>'CLIMATE IS REASON'</b>
In 1994, Jones, a dermatologist, and his wife, Hilda, moved their family to Winston from Alabama, specifically because of the area's climatic suitability for tempranillo vines. They were seeking a U.S. region most similar to the prized tempranillo-producing regions in Spain.
"Climate is the reason why my wife and I moved 2,700 miles to Douglas County to plant our grapes," Jones said.
The couple have turned their enterprise into consistently award-winning wines -- earning distinction especially for their syrah and tempranillos, varietals which are well-suited for warmer, drier grape-growing regions.
He shared some bottles of Abacela wines in north-central Spain on the recent trip.
"We left bottles with some of their finest wineries and their regulatory agency, and we've got back some very fine supporting statements," Jones said. "They think our wine has got excellent quality."
That's strong affirmation that Jones's study of Spain's growing techniques are paying off within the bottle. Now, with the sister city link, corks can be shed in toasts as two cultures come together not only in vino, but in friendship.
<b>ECONOMIC DIVIDENDS</b>
There is hope that there will be some economic dividends as well.
It was Helga Conrad, director of the Umpqua Economic Development Partnership, who in early 2002 planted the notion of a Spanish sister city.
Conrad was attending a meeting of the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Task Force when the subject of boosting visibility for the area's wineries came up. One way to get more attention for the industry, task force members said, was to attract a major winegrower to the Umpqua region.
"I just thought that (a sister city relationship) might push that forward, have more credibility in the future if we have a strong relationship with a sister city somewhere that's in a major wine-growing region. Maybe that will attract a major winegrower because they've heard about us."
Roseburg?
No, it's Aranda de Duero, Spain, and it's Roseburg's newest sister city. The cities easily rate as twins, as they share an abundance of similarities.
In terms of climate, they are alike as well. Both cities sit close to the 43rd parallel, an ideal latitude for wine-producing, although in Aranda de Duero the practice dates back centuries.
"The place is very much like Roseburg," said Dr. Earl Jones, owner of Abacela Winery in Winston. "...It's a town of 28,000. It's in a very similar rural area that we're in. It's on a river (Rio Duero) much like the Umpqua."
Jones has been traveling to Spain for a dozen years to learn how residents in wine-growing areas of La Rioja and Ribera Del Duero grow their vines and make their wine.
That wine-producing similarity got the notion flowing for a Roseburg-Aranda pairing.
But the relationship building -- Roseburg became a sister city of Shobu, Japan, in 1993 -- didn't come about without some logistical and political hurdles.
It required Jones's persistent trips to the Spanish countryside, where eventually he found bucolic Aranda de Duero, tucked into a valley and built over a labyrinth of underground wine cellars, as the perfect match to Roseburg. The idea gained steam through legwork and translation help from two women in Spain with Roseburg connections. And it survived a setback of international proportions -- namely Spain's vocal opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year.
Stephen Reustle, owner of Reustle Vineyards and Winery in Umpqua, joined Jones on a trip to Spain in January, when the sister city linkage was firmed up.
"When they had two Americans coming in talking about a sister city relationship they were very hesitant," Reustle said.
<b>'THINGS WARMED UP'</b>
In mid-January, Jones and Reustle flew into the Madrid airport, 90 minutes south of Aranda de Duero, where they met Sandra Piper, whose brother, mother and aunt live in Roseburg.
Piper, who has lived in Spain for more than 30 years, and her daughter had spent 10 days in Roseburg over Christmas visiting relatives. She also visited Abacela Winery, offering to accompany Jones and Reustle to Aranda de Duero on their upcoming trip.
With Piper along for the trip -- neither Jones nor Reustle are proficient in Spanish -- "things warmed up pretty quick," Reustle said.
"When we told them what the advantages would be, they were all for it," he said. "I was surprised by the hospitality they showed Earl and I."
On the second day of the visit, Aranda de Duero's minister of cultural affairs accompanied Jones, Reustle and Piper in a chauffeur-driven car, provided by the mayor, which made the rounds to area wineries.
"We were treated like royalty, to be honest with you," Reustle said. "By the time we got to one of the wineries, the TV crew showed up and put us on Spanish TV that evening. So I was pretty impressed, actually."
In an e-mail to The News-Review, Piper, who lives in Madrid, said she was happy to serve as an interpreter for Jones and Reustle's visit.
"They treated us very warmly," she said of the Spanish contingent. "They were especially interested in the possibilities of setting up some exchange programs for students of English from Aranda, and Spanish students from Roseburg, as well as other possible cultural and commercial exchanges, possibly a booth at the local fairs, maybe a gastronomical exchange (there are some exceptionally good restaurants in Aranda). And the 'wine connection' is also certainly interesting, since it can benefit both places."
A specific grape grown by Jones at Abacela especially intrigued the Spaniards, Piper said.
"They were amused and fascinated by the fact that Roseburg is the first place in the U.S. where their traditional tempranillo grapes are being grown, and also gave us interesting climatological information about their winemaking region."
<b>'CLIMATE IS REASON'</b>
In 1994, Jones, a dermatologist, and his wife, Hilda, moved their family to Winston from Alabama, specifically because of the area's climatic suitability for tempranillo vines. They were seeking a U.S. region most similar to the prized tempranillo-producing regions in Spain.
"Climate is the reason why my wife and I moved 2,700 miles to Douglas County to plant our grapes," Jones said.
The couple have turned their enterprise into consistently award-winning wines -- earning distinction especially for their syrah and tempranillos, varietals which are well-suited for warmer, drier grape-growing regions.
He shared some bottles of Abacela wines in north-central Spain on the recent trip.
"We left bottles with some of their finest wineries and their regulatory agency, and we've got back some very fine supporting statements," Jones said. "They think our wine has got excellent quality."
That's strong affirmation that Jones's study of Spain's growing techniques are paying off within the bottle. Now, with the sister city link, corks can be shed in toasts as two cultures come together not only in vino, but in friendship.
<b>ECONOMIC DIVIDENDS</b>
There is hope that there will be some economic dividends as well.
It was Helga Conrad, director of the Umpqua Economic Development Partnership, who in early 2002 planted the notion of a Spanish sister city.
Conrad was attending a meeting of the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Task Force when the subject of boosting visibility for the area's wineries came up. One way to get more attention for the industry, task force members said, was to attract a major winegrower to the Umpqua region.
"I just thought that (a sister city relationship) might push that forward, have more credibility in the future if we have a strong relationship with a sister city somewhere that's in a major wine-growing region. Maybe that will attract a major winegrower because they've heard about us."
Douglas County is home to "unique wines" and "we need to promote that," she added. "The more sister cities we can have, maybe the more fun it could be."
Marliene Winfield, whose late husband, Harold, spearheaded Roseburg's sister city with Shobu, Japan, said when visitors come as part of the exchanges, they want to buy Roseburg products and see the local sights.
"The business community actually profits quite a bit from these exchanges," Winfield said.
<b>SCHOOL CONNECTION</b>
Roseburg's partnership with Shobu has led to an adult exchange program as well as a regular exchange of middle school students over the past decade. A group of students goes to Japan for a couple weeks every other year, and an adult contingent visits Shobu, where they stay with host families, for nine-day trips every year.
Japanese art has been exhibited over the years at Umpqua Valley Arts Center, and a Japanese sculpture graces the front of City Hall.
Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich, who has already received a personalized pen set on a bronze base from the Spanish mayor, said a similar exchange is in the works for Aranda de Duero.
"Our plan is to have a cultural exchange, so this is an opportunity for citizens to go to Spain and view their culture and share their experiences there," Rich said. "So we're really excited about it."
Sue Nell Phillips, a Spanish teacher at Roseburg High School, said she plans to integrate the international connection into her advanced Espanol classes. Eventually, she'd like to see an exchange of students between the countries.
But for now, "I'd been looking for an e-mail program to have with my students ... so I thought this is a perfect opportunity."
<b>LOCAL TIES</b>
Early in the sister city discussions process, the city got help from another local connection. Liz Nelson, a 1998 Roseburg High School graduate, was living in Spain as part of a six-month foreign language program she joined after graduating from Seattle Pacific University.
Roseburg City Councilor Dan Hern, a family friend who knew Nelson was living in Salamanca, Spain, northwest of Madrid, asked her to research who to contact in Aranda de Duero.
A friend Nelson met in Spain, an American enrolled in the language program who was more fluent in Spanish, made the initial call to the cultural affairs office in Aranda de Duero, setting up a meeting in February 2003
At that meeting, Nelson and her friend expressed Roseburg's desire to have a Spanish sister city. The idea intrigued the city leaders because they had been hoping to form a cultural link with a city in the United States or England. They already had a sister city in France, but they next wanted to partner with an English-speaking nation.
"They actually were quite surprised when we approached them and asked them about it," Nelson said by phone from Seattle, where she now works for a marketing and promotions company.
The officials were a bit concerned that Roseburg was on the West Coast, making it that much farther away, she said. But "they were excited that possibly their students would someday be able to do an exchange ... . They were excited about each region's ties with wine and wineries."
Nelson, 23, returned to the United States two days before the U.S.-led coalition launched its invasion of Iraq.
"The whole six months I was there, it was very noticeable that the Spaniards were quite against (the war). There were signs up everywhere," Nelson said. At the February 2003 meeting, the officials said that "although (the sister city idea) was probably a good thing, they did want to keep this kind of hush-hush for a while..."
Spanish general elections were coming up in May 2003 and "they knew they wouldn't get any city officials then to back this until after the elections were over," Nelson said.
Nelson continued e-mailing the woman she met in the cultural affairs office over the past year -- "just to keep in contact with her, keep the interest going on their end."
The interest piqued again when Jones, Reustle and Piper visited in January, solidifying the sister city relationship.
Spain has since suffered through a national tragedy, followed by a dramatic prime minister election.
A few days after the March 11 terrorist bombing of a train in Madrid, killing 190 people, Piper wrote in an e-mail, "All of us here in Spain are still a little in state of shock ... . From the very beginning ... our outgoing president, Jose Maria Aznar, sided very publicly with George Bush and Tony Blair over the question of invading Iraq."
She added that the governing party in Aranda de Duero is aligned with Aznar's party, Partido Popular, which was soundly defeated in the recent prime minister election, "so this is a delicate subject for them right now."
In between Nelson's initial visit in February 2003 and Jones's trip two months ago, Aranda de Duero has had a new mayor and minister of cultural affairs take office.
He said that as part of Europe's adoption of the Euro, a standardized currency, it's becoming common for European cities to have multiple sister cities across the continent.
Aranda de Duero already has sister cities in Italy, Germany and France, Jones said. "Interestingly, they had just been jilted by a town in England" that the city was hoping to pair up with. "Then ... Roseburg was knocking on their door shortly thereafter."
And folks like Nelson and Piper smoothed the way. Jones said he exchanged about 50 e-mails over the past year with Nelson on the sister city matter. And Piper provided key "cultural sensitivity" during his recent visit.
Piper settled in Madrid in 1973 after earning a bachelor's degree in Spanish at the University of California. She's been a teacher and interpreter and currently buys, remodels and resells homes after studying interior architecture in Madrid.
Piper advised Jones and Reustle against meeting the Spanish dignitaries on Tuesday, Jan. 13, because she knew that was Spain's equivalent of Friday the 13th.
"She said, 'It's a bad omen. Wait until Wednesday,' " Jones said.
<b>'FEEL AT HOME'</b>
While Roseburg can't lay claim to some 17 miles of tunnels snaking underneath downtown, the similarities above ground are apparent everywhere.
Besides their wines, residents of Aranda de Duero are proud of their dairy - "we told (them) that our dairy isn't as large as theirs but it makes the best ice cream in Oregon" -- and their sheep.
"They claim that they produce the finest lamb in Europe, and I told them that we produce some pretty fine lamb around here," Jones said.
The valley created by the Rio Duero -- one of Spain's most famous rivers, the Rio Duero, meanders to the west and through Portugal before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean in the town of Porto, of port wine fame.
The valley created by the Rio Duero in Aranda de Duero is "a bit straighter, more gentle hills" than the Umpqua basin, Jones said.
"Otherwise you'd feel right at home over there."
* You can reach reporter Chris Casey at 957-4216 or by e-mail at ccasey@newsreview.info
Marliene Winfield, whose late husband, Harold, spearheaded Roseburg's sister city with Shobu, Japan, said when visitors come as part of the exchanges, they want to buy Roseburg products and see the local sights.
"The business community actually profits quite a bit from these exchanges," Winfield said.
<b>SCHOOL CONNECTION</b>
Roseburg's partnership with Shobu has led to an adult exchange program as well as a regular exchange of middle school students over the past decade. A group of students goes to Japan for a couple weeks every other year, and an adult contingent visits Shobu, where they stay with host families, for nine-day trips every year.
Japanese art has been exhibited over the years at Umpqua Valley Arts Center, and a Japanese sculpture graces the front of City Hall.
Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich, who has already received a personalized pen set on a bronze base from the Spanish mayor, said a similar exchange is in the works for Aranda de Duero.
"Our plan is to have a cultural exchange, so this is an opportunity for citizens to go to Spain and view their culture and share their experiences there," Rich said. "So we're really excited about it."
Sue Nell Phillips, a Spanish teacher at Roseburg High School, said she plans to integrate the international connection into her advanced Espanol classes. Eventually, she'd like to see an exchange of students between the countries.
But for now, "I'd been looking for an e-mail program to have with my students ... so I thought this is a perfect opportunity."
<b>LOCAL TIES</b>
Early in the sister city discussions process, the city got help from another local connection. Liz Nelson, a 1998 Roseburg High School graduate, was living in Spain as part of a six-month foreign language program she joined after graduating from Seattle Pacific University.
Roseburg City Councilor Dan Hern, a family friend who knew Nelson was living in Salamanca, Spain, northwest of Madrid, asked her to research who to contact in Aranda de Duero.
A friend Nelson met in Spain, an American enrolled in the language program who was more fluent in Spanish, made the initial call to the cultural affairs office in Aranda de Duero, setting up a meeting in February 2003
At that meeting, Nelson and her friend expressed Roseburg's desire to have a Spanish sister city. The idea intrigued the city leaders because they had been hoping to form a cultural link with a city in the United States or England. They already had a sister city in France, but they next wanted to partner with an English-speaking nation.
"They actually were quite surprised when we approached them and asked them about it," Nelson said by phone from Seattle, where she now works for a marketing and promotions company.
The officials were a bit concerned that Roseburg was on the West Coast, making it that much farther away, she said. But "they were excited that possibly their students would someday be able to do an exchange ... . They were excited about each region's ties with wine and wineries."
Nelson, 23, returned to the United States two days before the U.S.-led coalition launched its invasion of Iraq.
"The whole six months I was there, it was very noticeable that the Spaniards were quite against (the war). There were signs up everywhere," Nelson said. At the February 2003 meeting, the officials said that "although (the sister city idea) was probably a good thing, they did want to keep this kind of hush-hush for a while..."
Spanish general elections were coming up in May 2003 and "they knew they wouldn't get any city officials then to back this until after the elections were over," Nelson said.
Nelson continued e-mailing the woman she met in the cultural affairs office over the past year -- "just to keep in contact with her, keep the interest going on their end."
The interest piqued again when Jones, Reustle and Piper visited in January, solidifying the sister city relationship.
Spain has since suffered through a national tragedy, followed by a dramatic prime minister election.
A few days after the March 11 terrorist bombing of a train in Madrid, killing 190 people, Piper wrote in an e-mail, "All of us here in Spain are still a little in state of shock ... . From the very beginning ... our outgoing president, Jose Maria Aznar, sided very publicly with George Bush and Tony Blair over the question of invading Iraq."
She added that the governing party in Aranda de Duero is aligned with Aznar's party, Partido Popular, which was soundly defeated in the recent prime minister election, "so this is a delicate subject for them right now."
In between Nelson's initial visit in February 2003 and Jones's trip two months ago, Aranda de Duero has had a new mayor and minister of cultural affairs take office.
He said that as part of Europe's adoption of the Euro, a standardized currency, it's becoming common for European cities to have multiple sister cities across the continent.
Aranda de Duero already has sister cities in Italy, Germany and France, Jones said. "Interestingly, they had just been jilted by a town in England" that the city was hoping to pair up with. "Then ... Roseburg was knocking on their door shortly thereafter."
And folks like Nelson and Piper smoothed the way. Jones said he exchanged about 50 e-mails over the past year with Nelson on the sister city matter. And Piper provided key "cultural sensitivity" during his recent visit.
Piper settled in Madrid in 1973 after earning a bachelor's degree in Spanish at the University of California. She's been a teacher and interpreter and currently buys, remodels and resells homes after studying interior architecture in Madrid.
Piper advised Jones and Reustle against meeting the Spanish dignitaries on Tuesday, Jan. 13, because she knew that was Spain's equivalent of Friday the 13th.
"She said, 'It's a bad omen. Wait until Wednesday,' " Jones said.
<b>'FEEL AT HOME'</b>
While Roseburg can't lay claim to some 17 miles of tunnels snaking underneath downtown, the similarities above ground are apparent everywhere.
Besides their wines, residents of Aranda de Duero are proud of their dairy - "we told (them) that our dairy isn't as large as theirs but it makes the best ice cream in Oregon" -- and their sheep.
"They claim that they produce the finest lamb in Europe, and I told them that we produce some pretty fine lamb around here," Jones said.
The valley created by the Rio Duero -- one of Spain's most famous rivers, the Rio Duero, meanders to the west and through Portugal before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean in the town of Porto, of port wine fame.
The valley created by the Rio Duero in Aranda de Duero is "a bit straighter, more gentle hills" than the Umpqua basin, Jones said.
"Otherwise you'd feel right at home over there."
* You can reach reporter Chris Casey at 957-4216 or by e-mail at ccasey@newsreview.info
