Alaska Airlines recently announced a special program which will allow its passengers flying into Oregon (to airports in Portland, Eugene, Redmond or Medford) to check a case of wine for free on their return flights. The airline has offered a similar deal in the past to passengers flying in and out of airports in wine regions such as Walla Walla, Wash., and Santa Rosa, Calif., but this is the first time an entire state has been included in the program. Travel Oregon and the Oregon Wine Board are co-sponsors of the promotion, which begins Sept. 10.

This seems to provide a win for all the parties involved. Wine-loving travelers will have a free and simplified method of transporting wines home, and they also enjoy waived tasting fees at 220 participating wineries when they show their boarding passes within a week of their arrival in the state. And at least one local winery’s marketing director says she has heard some of her out-of-state visitors remarking they are rethinking their choice of airlines because of the offer. That certainly has to make Alaska Airlines happy.

Undoubtedly the biggest boon is to the wineries, especially those smaller ones which have limited out-of-state distribution. In the past, visitors who only fly with carry-on bags and those who don’t want to risk placing bottles in their checked luggage or pay for an extra checked item wouldn’t buy more wine than they could drink during their visit. Now they can take home some liquid souvenirs and spread awareness of wines from the more obscure producers. As a result, wineries are hoping to see more sales, both immediately and down the road as familiarity with their wines spreads. Some wineries previously have paid the extra bag fees or offered free shipping for their traveling customers, and this frees up some operating funds for them. They will also not need to worry about timing shipping to avoid hot temperatures which can damage the wine.

The promotion runs through Nov. 20, and it is unclear whether the offer will be extended or brought back at a future date. For now, it’s a great deal for visitors to the state during the perfect time of year to enjoy the beauty and bounty of its several wine regions.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor