 Close ties were forged between horticulturalists at Oregon State University and notable French wine cultivation experts, such as Raymond Bernard at ONIVINS; this relationship gave Oregon vintners access to clones that California growers were not able to acquire.In 1987, the Drouhin family of Burgundy, one of France's highly regarded winemaking families, purchased in the North Willamette Valley, founding the Domaine Drouhin Oregon winery.In 1988, then-governor Neil Goldschmidt made an official visit to Burgundy.