Tualatin Valley’s Winemakers
Passion in a Wine Bottle: Meet the Winemakers
The winemakers who have planted Pinot roots in Tualatin Valley’s ideal wine region are both innovative and approachable. It’s a common sight for a vintner to be in a tasting room, welcoming and talking with visitors to offer a firsthand account of the winemaking process.
The passion of these artisans can be tasted in every glass of Oregon wine, from Pinot Noir to Chardonnay and the several varietals in between. Raise a glass to the friendly Oregon-style hospitality found in this region, while we introduce you to those who are creating magic in a barrel.
Videos
Bertony Faustin
David Nemarnik and Tom Fitzpatrick
Alfredo Apolloni
Dana and Nick Blizzard
John Platt
Scott and Annie Shull
Steve Vuylsteke and Takumi Kuwabara
Patton Valley Vineyard
Derek Einberger brings an eclectic and unfettered approach to winemaking and has cultivated a portfolio of wines that are at once playful and elegant.
Ruby Vineyard & Winery
Stephen Hendricks, owner (and tractor operator) of Ruby Vineyard & Winery, fulfilled a lifelong dream when he purchased this vineyard estate in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Dion Vineyard
Dion Vineyard has a long history. The vineyard was started in 1973 by Ron and Joanne Johnson. Ron's father also was a winegrower in Yakima Valley. Ron and Joanne started their vineyard, a five-acre piece of land, which grew to an abundant 60 acres.
Cooper Mountain Vineyards
Gilles de Domingo has been Cooper Mountain Vineyards' winemaker for more than 12 years. This French-born winemaker was born to make wine, as he started his career helping his family crush grapes at the family estate vineyard winery.
Raptor Ridge Winery
Scott Shull has started making wine for his own label, Raptor Ridge, in 1995. Today Scott and his wife Annie are continuing to help grow the winery.
Blakeslee Vineyard Estate
Love of the earth and good wine, plus entrepreneurial spirit are what brings Bill and Sheila Blakeslee’s wines to life. Oregon natives, Bill and Sheila purchased their hillside vineyard property in 2005, with the idea of selling the fruit to other wineries.
Helvetia Winery
In 1980, attorney John Platt and Elizabeth Furse, who served as congresswoman in the United State House of Representatives from 1993-1999, purchased a farm in the rural community of Helvetia. When the time came to plant crops, they decided to plant wine grapes.
Abbey Creek Winery
Bertony Faustin, owner of the Abbey Creek Winery, is passionate about wine. Using grapes grown on the estate vineyard, Bertony has been producing and selling his Abbey Creek wines since 2008.
Ponzi Vineyards
Established in 1970, Ponzi Vineyards was among the first Oregon wineries to produce estate-grown Pinot Noir. Today, it is one of the largest wineries in the state, and its signature wines are produced under the direction of winemaker Luisa Ponzi, one of several second-generation Oregon winemakers in the Willamette Valley.
Alloro Vineyard
Tom Fitzpatrick has been making wine for Alloro Vineyard for more than six years. His winemaking experience, though, can be counted in decades, as his winemaking career started Washington State, and led him to New Zealand’s Hunter’s Wines, then to Napa Valley, California.
Apolloni Vineyards
Alfredo Apolloni began his wine and vine experience growing up and working each summer in his family vineyards in Italy, south of Venice. Determined to carry on the tradition of winemaking and wanting his children to have a similar childhood, he co-founded Apolloni Vineyards with his wife, Laurine, in 1999.
Plum Hill Vineyards
When RJ and Juanita Lint discovered a derelict dairy farm in Gaston, they envisioned an estate vineyard winery. With hands-on experience and knowledge gained by volunteering at nearby Kramer Vineyards, the Lints started their own vineyard.
