Place
The Laurelwood District, Oregon.
Geology First. Windblown loess over volcanic basalt. Relentless wind. High elevation. In 2020, it became America's first appellation defined by geology, not just geography.
STRUCTURE
Relentless wind shapes loess and basalt soils
LIFT
High elevation lifts aromatics and acidity
DEPTH
Own-rooted old vines with decades of character
TIME
1970 Onward
In the late 1960s, Dick Ponzi left a career designing rides for Disneyland and moved his family to an unknown valley in Oregon. He believed the cold winters, the wind, the rain could produce wines that could compete with the best of the old world. He fabricated his own equipment. He taught himself viticulture. Nobody was watching. Until Robert Parker tasted his wine and called it “a reference point for American Pinot Noir.”
1970
Established Oregon's third winery, helping pioneer a then-unknown wine region.
1975
Planted Abetina Vineyard in the Laurelwood District alongside Oregon State University.
1981
Introduced the first commercial Pinot Gris ever produced in the United States.
1983
The Pinot Noir Reserve changed Robert Parker's perception of Oregon wine forever.
1997
Co-founded LIVE Certification, now a global standard in sustainable farming practices.
2020
Championed the Laurelwood District, America's first AVA defined by its geology.
2021
Bollinger, Champagne's most storied house, chose Ponzi as their first property outside France.
2024
Max Bruening becomes Ponzi's third ever winemaker.
The Right Wine
Always With Intention
Own-rooted old vines. CCOF Certified Organic and LIVE Certification. Gravity-flow winemaking. Native yeasts. Only the third winemaker in over 54 years. Wines that taste like the elements. Of the place.
The Right Place
Always In Season
For the curious. The unhurried. A modern tasting room rooted in over half a century of intention. Overlooking Avellana Vineyard and the Chehalem Mountains. The wines are built for the table — structured by the wind, lifted by the elevation.
The Right Time
Always Good Company
National Caviar Day with Petrossian. Wellness mornings with Barre3. Collabs with Portland and Oregon icons — G Love, Canard, Rogue River, pFriem. Sets from DJOG2 and Drae Slapz.
We work with people who hold the same standard — in their craft, their ingredients, and what they refuse to compromise on. Members get first access. Everyone is welcome.
AUG 8, 2026
Barre3
Enjoy a balanced, full-body workout — every level welcome — followed by complimentary grazing boards and half-price wine flights.
Aug 21, 2026
The Suitcase Dinner
Join us for an intimate evening of Japanese wagyu sourced through a third-generation Japanese butcher, each course intentionally paired.
Sept 19, 2026
Rogue River Release
Rogue Creamery, Ponzi Vineyards, Olympia Provisions, and pFriem Family Brewers come together for one night of Oregon craft at its finest.