Ponzi Blog

Stewardship: 3 Certified-Sustainable Oregon Wineries

The history of Oregon’s wine country is rooted in a deep respect for the land. The founding wineries of the Willamette Valley built their businesses on principles of sustainability. They took their roles as stewards of the land seriously, and from day one they implemented practices that nurtured both the environment and the people who worked in the vineyards and wineries. You can explore this history further on the Willamette Valley Wineries Association’s website. If you would like to do a tasting tour supporting sustainable wineries, you have a lot of options. We suggest starting with these three.

Stop 1: Ponzi Vineyards
19500 SW Mountain Home Road, Sherwood
(503) 628-1227
www.ponzivineyards.com

Founded by Dick and Nancy Ponzi in 1970, Ponzi Vineyards is now owned and operated by their daughters, Luisa and Anna Maria Ponzi. Their vineyards are LIVE Certified, and they hold long-term contracts with some of the best growers in the region whose vineyards are also certified sustainable. They are Salmon Safe, members of the Carbon Reduction Challenge, utilize cover crops for weed suppression and fertilizers, and operate a four-level gravity-flow winery that was one of the first Oregon facilities awarded the LIVE Winery Certification, meeting LIVE specifications for an eco-friendly building and sustainable winemaking practices. Just 40 minutes from Portland, it’s a must-see.

Stop 2: Rex Hill
30835 OR-99W, Newberg
(503) 538-0666
www.rexhill.com

For your next stop, it’s a quick trip to Newberg to visit Rex Hill. Established in 1982, they were purchased by A to Z Wineworks in 2007. Rex Hill has practiced sustainability from its outset. Their vineyards and winery are LIVE certified and they work with their independent growers to help them farm organically. Their Jacob-Hart Vineyard is Demeter-certified Biodynamic, a philosophy of stringent organic farming practices that considers the physical, energetic and spiritual aspects of farming.

Stop 2: Penner-Ash Cellars
15771 NE Ribbon Ridge Road, Newberg
(503) 554-5545
www.pennerash.com

Your last stop was founded by the legendary Lynn Penner-Ash and her husband, Ron. Penner-Ash was the first female winemaker hired in Oregon at none other than your previous stop, Rex Hill. In 1998, she began crafting her own wines, finally moving into her own sustainable, energy-conserving, gravity-flow winery in 2005. The design of the building takes into consideration ergonomics, putting worker health and safety foremost by eliminating the need for heavy lifting thanks to a system of catwalks and forklifts. Their Estate Vineyard is LIVE Certified and Salmon Safe, as are many of the vineyards they work with via independent growers.

Jan 16, 2019 at 1:11 PM Permalink

A Look Inside The Laurelwood Photoshoot

We hope you enjoy this peek inside The Laurelwood. Designed specifically for private events, we try to keep some of the details, well, private, so as not to spoil the big reveal for guests arriving at your celebration. But we couldn't help but share a few from this very special photoshoot.

Built to honor Founders Dick and Nancy Ponzi, every detail of The Laurelwood was thoughtfully designed to reflect our rustic roots while moving confidently forward into a bright future. This one-of-a-kind place is the perfect setting for any celebration.

To view the entire space, please contact events@ponzivineyards.com or call (503) 628-1227 to schedule a tour. Read more about this space and private events here. 

To view the entire space, please contact events@ponzivineyards.com or call (503) 628-1227 to schedule a tour. Read more about this space and private events here. 

Jun 29, 2018 at 9:45 AM Permalink

The Laurelwood at Ponzi Vineyards

The Laurelwood at Ponzi Vineyards is a Willamette Valley hospitality space like no other! We recently had an open house to unveil the space to friends and family, and were fortunate to try these beautiful wines from the cellars of our friends: 1980, 1985 and 1986 Ponzi Pinot Noirs. They were the perfect highlight at the celebration of this space that pays homage to our past while moving forward into the future. And they were delicious! It was so wonderful to see the aging power of these amazing Pinot noirs.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and continues to provide us with love and support. It was such a pleasure to have you all in one room!

Please enjoy this gallery of the open house event. Nestled within the vineyard, with stunning views of the Chehalem Mountains, The Laurelwood is the perfect wine country destination for meetings, retreats and other important gatherings. You can read more here about the space and the elevated hospitality experience provided to every guest at Ponzi Vineyards. For more information or to book your next event, contact events@ponzivineyards.

We'll be posting a beautiful gallery of images of The Laurelwood soon. Stay tuned!

THE LAURELWOOD OPEN HOUSE

Jun 27, 2018 at 11:03 AM Permalink

Meet the Maker: Artist Barbara Rawls

The Laurelwood at Ponzi Vineyards is a wine country hospitality space like no other. Every detail has been thoughtfully planned and even the smallest element has been crafted to reflect the history, values and aesthetics of Ponzi Vineyards and the Willamette Valley. Dedicated to supporting local makers, the Ponzi Family found the perfect visual artist for this project with fine art painter Barbara Rawls.

Previously working in ceramics, Rawls has been painting for 15 years. She works primarily with acrylic, sometimes also incorporating plaster, charcoal, collage and graphite to create complex layers. She marks the work with scribing and scraping tools. “To create history and depth in the surface,” Rawls says.

It’s this depth of history that makes Rawls the right choice for The Laurelwood, a space that pays homage to a rustic past while looking forward into the future. Rawls’ husband once lived at the Ponzi Historic Estate and helped with some of the first vines planted by Ponzi Vineyards. This long connection between the families gives Rawls a truly personal perspective on The Laurelwood and enabled her to create a piece that fit perfectly into the space.

The painting is a triptych and blends abstract landscape with realism, with the Ponzi Historic Estate set among contemporary forms. Larger than most of her work, it is prominently displayed behind the marble bar in The Pearl Room, the intimate reception area of The Laurelwood.

“The space works really well for my piece,” states Rawls, “with the lighting and the dark wall and the marble.”

This is not the first work Rawls has created for Ponzi Vineyards: two other pieces are displayed in the Tasting Room, where Rawls’ abstract, color-driven shapes complement the modern lines of the room’s design.

The triptych created for The Laurelwood is a perfect match for this hospitality space grounded in a legacy that has had such an influence on Oregon history and that endures into the future. Rawl’s work resonates that concept by grounding images of the past in strong colors, shapes and textures. In selecting artists and craftspeople for The Laurelwood, Ponzi Vineyards looked for not just skill, but also for people who have an intrinsic understanding of the area and its culture, and who contribute to the elevation of the region’s prominence through their work. Joining Rawls on that roster are a gifted woodworker, ceramicist and metalworker. The synergy of their creations is unique, yet reflective of the past, making The Laurelwood truly one of a kind.

To inquire about The Laurelwood, contact events@ponzivineyards.com or call (503) 628-1227.

• You can view more of Rawls’ work on her website.
• Read about Sarah Wolf of Wolf Ceramics, who crafted our stunning dinnerware.
• Celebrate The Laurelwood with us with the 2014 Ponzi Sparkling Brut Rosé. 

Jun 4, 2018 at 1:58 PM Permalink

Meet the Maker: Woodworker Finn Enger

The Laurelwood at Ponzi Vineyards is a wine country hospitality space like no other. Every detail has been thoughtfully planned and even the smallest element has been crafted to reflect the values and aesthetics of Ponzi Vineyards and the Willamette Valley. Dedicated to supporting local makers, the Ponzi Family found the perfect woodworker for this project with Finn Enger.

Enger is a highly skilled finish carpenter and woodworker who has worked with Ponzi Vineyards before on other projects. He works primarily on custom projects doing specialty work, such as with The Laurelwood, where his attention to detail was a crucial skill.

“We take extreme care in making sure things are accurate and put together in the highest possible way,” says Enger of himself and his team.

Ponzi Vineyards is pleased to have partnered with Enger for some of the most impressive features of our new hospitality space, The Laurelwood. The design of The Laurelwood pays tribute to founders Dick and Nancy Ponzi while moving forward into the future under the leadership of sisters Anna Maria and Luisa Ponzi.

The unique elements of The Laurelwood provided Enger with plenty of challenges. Of the large, converging pocket doors, Enger says, “[It] was a pretty interesting endeavour, because there was a lot of detail involved in getting the doors to operate properly.” He laughs, “And they were extremely heavy. It’s … a cool design that turned out really nice.”

One of the most striking features of The Laurelwood is the barreled ceiling that stretches uninterrupted for the length of the space. “[It] really stands out as a different feature from other projects that I’ve worked on,” says Enger.

His other favorite detail? “The oak foyer is a cool feature--very warm feeling, very inviting.”

The warmth of the wood is a perfect match for this hospitality space inspired by the original home of the Ponzi Family. In selecting artists and craftspeople for The Laurelwood, Ponzi Vineyards looked for not just skill, but also for people who have an intrinsic understanding of the area and its culture, and who contribute to the elevation of the region’s prominence through their work. Joining Enger on that roster are a gifted metalworker, ceramicist, architect and painter. The synergy of their creations is unique, yet reflective of the past, making The Laurelwood truly one of a kind.

“It’s nice to see it all come together,” says Enger.

To inquire about The Laurelwood, contact events@ponzivineyards.com or call (503) 628-1227.

• Read about Sarah Wolf of Wolf Ceramics, who crafted our stunning dinnerware.
• Get a look at some of the beautiful details of The Laurelwood. 
• Celebrate The Laurelwood with us with the 2014 Ponzi Sparkling Brut Rosé.

May 30, 2018 at 9:23 PM Permalink

Meet the Maker: Metalworker Jeff Whitaker of Jeffmade

The Laurelwood at Ponzi Vineyards is a wine country hospitality space like no other. Every detail has been thoughtfully planned and even the smallest element has been crafted to reflect the values and aesthetics of Ponzi Vineyards and the Willamette Valley. Dedicated to supporting local makers, the Ponzi Family found the perfect metalworker for this project with Jeff Whitaker of Jeffmade.

Whitaker has been working with metal for 25 years, initially as an artist using it to express abstract ideas. Taking inspiration from the natural world, he made objects that looked as though they had been grown or eroded rather than made with tools. He began receiving requests to use his skills to craft more utilitarian objects. Though he resisted at first, seeing such projects as a potential distraction from his artistic work, he discovered there was not a compromise at all between art and function. Rather, he discovered he enjoyed working within project parameters.

He now takes on a variety of projects, striving for elegant design utilizing these powerful materials to create something that remains beautiful forever. This devotion to his craft has attracted a client list that reads like a “Best of Portland” list: Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons, Mediterranean Exploration Company and Pine State Biscuits, to name just a few.

Ponzi Vineyards is very pleased to have partnered with Jeffmade for some of the most impressive features of our new hospitality space, The Laurelwood. The design of The Laurelwood pays tribute to founders Dick and Nancy Ponzi while moving forward into the future under the leadership of sisters Anna Maria and Luisa Ponzi. Whitaker’s work resonates that concept with elegant designs grounded in strong materials that still possess their natural characteristics.

Whitaker initially worked with Ponzi Vineyards during our construction of the Tasting Room, creating the door hardware and fireplace screen. It was a natural choice to bring him back to work on The Laurelwood. For this ambitious project, he created the fireplace that is the focal point of the space, as well as the door hardware, the metal facing, and the truly impressive display cabinet.

The permanence of steel is such a perfect match for this hospitality space grounded in a legacy that has had such an influence on Oregon history and that endures into the future. In selecting artists and craftspeople for The Laurelwood, Ponzi Vineyards looked for not just skill, but also for people who have an intrinsic understanding of the area and its culture, and who contribute to the elevation of the region’s prominence through their work. Joining Whitaker on that roster are a gifted woodworker, ceramicist and architect. The synergy of their creations is unique, yet reflective of the past, making The Laurelwood truly one of a kind.

To inquire about The Laurelwood, contact events@ponzivineyards.com or call (503) 628-1227.

• You can view more of Whitaker’s work on his website.
• Read about Sarah Wolf of Wolf Ceramics, who crafted our stunning dinnerware. 
• Get a look at some of the beautiful details of The Laurelwood. 

May 11, 2018 at 11:41 AM Permalink

Ponzi Vineyards 2017 Harvest

It is a rainy, blustery day at the vineyard today, which makes us nostalgic for the golden days of last year's harvest.

Many will remember 2017 as a rollercoaster year: devastating wildfires, hurricanes, an incredible solar eclipse. Ponzi Vineyards was spared from the smoke caused by fires in the Columbia River Gorge and when harvest approached, luck continued to be on our side with plentiful winds protecting the grapes on over-warm days. And then it was Harvest Day, and "beautiful" was the word spoken most often by Luisa, our winemaker. And the fruit! So much fruit! The crop was abundant.

With big wistful sighs, we present our video of these happy-busy days. Enjoy!

Jan 11, 2018 at 3:53 PM Permalink

Introducing the new 2017 ROSÉ with Wine Pairing 101.

What: Wine Pairing 101: Dinner at Ponzi Vineyards
When: Saturday, February 10th, 7pm
Details: $125. Limited to 50 guests
 

Where: Ponzi Vineyards: 
19500 SW Mountain Home Road, 
Sherwood, OR 97140

Just in time for Valentine's Day. Ponzi Vineyards will be setting the table for a food and wine filled night to remember. 

Taste your way to becoming proficient in selecting the perfect wine for any meal. Learn the tricks of the trade from Culinary Director, Thomas Ghinazzi, as you explore Ponzi wines and vintages expertly paired with a variety of seasonal dishes.

This popular evening is topped off with the release of the Ponzi Pinot Noir Rosé & Rosé magnums. Join us for a fun, festive, and elegant dining experience in the heart of Oregon's wine country.

PLEASE RSVP BY FEB. 3
($125 / ticket. Limited to 50 guests. Sells out early.)

Dec 28, 2017 at 2:13 PM Permalink

#pzharvest2017 Update - The Wines Show Promise!

"The weather predictions were not great this year," laughs Ponzi Winemaker Luisa Ponzi. "We were looking at a really beautiful October of clear skies and nice cool temperatures, and it ended up being mostly that, but also there was some pretty intense rain." Watch the video to learn more about the 2017 harvest season at Ponzi Vineyards.

Nov 8, 2017 at 1:00 PM Permalink

Hospitality Space Update - Opening in March!

At Ponzi Vineyards Collina del Sogno, harvest is winding down. Only a few pretty yellow leaves remain on the vines. The skies offer a kaleidoscope of constantly changing gray fog, bright cobalt and sunshine and stormy dark rainclouds. In the tasting room, guests cozy up to the warm fireplace and sip complex Ponzi wines. 

The flurry of harvest activity is slowing, but the construction on the new hospitality space is still moving full steam ahead. The front lawn has been planted, and the siding installed. The windows are in and so far, things are going according to plan. Brett Fogelstrom of Fogelstrom Design Build has done a beautiful job!

 The new hospitality space, opening in March 2018, will provide Ponzi guests with a comfortably luxurious space to entertain. Reservations are already booking for this space, so don't miss your opportunity to experience all we have to offer. Contact kati@ponzivineyards.com with questions or to book the space.

Nov 7, 2017 at 10:44 AM Permalink