Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, established the Oregon Wine History Archive (OWHA) in 2011. The OWHA has the singular mission of preserving and sharing the history of the wine industry in Oregon. They collect paraphernalia and stories from all of Oregon’s wine regions and from persons involved at the different stages of wine production, from growers to sommeliers.
The Ponzi Family and Ponzi Vineyards have been a substantial portion of that rich history, having established one of the first vineyards in Oregon in 1970. An innovative pioneer, the Ponzi Family recognized the potential of Pinot noir and Chardonnay in the state, and were instrumental in establishing important organizations like ¡Salud! and the Oregon Wine Board, lobbying legislature on behalf of the burgeoning wine industry. They were in every way at the forefront of establishing the Willamette Valley, the state of Oregon and even the US as a formidable producer of quality wine.
The OWHA sat down with Luisa Ponzi to document her experiences as a second-generation vintner and woman winemaker, to discuss the changes she’s witnessed amongst local vineyards and to share some thoughts and advice for the future. It’s a wonderful oral history, and Ponzi Vineyards is proud to be a cornerstone of Oregon’s legacy.
Explore Luisa Ponzi’s 2014 Classico Pinot Noir and the 12 exceptional Vineyards she selected as Willamette Valley’s truest expression of that memorable year in our 2014 Classico Map!
We aren’t in it for the accolades, but we can’t help that they keep giving them to us! The 2015 Ponzi Avellana Chardonnay won a remarkable 95 points from The Tasting Panel Magazine.
The key to good wine is good vineyard practices. Read more about when and why we prune the vines.
The Laurelwood at Ponzi Vineyards, our stunning new hospitality space, is nearing completion. The final details are coming together beautifully. The design and construction of The Laurelwood is by Fogelstrom Design Build. Architect Brett Fogelstrom also designed our tasting room and is the husband of Ponzi Vineyards President Anna Maria Ponzi. He shared with us a little bit about the elements of his design.
We are booking events in The Laurelwood now! Be one of the first to host your guests in this Oregon Wine Country destination. Contact us at events@ponzivineyards.com today for more information or to schedule a tour to see this space up close for yourself.