Ponzi Blog

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.

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. 

CHARITY OF THE MONTH - MAY 2018: HENDERSON HOUSE

THROUGHOUT MAY 2018, A PORTION OF EVERY TASTING FEE AT PONZI VINEYARDS WILL BE DONATED TO HENDERSON HOUSE.

Henderson House has been selected as our Charity of the Month. This organization is comprised of advocates, preventers, supporters and allies who develop programs to connect people to resources, educate about the realities of violence and sexual assault experiences, and shed light on social injustices. They provide a wide range of crucial services, including leading support groups, assisting clients with filling out protection order paperwork, assisting clients with escape from dangerous situations, and much more.

Their mission is to provide culturally aware outreach, education and services for victims of domestic and sexual violence through leadership, hope and respect for thriving families.

This organization was selected as our Charity of the Month by Val Hoxie, Operations and HR Manager at Ponzi Vineyards. “This is a cause close to my heart,” says Hoxie. “I think people tend to forget this is something that occurs all the time, to people in every walk of life. If there’s any chance to help, I’m in.”

We invite you to visit Ponzi Vineyards this month and join us in support of this valuable organization. A portion of every tasting fee will be donated to Henderson House.

• Learn more about Henderson House.
• Get directions to our Tasting Room, just 40 minutes from Portland.
• Read about our Tasting Room.

Celebrate The Laurelwood with the 2014 Sparkling Brut Rosé

The Laurelwood at Ponzi Vineyards is officially open!

To celebrate this grand occasion, we are releasing our 2014 Ponzi Sparkling Brut Rosé. Made from a blend of 70% Pinot noir and 30% Chardonnay grown in a Goldilocks vintage – not too hot, not too cold, not too rainy. Everything was just right! The fruit comes from our highest elevation site at Merten Vineyards and our oldest vines at the original Ponzi Estate Vineyard.

"An  aromatic nose of strawberry cream, crushed hibiscus and magnolia mingle with  hints of fresh cranberry and pastry cream. The broad mouth of dried apricot and quince is balanced by juicy acidity and a hint of Frangelico."
– Winemaker Luisa Ponzi

Ponzi Vineyards’ first sparkling wine production was in 1996 to celebrate the birth of the first Ponzi Grandchild. From that experience, and realization of the skill and labor that goes into sparkling wine, it was not repeated until 2008. That particular year was the first vintage at our new winery and a real cause for celebration. It made perfect sense to release the 2014 vintage to celebrate The Laurelwood, our stunning new hospitality space where modern elegance meets rustic roots set against stunning vineyard and valley view.

The 2014 Ponzi Sparkling Brut Rosé is available online and in our Tasting Room, located just outside Portland. We are open daily 11-5:30 pm. Stop in to visit and pick up a bottle of this special wine. Cheers to The Laurelwood!

To learn more about the process of making sparkling wine, check out our post on the bottling of the 2014 Ponzi Sparkling Brut Rosé.