Tiquette Bramlett can still remember the wine that brought her to Oregon because, as she says, she could hear it. A white pinot noir with a lush texture and a creamy finish, it struck a chord with the trained opera singer. At first sip, Bramlett heard a mezzo soprano in her head. “She hit this high note that resonated,” she recalls. “It was bold and beautiful.”
So is Bramlett’s impact on Oregon wine. Inspired by that moment, the former vocalist — who once performed at the Sydney Opera House — relocated to the Willamette Valley to pursue winemaking. Nearly a decade later, she’s earned national recognition, including being named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year and founding Our Legacy Harvested, a nonprofit supporting diversity and access for BIPOC professionals in the wine industry.
In 2025 she launched Henderson Ave., a line of canned wines inspired by culture, community and approachability. “I know there are people who look like me who have been curious about this industry but weren’t sure where they would fit,” says Bramlett. “There are so many different avenues to follow.”
Across Oregon, a growing number of winemakers and spaces are widening that path. Here are some other wineries working to make the Oregon wine scene as diverse as the people who live here.
Next-Gen and Second-Act Winemakers
Named after the Spanish word for shining light, Alumbra Cellars is a Mexican American-owned winery near Dayton. Winemaker Elena Rodriguez carries forward the traditions of her father, founder Baudelio Rodriguez, who purchased land in 1996 and planted his first vines in 2005. Keep an eye out for special pop-ups with collaborators like chef Maylin Chavez of Nácar Oysters.
In Salem, Cuban-born Mauricio and Debra Collada bring Cuban flair to Cubanisimo Vineyards. Mauricio is a practicing neurosurgeon, but in 2003 he added winemaker to his impressive résumé. The tasting room keeps it fun, often pairing wine tastings with live music, yoga, painting and comedy shows. The duo is just one of the many Latino winemakers in Oregon.
Leo Gabica, who moved to Oregon from the Philippines in the early 1990s, found his calling during a 2000 harvest. He became the first employee at Eugene’s beloved Sweet Cheeks Winery in 2005 and now serves as head winemaker, crafting acclaimed wines — from zesty pinot gris to fruity gamay — alongside his son.
Near Cave Junction in Southern Oregon, Stephanie Pao has led winemaking at Foris Vineyards since 2017. With a background spanning from molecular biology to viticulture and enology — and experience across multiple countries —- she produces wines that reflect the distinct terroir of the wild Siskiyou Mountain region. Pao is especially known for her aromatic moscato and robust malbec.
And in historic Oakland, near the foothills of the Umpqua National Forest, Dexter and Marilyn Meadows operate Meadows Estate Vineyard & Winery. After careers that took them from California to Alabama, the couple turned retirement into a second act, transforming the former MarshAnne Landing Winery into a destination for Rhône- and Bordeaux-style varietals, including syrah, cabernet franc and their signature Cote du Umpqua.
Collaborative Winemakers and Portland’s Only Hip-Hop Winery
Just outside Portland in North Plains, Abbey Creek Vineyard stands out as Oregon’s first and only “hip-hop winery.” Founded by Bertony Faustin — the state’s first recorded Black winemaker — the space is relaxed and welcoming, with a mission to expand the community of wine lovers. As Faustin says in the documentary “Red, White and Black,” “Regardless of how important it is that I’m the first, I need to make sure I’m not the last.”
In Northeast Portland, Landmass Wines pours both sparkling and still wines crafted by queer couple Melaney Schmidt and Malia Myers. Alongside hosting inclusive events, the winery sets itself apart as the only one in Oregon producing all four sparkling-wine methods in-house: traditional, charmat, pétillant naturel and forced carbonation. Their popular sparkling chenin blanc continues to earn national acclaim.
CJ McCollum, a former Portland Trail Blazers star now with the Atlanta Hawks, co-founded McCollum Heritage 91 in partnership with Adelsheim, a pioneer in Oregon wine. The label reflects CJ’s passion for winemaking and a shared vision with his wife, Elise, to build a lasting legacy. In 2021 the couple acquired a 318-acre vineyard property in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, deepening their roots in Oregon. Today their wines are poured at the Carlton Winemakers Studio alongside fellow Willamette Valley producers.
Look for Chosen Family Wines on restaurant menus across the state. The label was founded by Channing Frye, a 2016 NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a former teammate, forward Kevin Love. After debuting with a collaboration with L’Angolo Estate, the brand has partnered with top wineries across the Pacific Northwest. Its mission is simple: Celebrate the deep bonds between friends and teammates — those who become family by choice.
Inclusive Wine Festivals and Bottles That Give Back
Lois and Dave Cho made history in 2020 with Cho Wines, Oregon’s first known Korean American-owned winery. Building on the momentum of their buzzy Hillsboro tasting room, Lois co-founded AAPI Food & Wine, a nonprofit amplifying Asian American and Pacific Islander voices across the industry.
Each May, in celebration of Oregon Wine Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, they host the AAPI Food & Wine Festival. This annual two-day event brings together a vibrant community of AAPI winemakers, chefs and sommeliers. Guests can enjoy inventive food and wine pairings, with a spotlight on Asian-owned and operated wineries alongside standout culinary talent like Portland’s Xiao Ye and Gado Gado.
In downtown Newberg, Et Fille Wines — French for “and daughter”— is led by Jessica Mozeico, a former biotech consultant who grew up making wine with her father. Now a certified B Corp, the winery is known for elegant pinot noirs and purpose-driven releases supporting causes like STEM education and neonatal care.
Remy Drabkin of Remy Wines, former mayor of McMinnville, has long championed community and inclusivity through wine. From her Dundee Hills tasting room and vineyard, where she grows rare Italian varietals like dolcetto and lagrein, she also helped launch Wine Country Pride, a multiday celebration featuring drag shows, block parties and parades. The Queer Wine Fest continues that energy each June with LGBQT+ winemakers pouring their best with live music and festivities.
