Willamette Valley Wine Moms On What Makes Their Region Special

When Angelica O’Reilly, winemaker at Distaff Wine Co. and NOMEN first came to the Willamette Valley in 1990, she was impressed with the camaraderie that she discovered there. She remembers the days when most of the wineries were in what she calls an “entrepreneur stage,” a clutch of around 70 establishments compared to the approximately 700 that exist there today.

But even though the region has grown, the sense that this is a nurturing place remains and O’Reilly is not the only one that shares this feeling. “The sense of community in the Willamette Valley is like no other,” says Laura Laing, co-winemaker at Hazelfern Cellars. “I hope the future generations in the valley continue to embrace it!”

There is probably no other population focused on the next generation more than parents, and with Mother’s Day around the corner, winemaking moms of Willamette Valley share what makes their region so unique and their role in maintaining the treasures.

“The strong women of wine, both the forerunners and the new generation, collaborate to support one another, promote Oregon wine, and build healthy environments,” says Cheryl Francis, founding partner and winemaker for A to Z Wineworks and REX HILL. She says that building healthy environments is key to empowering the Willamette Valley for a bright future.

Anne Hubatch, winemaker at Helioterra Wines, calls the community that the wine industry has built the “the Oregon way.” She describes it as “open, sharing and inclusive.”

Michelle Seufert, co-winemaker at Seufert Winery says that the Willamette Valley offers residents and visitors an “authentic connection to the simple luxuries” in life, an atmosphere that she hopes to see preserved for the future, including her own daughters. “A beautiful sunset, toasting with fine wine to another day, connecting with existing and new friendships are wonderful daily joys I am able to experience in this region,” she says.

The Willamette Valley vibe is particularly suited to convey this experience to people traveling in Oregon to taste wine and bask in natural abundance, according to Morgan Beck, winemaker at Johan Vineyards. “At the core we are a community who cares deeply about what and why we do what we do,” she says.

Tracy Kendall, winemaker at Domaine Nicolas-Jay moved to the Willamette Valley from a urban setting, and she was tenderly surprised that the region and industry offered such a familial vibe. She says that this inclination has blossomed further over the years, particularly as her children have grown up in the community: “I love that anywhere I go, I will inevitably run into someone I know and have that strong sense of belonging. It’s a very special place.”

Best practices and leaders within the wine industry and other sectors must ensure that “we don’t harm our land and wildlife and are conscious of what they eat and drink,” says Tahmiene Momtazi, winemaker at biodynamically farmed Maysara Winery. The region is regarded as progressive when it comes to sustainability, with at least five different certifications at play in wineries around the valley, with many more practicing these methods as matter of course, without official certification.

Jessica Mozeico, co-founder of Et Fille Wines, says that when her daughter was born in 2015, her perspective on preservation was escalated, as she considered the legacy of the Willamette Valley for the next generation. “Our winery is inevitably tied to our land, seasons, and community,” she says. “It is our responsibility to leave them in a better place for our children.”

Willamette Valley Organizations Supporting Mothers and Families

Each of these winemaking mothers were asked to share an organization that they support or admire. Here’s what they said:

• We donate a portion of sales from our Gabriella Pinot Noir to the Providence Portland NICU where our family received care when my daughter was born two months prematurely. We also set aside a portion of full case sales of our Rosé to March of Dimes, which advocates for and funds prematurity research. ~ Jessica Mozeico, Et Fille Wines
• We believe in the ABC Foundation, which supports the local youth through educational based grants. ~ Michelle Seufert, Seufert Winery
• We support The One Barrel Challenge. This year we partnered alongside seven like-minded local wineries to create and to raise money for the Maurice Lucas Foundation to provide education opportunities for marginalized communities. The One Barrel Challenge is a collective dream of making Oregon’s wine industry more accessible and inclusive.  ~ Laura Laing, co-winemaker at Hazelfern Cellars
• Bâtonnage Mentorship Program has connected me with a few wonderful women looking to get into the viticulture, production, and regenerative farming community. One of these women will be working her first harvest with us for the upcoming 2021 vintage! I look forward to exploring more of what the organization has to offer for our community. ~ Morgan Beck, Johan Vineyards
• I love supporting ¡Salud!, Virginia Garcia, and Adelante Mujeres because they all help our vineyard workforce. ~ Anne Hubatch, Helioterra Wines
• Yamhill Community Action Partnership – YCAP is a wonderful organization that assists children, women, and families of all designations with both immediate assistance and the long term support to help themselves. It has a strong presence in the Willamette Valley and has enacted real change for the families who live here. ~ Tracy Kendall, Domaine Nicolas-Jay
• Our family and company loves being a partner with our local Habitat for Humanity. Every year, we host an event for McMinnville’s Women Build which raises funds mostly for women and their children in populations affected by poor living conditions. Women Build gives women the opportunity to make a positive impact and engages women to plan, fundraise, and build a safe, decent, affordable home for families. ~ Tahmiene Momtazi, Maysara Winery
• Maria Berglund, partner of our former long-time enologist, runs a nonprofit called In Kind Boxes. They make gift boxes filled with natural and organic bath and personal care items for new mothers. When you buy one of their gift boxes, they donate one to a mother in need. ~ Anna Welch Prost, associate winemaker for A to Z Wineworks and REX HILL