Ponzi Vineyards
History
In the late 1960s, Dick and Nancy Ponzi uprooted their young family from their home in Los Gatos, California to pursue a dream of producing world class Pinot Noir. After many research trips to Burgundy and an extensive search for the ideal location, they purchased 20 acres on a small farm just southwest of Portland, Oregon. Contrary to the existing school of thought, the Ponzis believed the climate, soil and vineyard site met every need of noble cool-climate grape varietals. The Ponzi family planted their first Pinot Noir cuttings, and in 1970, Ponzi Vineyards was founded.
The first four commercial barrels of Ponzi Pinot Noir were produced in 1974. Two years later, the wine was released to the Oregon market. Since then, Ponzi has become internationally acclaimed for its limited production Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Arneis, Dolcetto and White Riesling. Driven by the concept that the variety must match the terroir and climate, Ponzi Vineyards continues to set the standard for Oregon and remains at the forefront of the nation’s top wine producers.
The Ponzi family now owns 120 acres of vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of the North Willamette Valley. All vineyards are LIVE Certified, the world’s highest standard for sustainable viticulture. Additionally, Ponzi Vineyards continues to hold long-term contracts with many of the best growers in the region whose vineyards are also certified sustainable.
As pioneers and visionaries in the Oregon wine industry’s earliest moments, Dick and Nancy Ponzi played a key role in creating its foundation. Their many visits to the state legislature helped found some of the strictest labeling requirements in the country and helped gain state approvals allowing wineries and adjoining tasting rooms to be constructed on agricultural land — a first for Oregon. They helped found the Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Oregon Wine Advisory Board (currently known as the Oregon Wine Board), both of which are important organizations to this day in providing research and promotion. The family also established BridgePort Brewing Company in 1984, Oregon’s first craft brewery, and in 1998 established one of the state’s most notable regional wine bars and restaurants in Dundee.
Dick Ponzi’s winemaking talents, as well as his background as a mechanical engineer, led to the development of techniques and equipment that are now standard practices in the industry. Nancy Ponzi co-founded some of the most important and successful wine events in the state that have helped Oregon winemakers become substantial competitors in the industry; namely the International Pinot Noir Celebration, Oregon Pinot Camp and the Salud Barrel Auction to benefit healthcare for seasonal vineyard workers.
As the popularity of Oregon Pinot Noir and the Ponzi brand gained momentum, industry pioneers, Dick and Nancy Ponzi passed the reins to the second generation. In 1993, Luisa returned from her post-graduate enological studies in Beaune, France to take over her father’s role as winemaker. It was in this year that all three Ponzi children assumed full-time roles at the winery.
For nearly four decades, the Ponzis have set the standard for Oregon’s viticultural innovation while maintaining an unwavering commitment to a tradition of winemaking excellence. Today, this philosophy is carried on by the second generation: Winemaker Luisa Ponzi, Director of Sales & Marketing Maria Ponzi Fogelstrom and Director of Operations Michel Ponzi.
