The Organic Winegrowers Network:

More than just farmers drinking coffee.

Who We Are

We all wanted to be farmers when we grew up.  Now we’re an informal, grass-roots group of organic vineyard managers, viticulturists, and researchers from some of the best wineries and learning institutions in Oregon (and increasingly around the world).  Not all of us are certified organic, but we share in the conviction that the way to grow the best wine is by caring about the environment, the health of the soil and the well-being of our co-workers. 

What We Do

We are collectively improving our quality of life and wine by meeting as peers to discuss our successes and failures.  We ask for advice and give it to each other honestly.  We invite scientists to discuss their viticulture or related research. We correspond with colleagues from around the world to compare and discuss the practices of organic viticulture. We sit in a semicircle and don’t generally put up with lectures. Mostly we drink coffee, but occasionally there’s beer.  Some of us have sheep. All of these things help us to be better at our job of asking grapevines to produce delicious grapes.  

We think that the wines from organically grown grapes make better wine.

Why It’s Important

  • Good organic farming is better for the environment, increases biodiversity and improves climate resilience.  

  • Organic farming is safer for the people who work in the fields and the drinkers of wine.  

  • Organically grown grapes taste better and the wines made from certified organic grapes tend to get higher scores.  

  • The soil of organically farmed vineyards are healthier and can support a more vibrant microbiological diversity.  

  • Until now, there hasn’t been a seat at the table for organic farmers at the wine industry groups where consensus is built.

  • A peer-to-peer network is the most efficient and least annoying method of information transfer.  

  • We’re all getting better at growing grapes together.

Membership

Part of the organic farming movement is realizing that all around us are a vast web of communities and networks. So far, this group has only grown through word of mouth.  If you’re in Oregon, work in vineyard management and would like to attend one of our meetings, please reach out.  Even if you’re a bit too far away to make it to the Willamette Valley, if you’re an organic farmer of winegrapes, we’d love to hear from you and bring you into the group.  

Our Members

  • Bart Arnst, Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand and the Darling Wines

  • Eric Augerson, Willamette Valley Vineyards

  • Leigh Bartholomew, Results Partners

  • Morgan Beck, Johan Vineyards

  • Bryan Berenguer, Chemeketa Community College and Human Cellars

  • Peter Bierma, Sym-Agro

  • Shiloh Bolman, Atlas Vineyard Management

  • Shannon Cappellazzi, Oregon State University

  • Mimi Casteel, Hope Well Wines

  • Ted Casteel, Bethel Heights

  • Leti Catoira, Kendall Jackson

  • Nate Chambers, Oregon Vineyard Supply

  • Jason Cole, Pacific Crest Vineyard Services

  • Jessica Cortell, Vitis Terra Vineyard Services

  • Dai Crisp, Lumos and Temperance Hill 

  • Morgan Curtis, Valley Ag

  • Ariel Daly, Adelsheim Vineyards

  • Ben Dymecky, Abbey Road Farm

  • Peter Ebbers, Stirling Wine Grapes

  • Lauren Eisold

  • Daniel Estrin, Cristom

  • Mike Etzel, Beaux Frères

  • Stirling Fox, Stirling Wine Grapes

  • Jovanni Garcia, Pratum Co-Op

  • Ivan George, Ackley Brands

  • Nick Gianopolous, Bergstrom Wines

  • Mark Gibbs, Sym Agro

  • Russel Gladhart, Winter’s Hill Wine

  • Jackson Grom, Abbott Claim

  • Shea Guevara, Furioso

  • Megan Hall, Linfield University and Terroir Consulting

  • Carlo Hamacher, Paloma Farms

  • Brandon Hasart, Lingua Franca

  • Drew Hermann, Alexana

  • Omar Hernandez, Sokol Blosser

  • Nicole Jolliffe, A to Z

  • Vince Kelsey, Maypop Wines

  • Gareth King, Gott Wines

  • Mark Krasnow, Thoughtful Viticulture

  • Moriah LaChapell, Agronomist

  • Robert Lauer, Botoniety

  • Jason Lett, The Eyrie Vineyards

  • Jared Lloyd, Naked Grazing

  • Phil London, Cameron Vineyards

  • Garrett Long, Troon Vineyards

  • Miguel Lopez, Lingua Franca and AHIVOY

  • Michael Lundeen, Lundeen WInes

  • Walt Mahaffee, USDA

  • Joey Myers, the Stoller Group

  • Erica Miller, Argyle Winery

  • Karl Mohr, Jackson Family Winery

  • Mark Neal, Neal and Son

  • Scott Neal, Coeur de Terre

  • Erin Nuccio, Evesham Wood

  • Sarah O’Doherty, Results Partners

  • Shelby Perkins, Perkins Harter

  • Luisa Ponzi, Luisa Wines

  • Bruce Pratum, Pratum Farm Organic Hazelnuts

  • Jim Prosser, JK Carriere

  • Jay Pscheidt, Oregon State University

  • Patrick Ricks, Neal & Sons

  • Dan Rinke, Art & Science Wines

  • Madeleine Rowan-Davis, Antica Terra

  • Emily Rozga, Soter Vineyards

  • Rob Schultz, Lemelson Vineyards

  • Jacob Sembler, Walter Scott

  • Patty Skinkis, Oregon State University

  • Alex Blosser, Sokol Blosser

  • Mike Spath, Five Points Vineyard

  • Sam Stetser, Blackbird Vineyard Services

  • Bree Stock, Limited Addition

  • Abram Sutfin, Abbey Ridge

  • Rebecca Sweet, Buzz Cover Crops

  • Caine Thomson, Robert Hall Winery

  • Chad Vargas, Advantage Vines

  • Jennie Wayne, Abbey Ridge

  • Devin Weeks, Chateau Ste. Michelle

  • Clay Wesson, Ackley Brands

  • Amy Wong, Oregon Organic Coalition

  • Nathan Wood, Johan Vineyards

Would you like our help in setting up your own regional peer-to-peer network of organically-minded wine farmers?  There are a lot of resources out there, but it’s better for farmers to talk to farmers directly, so please reach out and we can help you start the process.  

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