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Oregon Wine Board announces new appointments

22 January 2024 By Louis Thomas

The state agency that manages marketing and research for Oregon’s wine industry has announced several new appointments to its board.

Taking the role of board chair is Dr. Greg Jones, CEO of Abacela in Umpqua Valley, in the south of the state, since summer 2021. Jones’ PhD research concerned grapevine phenology in Bordeaux. His predecessor as board chair, Justin King, has now been named as the Oregon Wine Board’s chair emeritus.

Three other appointments have also been revealed.

Anna Maria Ponzi, a wine author (known for her memoir Pinot Girl) and speaker, is also the former president of Willamette Valley’s Ponzi Vineyards (founded by her parents). She currently co-owns Issimo Vineyard in Laurelwood District with her husband, Brett Fogelstrom.

Also joining the board is Austin Kraemer, who, alongside his brother Ben, manages Kraemer Farms’ three vineyards in the Willamette Valley.

The third appointment announced was Adam Ramirez, of Coventry Valley Vineyards, a custom crush facility that can apparently process 40 tonnes of grapes per annum and store 3.8 million cases of wine.

They replace Donna Morris (Winderlea Vineyard), Bob Morus (Phelps Creek Vineyards), and Dennis O’Donoghue (Celtic Moon Vineyards), whose terms on the Oregon Wine Board have now concluded.

Gina Bianco is due to take up the position of executive director from 1 February. She was previously executive director of the Rogue Valley Vintners Association, which seeks to promote southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley AVA.

Bianco apparently came top of the 87 applicants for the role at the Oregon Wine Board, with Wine Business reporting Jones remarking: “She stood out as someone who could step up to the plate in any environment, build consensus, and address challenges and opportunities.”

King also echoed these sentiments: “Gina has always recognised the interconnected nature of Oregon’s wine geography, and the overarching goal of uplifting the entire state…She has the leadership and personal skills required to move the industry forward in unity, and to help the Oregon Wine Board provide ever-greater benefit to all.”

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