Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/126443
DREW VOIT Haper Voit, Newberg Drew Voit has been making wine all his adult life. "I have no other marketable skills," jokes Voit, who moved to Oregon after graduating from U.C. Davis with a degree in fermentation science/enology. Though Voit has seen 20 vintages, he has recently ventured off on his own. In 2012, he left his position as winemaker at Shea Wine Cellars to dedicate himself to his own label, Harper Voit. Founded in 2009, Harper Voit now produces 800 cases of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Riesling. www.harpervoit.com JESSE SKILES Fausse Piste Winery and Sauvage Restaurant, Portland Part chef, part winemaker, Jesse Skiles is irresistibly charming and his wines and food are a relection of his personality. Skiles got his start working as the onsite chef for Owen Roe Winery in St. Paul, Oregon. The employees were given the opportunity to make their own wine, a beneit Skiles ran with. Skiles makes wines mostly from Rhône varieties with fruit from both Oregon and Washington. He started Fausse Piste in 2008 and is now distributed in seven states. In 2012, Skiles along with his business partners, opened Sauvage, an urban winery/restaurant. www.faussepiste.com / www. sauvagepdx.com 142 / the tasting panel / may 2013 PHOTO: MAYA VON GELDERN PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARCUS GOODFELLOW Matello Wines, McMinnville Marcus Goodfellow started his wine career as a wine steward/sommelier at Portland's Heathman Hotel and Restaurant. His transition to winemaking was due to his love of Oregon wines. "The community is such a unique blend of people," says Goodfellow, whose Matello wines (Italian for little fool) include Pinot Noir, Syrah, Pinot Gris and Viognier from the Willamette Valley. www.matellowines.com DAVID SPEAR Ambonnay Champagne Bar and Red Slate Wine Company, Portland In 2008, sommelier and business owner David Spear opened his Southeast Portland wine shop, Red Slate, after a successful home wine consulting and education business. "The business continued to grow and I needed a space to host bigger events and a place where clients could meet me," says Spears who also opened a champagne bar dutifully named Ambonnay in 2011. www.ambonnaybar.com / www.redslatewine.com SARAH CABOT Omero Cellars, Newberg and Carlton Omero Cellars winemaker, Sarah Cabot developed her passion for the wine business while working as a sommelier. After studying at Seattle's Northwest Wine Academy she landed her irst job as assistant winemaker at Belle Pente in Carlton. Three years later she became assistant winemaker at WillaKenzie Estate where she worked unit 2012 before committing 100% to her own brand, Omero Cellars. www.omerocellars.com JESSE KINCHELOE Community Plate and Walnut City Kitchen, McMinnville Jesse Kincheloe is the chef at McMinnville's Community Plate and Walnut City Kitchen. Both restaurants were created as a way to serve the community with local, seasonal foods. www.communityplate.com / www.walnutcitykitchen.com