THE GROUND UP
The Laurelwood District, Oregon.
Geology First. Windblown loess over volcanic basalt. Relentless wind. High elevation. In 2020, it became America's first appellation defined by geology, not just geography.
STRUCTURE
Relentless wind shapes loess and basalt soils
LIFT
High elevation lifts aromatics and acidity
DEPTH
Own-rooted old vines with decades of character
PIONEERING
Since 1970.
In the late 1960s, Dick Ponzi left a career designing rides for Disneyland and moved his family to an unknown valley in Oregon. He believed the cold winters, the wind, the rain could produce wines that could compete with the best of the old world. He fabricated his own equipment. He taught himself viticulture. Nobody was watching. Until Robert Parker tasted his wine and called it “a reference point for American Pinot Noir.”
1970
Established Oregon's third winery, helping pioneer a then-unknown wine region.
1975
Planted Abetina Vineyard in the Laurelwood District alongside Oregon State University.
1981
Introduced the first commercial Pinot Gris ever produced in the United States.
1983
The Pinot Noir Reserve changed Robert Parker's perception of Oregon wine forever.
1997
Co-founded LIVE Certification, now a global standard in sustainable farming practices.
2020
Championed the Laurelwood District, America's first AVA defined by its geology.
2021
Bollinger, Champagne's most storied house, chose Ponzi as their first property outside France.
2024
Max Bruening becomes Ponzi's third ever winemaker.
The Elements
Of Intention.
Own-rooted old vines. CCOF Certified Organic and LIVE Certified vineyards. Gravity-flow winemaking. Native yeasts. We embrace what each vintage gives us. And what it demands of us. The hard decisions. The quiet details. The patience to let time do its work. Every choice considered. All to reveal what was already there
The Tasting Room
What Different Looks Like.
A modern tasting room overlooking Avellana Vineyard and the Chehalem Mountains. More than half a century of pioneering, brought to the table. Wines shaped by the wind, lifted by the elevation, and made to be enjoyed. Come for the wine. Stay for what happens around it.
Everyone Is Welcome
Where Legacy Meets Culture
National Caviar Day with Petrossian. Wellness mornings with Barre3. Collabs with Portland and Oregon icons — G Love, Olympia Provisions, Rogue Creamery, pFriem. Sets from DJ OG TOO and Drae Slapz.
We work with people who hold the same standard — in their craft, their ingredients, and what they refuse to compromise on. Members get first access.
Oct 18th
Introduction to Mahjong
Join Lucky Ducks Mahjong for an afternoon introduction to the game. Learn the fundamentals of mahjong over a flight of Ponzi wines, with no prior experience required.
Nov 7, 2026
Rogue River Blue Dinner
Rogue Creamery, Ponzi Vineyards, Olympia Provisions, and pFriem Family Brewers come together for one night of Oregon craft at its finest.
NOV 15, 2026
Tasting Notes
an evening built around intentional pours, passed bites, intentional sound, and the community that brings it all together.