One of the best things I’ve had the chance to learn about since moving to Oregon is AHIVOY - an education initiative aimed at offering vineyard stewards the chance to experience more of the state’s wine industry. I was delighted to be assigned to cover the graduation of the organization’s fourth cohort.

CLICK HERE to see the edited version that appeared in the June 2023 issue of the Oregon Wine Press, including a translation into Spanish.

“You want to know your role… ‘why am I doing this?’” said Miguel López, owner of Red Dirt Vineyard Management.  “When somebody turns around and says: ‘here are the whys,’ you're like, okay, cool, I can do that.”

The goal of increasing the understanding of Oregon’s vineyard stewards led López, along with Sofía Torres-McKay, the late Jesús Guillén and his spouse, Yuliana Cisneros-Guillén, to found AHIVOY (Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad / Hispanic Association of the Wine Industry in Oregon and the Community).  The organization’s fourth cohort of 15 participants celebrated their graduation at a mid-day event on April 26 hosted by Four Graces Winery.  About 40 friends and supporters gathered for the occasion, enhanced by Four Graces’ wines and lunch provided by Vindulge and Pix Pâtisserie.

The vineyard stewards spent 16 weeks learning about what happens after the grapes that they nurture leave the vineyard.  Their bilingual curriculum included instruction in vineyard management, winemaking, marketing, distribution and tasting room hospitality.  Held during the winter, when work in the vineyards slows, the workers were recommended for the program by their employers and were paid for the time they spent learning.

AHIVOY is a non-profit organization led by a volunteer board that recruits experienced wine industry professionals as instructors.  Chemeketa Community College and Linfield University also provide support.

The program's goal of fostering a broader knowledge of Oregon’s wine industry exists alongside the hope that, in the process, vineyard stewards will become aware of ways that their own careers might develop. Now that over 50 individuals have completed the AHIVOY curriculum, that hope is being realized.

Alejandro Avalos participated in the first AHIVOY cohort in 2019.  He came to the program with ten years of vineyard experience, but he credits the program with introducing him to new people in the wine community and showing him that “there's a lot more out there… more opportunities, more growth.”  He now manages a crew of 14, working on over 500 acres, in his role as a regional manager for Results Partners – one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading vineyard management companies.  Results Partners sent four students to this year’s class.

At the graduation, cohort member José Ortiz reflected on the value of forming a community in which everyone grows together.  He looks forward to the ways that these professional connections will continue after this year’s class disbands. “I can call my friends and say, ‘I have this kind of problem,’ and we can help each other,” he said.

López presented each participant with a certificate of completion and a wine gift provided by Argyle Winery.  As each one came forward, he reflected on the growth and potential he had recognized in them as he observed each of the class sessions.  “You are the future of the valley,” he said.  “I’m really excited to see you grow.”