MENDIVIA WINES EVENTS

Mendivia Wines Brings Spanish Flair to Oregon  by Michael Alberty

Reviews of Our Spring '23 Releases in Paul Gregutt's NW Wine Guide

Colin has trekked through a host of different careers in the wine and spirits industry over the last 20 years.  The switch was flipped while working in the vineyards during the summers between college semesters at Basignani Winery in Baltimore County, Maryland.  After several years in the cellar and vineyards of Basignani, he moved to Oregon  in 2006 to join the harvest crew at the Carlton Winemakers’ Studio.  This was followed by stints at Erath and J. Christopher.  In 2009,  Colin took on an exciting opportunity to delve into spirits production at House Spirits Distillery (now Westward Distillery) in Portland,  where he grew into the Head Distiller role working with notable brands like Aviation Gin and Westward Whiskey.  

A step into the service side came when Colin and Holly opened their wine bar Oso Market + Bar in 2013.  Oso focused on a mix of creative and independent wine brands, both international and domestic.  The bar was sold after three wild and educational years and Colin moved on to  lead the Spirits Education and Curation program at Portland’s Multnomah Whiskey Library.  

Colin returned to winemaking in 2020  as the Assistant Winemaker at Day Wines in Dundee, OR.   

He currently works as the Associate Winemaker for GC Wines in Amity, OR, where Mendivia Wines are also produced

While Holly loves wine, she really knows business and how to get things done.  After 17 years in corporate operations, 8 of them as a Chief Operating Officer, Holly has a diverse tool kit in business management.

With Mendivia, she keeps our ducks in a tight row, and asks those tough, but important questions.  Every business needs an engine, and she keeps us on the track and picking up passengers along the way.