The Story of Gonzales Wine Company
While backpacking in Argentina, Cristina Gonzales stopped in Mendoza for dinner. The grilled steak was delicious, but it was the glass of Malbec that grabbed her attention.
That glass of Malbec stayed with Cristina, even after she returned home. Soon it called her away to work harvests around the globe, from Australia to California. She worked at the side of winemakers creating all manner of styles of wines, but she also bonded with the vineyard stewards who were raising and processing the grapes. Their expertise inspired her, and the shared language bonded them.
In 2010, almost ten years after that first fateful glass of Malbec, Gonzales Wine Company was born. Cristina began making wines that she herself loves to drink—aromatic whites, like Riesling and Gewürtztraminer, and bold reds, like Syrah and Petit Verdot. Her signature wine, made vintage after vintage, is of course Malbec.
What are “low intervention” wines?
We believe the most important work happens in the vineyard. Once we bring the grapes into the winery, we process them with minimal manipulation. This means our wines express the true character and terroir of the beautiful Pacific Northwest-grown grapes they are made from.
About the Winemaker
Cristina Gonzales is the granddaughter of migrant farm workers who moved to Wisconsin to pick cherries in search of a better life. She gained experience as a winemaker by jumping in headfirst and learning as she went—even when atop a forklift.
Cristina lives in Portland with her son Julian and their blue heeler, Bean.
In addition to being a winemaker, Cristina also serves on the Board of Directors of AHIVOY , the Oregon Wine Board, and is the co-founder of Community Wine Bar.
AHIVOY and Vineyard Stewards
While harvest-hopping and interning as a winemaker, Cristina quickly noticed that the expertise of the vineyard stewards was essential to winemaking, but their workplace environment didn’t always reflect that. Because she is bilingual, Cristina was able to bond with the vineyard stewards, and even advocate for accommodations for them, such as mats to stand on. Cristina is now the secretary of the Oregon nonprofit AHIVOY, which advocates for vineyard stewards. After all, there is no wine industry without them!
Community Wine Bar:
Tasting Room + Event Space
Cristina co-founded Community Wine Bar with RAM Cellars owner Vivianne Kennedy in 2023. The goal of Community Wine Bar is to create a space where everyone isn’t just invited, they’re accommodated for.