Anna Maria Ponzi
Co-owner, President and Director of Sales & Marketing for Ponzi Vineyards
Second generation vintner Anna Maria Ponzi, of Ponzi Vineyards, had no shortage of exciting news to share during our recent Instagram Live chat. Her parents, Dick and Nancy Ponzi, uprooted their family in the late 1960s to pursue a dream of producing world-class Pinot Noir. True pioneers, the Ponzis were among the first to see the potential of Oregon's Willamette Valley to produce wines of exceptional quality and character. They founded their namesake winery in 1970, and fifty years later their well-earned reputation as one of America's finest and most innovative wineries is stronger than ever.
Watch the video of my chat with Anna Maria above, on YouTube, or on Instagram to learn more about the Ponzi family's winemaking journey. Anna Maria also shared info about her new memoir, Pinot Girl: A Family. A Region. An Industry. We also discussed the new Laurelwood District AVA; the Ponzi family played a pivotal role in the establishment of this latest American Viticultural Area within the Willamette Valley.
“They described Pinot Noir as a thoughtful wine saying something about how it didn’t call attention to itself–instead it quietly seduced the drinker with its hints of black cherry, mild cigar, and cedar. They would go on and on about how one sip invited complex flavors into the mouth and how hints of earth, mushroom, plum, meat, and truffles could be detected. It all sounded pretty weird to us. We just giggled and made faces when they described how wine tasted like food.” - excerpt from Pinot Girl
Maria's sister, Luisa, assumed winemaking duties from their father in 1993 and Ponzi Vineyards is the nation’s only winery solely owned and operated by second generation sisters.
During our conversation we tasted Ponzi Chardonnay Reserve 2016 ($42) and Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve 2016 ($65). Both wines are beautifully balanced, expressive, and elegant. Maria shared wonderful tasting notes during our chat. You can also click the wine bottle images to view the detailed descriptions on the Ponzi website.
