Photos by Ashton Worthington
Christine Collier Clair, 32
Winery Director, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner, OR
A lifetime in Oregon wine
Clair has been a fixture at Willamette Valley Vineyards (WVV) since she sold friendship bracelets in the tasting room as a young girl. An internship there during her college years would help Clair to launch her own Southern Oregon brand after graduating, and, after a couple years spent at other area wineries, she now oversees all of WVV’s operations, from the vineyard to the sales room. Since returning to WVV, she has cofounded a new division, Oregon Estate Vineyards, where she spearheads an exploration to build boutique brands on some of the state’s most unique vineyard sites. She also helped lead Oregon Solidarity efforts in 2018, which helped Southern Oregon winegrowers whose purchase contracts were abruptly canceled due to suspicions of wildfire smoke taint. —Inset photo courtesy Andrea-Johnson Photography
