At the 2023 Oregon Wine Symposium, Alejandro Avalos, a past student of AHIVOY, stood out as a recipient of the Vineyard Excellence Award. AHIVOY, a program dedicated to empowering vineyard stewards through education, recognized Alejandro for his exceptional work as Vineyard Manager for Results Partners. Alongside him, seven other industry leaders were honored for their significant contributions to Oregon's wine industry, showcasing the dedication and innovation driving the state's wine culture forward.

The days of wine being just for old white men are over. The American wine business is finally changing with the times and with that comes an industry much more reflective of its surroundings. The Latinx community in particular has long been a part of the American wine landscape, but all too often overshadowed or marginalized.Make way for AHIVOY, an organization based in the Willamette Valley looking to keep the industry properly represented. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the Oregon wine community by empowering vineyard stewards through education. It’s an incredible cause worthy of year-round attention and especially so now as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad (AHIVOY) is seeking sponsors and bidders for its 3rd annual online auction to support education. Sponsors are invited to contribute now. Registration is open for bidders now with bids accepted online from 13 to 15 October 2022.

On April 27, 15 men completed the Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad, or AHIVOY. The Wine Industry Professional Training Program is the third – and largest – cohort to do so. While many of the 2022 graduates worked in the vineyards for over a decade, José Garcia, The Eyrie Vineyards manager, trained and pruned vines for 35 years. The ceremony included this year’s program graduates, their employers, instructors and AHIVOY board members.

Two were born in Mexico and one in the US to parents from Oaxaca. Each had carved a path to success in Oregon’s wine industry and wanted to pay it forward by easing the way for those at the beginning of the winemaking process, the vineyard steward. An association they created not that long ago has been fulfilling their vision.

AHIVOY Vineyard Steward Education By Cila Warncke AHIVOY’s founding team comprised winemaker Jesús Guillén, his wife Yuliana Cisneros-Guillén, vineyard owner Sofia Torres-McKay and Miguel Lopez. “We wanted to do something for [vineyard] stewards. Education was what we’d all benefited from,” Ornelas said. “I wanted to lift up people in my community.”

On April 27, six men and the program’s first four women celebrated completion of the Wine Industry Professional Training Program established by the Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad (AHIVOY), becoming the second cohort to do so in less than two months. Coursework at Chemeketa Community College in Salem began Jan. 12 and included visits to area wineries.

On March 3, with the sun shining brightly, the inaugural commencement of the Wine Industry Professional Training Program established by the Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad (AHIVOY) honored eight proud graduates, set on their paths by three important dreamers: the late Jesús Guillén of Guillén Family Wines, Sofia Torres-McKay of Cramoisi Vineyard and Miguel López of Red Dirt Vineyard Management & Winemaking.

Historically, career paths for Hispanics in the U.S. wine industry branch one of two ways: vine tender or bottling line worker. However, recent trends toward greater diversity translate into better opportunities for Latinos. Oregon already leads the way in this arena, from increased winery and vineyard ownership, to leadership roles.

Now, the growing diversification of wine professionalism is compelling new conversations around vineyard workers. When sommelier DeAna Ornelas moved to Oregon to join Winderlea Vineyard as tasting room ambassador and communications lead, she found few other Mexicans in winery leadership roles. She and other Latinx leaders formed Ahivoy, an organization that provides English-immersion education and professional development to Latinx wine workers to advance their careers.

What grows in the vineyards of Oregon? Grapes, naturally. But like those whose labor is essential to the success of the vines and who have been largely unnoticed, there are less obvious yields of fundamental importance to the industry and the community. The following three members of the Oregon wine industry — two of whom are native Mexicans; one, a first-generation American of Mexican descent — are eager to draw attention to the vineyard workers, the majority of whom are Hispanic desiring a chance to advance. Jesús Guillén, Sofía Torres McKay and Miguel Lopez are forming an organization to increase appreciation of these skilled laborers, helping them overcome challenges to realize their ambitions. As part of this effort, each offered an inspirational personal story and vision for the future.

Less than two months after AHIVOY’s wine industry professional training began, it was abruptly paused on March 13, with one week left in the first term, when the coronavirus forced the closing of Chemeketa Community College in Salem. In the interim, planning and fundraising

have continued in the manner that evidences the determination and resilience that has characterized the Asociacion Hispana en la Industria

Vinicola de Oregon since its inception less than two years ago. In addition, AHIVOY has been increasing the awareness in the Oregon wine

industry of the benefits of the training for their vineyard stewards, the suitable designation adopted for the participants. Jessica Sandrock, a member of the education committee and coordinator of programs and grants, wrote in an e-mail: “All students are expected to return. Eleven vineyard stewards started the program in 2020. Ten will be able to complete the program. We are sad to share that one of the students, Ben Hernandez (Lange Winery) lost his battle with cancer and passed away in August.” When I spoke with him on the first day of class in January, Hernandez had said he wanted to become a manager.”

Join our virtual tasting of the wines of Latina Oregon winegrowers Cristina Gonzales, Elena Rodriguez, Sofia Torres, and Yuliana Guillen.

Outspoken viticulturist and winemaker Mimi Casteel is attracting attention worldwide for her message of regenerative agriculture. Casteel's no-till farming techniques improve soil quality, and her holistic vision is to rebuild ecosystems and bring back healthy, locally grown food.

Next, along with fellow Latinx wine industry leaders, Sofia Torres McKay has cofounded an innovative program that provides education to agricultural workers, creating opportunities for an underrepresented Spanish-speaking community whose members often live in fear, and from paycheck to paycheck.