2022 Oregon Wine Symposium | State of Winegrowing in Oregon; the Enduring Oregon Wine Grape Grower | Estado de la viticultura en Oregon, el viticultor permanente de Oregon

Mike McNally and his wife Mary Ann are proprietors of Fairsing Vineyard – a grower of world class Pinot noir and Chardonnay. In Irish, Fairsing translates to “bountiful” – a reflection of the biodiversity and panorama of their vineyard and forest located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The wines pay homage to the matriarchs in their Irish ancestry of farmers and merchants. Fairsing Vineyard is deeply-rooted in a commitment to environmental stewardship and exceptional hospitality.

Mike is a founding Board Member of the Willamette Valley Wine Foundation. He has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association and on the Board of the Yamhill-Carlton Winegrowers Association.

After a twenty-five-year career with energy companies, Mike followed Mary Ann’s lead to pursue the good-life as Oregon winegrowers. Mike has a BA and MA in Philosophy from Southern Methodist University and a BS in Applied Mathematics from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Bob Parker is director of strategy and technical solutions for the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE). Bob served as executive director of IPRE from 1999 to 2020. Over the last 30+ years, Bob has managed more than 500 policy and planning analysis projects with communities and state officials throughout Oregon. IPRE is known widely throughout Oregon as one of the state’s critical policy analysis resources, connecting expertise of University faculty and students with communities and agencies. These relationships, as well as vast policy analysis experience, help IPRE provide service to communities and organizations throughout Oregon. Bob also coordinates the EDA University Center for economic development housed in IPRE.

Swiss Native Daniel Fey has been working in the Oregon Wine Industry for the past 24 years, first as Vineyard Manager of WillaKenzie Estate and since 2012 as President of Results Partners, a vineyard management company headquartered in McMinnville. He holds a Master of Science degree in Horticulture from the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland.

James Sterns joined the Faculty of the Department of Applied Economics in 2013, in order to contribute to the Department’s teaching and research efforts in the general areas of agribusiness management and performance of agri-food systems. His prior work experiences include 12 years as a faculty member of the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida, where he was a core member of the agribusiness teaching and research programs. He also has worked internationally, including extended work assignments in Cameroon, France, Ecuador and Haiti. He is married and the father of three grade schoolers. Though born and raised to adulthood in rural Kansas, his grandparents owned and operated an apple and pear orchard in the Corvallis area, and his mother is an OSU alumna.

Leigh Bartholomew attended the University of Oregon, then University of California/Davis where she earned her master’s degree in Viticulture. She has worked in wine regions around the world, meeting a host of people from a variety of cultures along the way. She gained experience at such respected properties as Domaine Denis Mortet in Gevrey Chambertin; Seresin Estate, Marlborough New Zealand; Robert Mondavi Winery, California; Cain Vineyard and Winery, California; Caliterra/Vina Errazuriz in Chile and Andrew Will Winery in Washington.

Leigh joined Results Partners Vineyard Management company in 2014 as the Director of Viticulture, after working fourteen vintages for a local estate vineyard and winery.

Leigh and her winemaker husband, Patrick Reuter, co-own Dominio IV Winery in McMinnville.

Herb Quady is a second-generation winegrower who moved to Southern Oregon with his family in 2003. In 2006, he planted Mae’s Vineyard, 16 acres in the Applegate Valley, and founded Quady North Winery and Applegate Vineyard Management. Today, he farms about 80 acres of LIVE certified vineyards, and is a managing partner in Barrel 42, a LIVE certified custom crush facility. In 2020, Herb was awarded the “Founder’s Award” from the Oregon Winery Association, in acknowledgment of his leadership in the wine industry.

Neil Ferguson joined the Oregon Wine Board in 2021. He brings a unique range of experience in communications, marketing, and journalism to the table. Most recently, Neil has worked in the world of agriculture and commodity promotion. It was here that he discovered his passion for telling the stories of farmers and producers through creative and results-driven initiatives. Neil’s diverse skill set, flexibility, and open-minded approach make him well-suited to communicate and serve a constantly evolving industry.

Neil earned a B.A. in English and Communications from the University of Texas at Austin, where he lived for ten years before moving to the Pacific Northwest. Based in Portland, Neil enjoys exploring the beautiful state on his bicycle, seeing live music, visiting wineries, and discovering new culinary experiences.