Anna Maria Ponzi has been named director of Linfield University’s Center for Wine Education, effective April 8.
It’s not a huge change for Ponzi, who has been leading undergraduate, graduate and certification programs as interim director since January. Jennifer Madden, dean of the Linfield University School of Business, said she was delighted to see Ponzi’s leadership continue.
“I can’t think of anyone who knows Oregon wine better than Maria, and I’m absolutely delighted she’ll continue to lead and grow these signature programs,” Madden said. “Her knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit and creativity will not only benefit our students, but indeed Linfield as an institution and Oregon wine as an industry.”
The former owner, chief executive and president of Ponzi Vineyards, Ponzi is a second-generation wine producer who was instrumental in establishing Oregon’s Willamette Valley as a world-renowned winegrowing region. She grew up on one of the first vineyards in Oregon, which her family established in 1970, and has served as a champion for and ambassador of Oregon wine her entire life.
She has been recognized for growing the family business from a garage operation into a global brand and for playing a significant role in the transformation of the valley into a world-class wine destination overall. Ponzi brings decades of wine appreciation, wine culture and wine business acumen to Linfield University.
“I’m delighted — this is an opportunity to use my lifelong work to mentor and guide the next generation of wine professionals,” Ponzi said. “It’s a new adventure for me, and I’m really looking forward to building a program that will attract global interest in Linfield and Oregon wine.”
When asked what she has most enjoyed so far about working at Linfield, Ponzi didn’t hesitate.
“Working with students is really an honor — they’re so inspiring,” she said. “I’ve always loved mentoring people, and this is an opportunity to do that on a large scale in transformative ways. I have this great chance to share my love of wine — it is an amazing profession to pursue. It creates wonderful lives for those who are part of it.”
April 11’s “Apertura: Opening Doors to Oregon Wine” was her first major project during her interim leadership. The half-day event includes panel discussions and workshops designed to foster connection and lower barriers in the Oregon wine industry. It will feature McMinnville Mayor Remy Drabkin ’09, owner of Remy Wines and founder of Wine Country Pride; Brandy Grey of Greywing Cellars, Oregon’s first Native-owned winery; Lois Cho of Cho Wines; Tiquette Bramlette, founder of Our Legacy Harvested; DeAnna Ornelas, president of AHIVOY and leadership from the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. Registration is $20, waived for students and for those whom cost is prohibitive.
The Linfield Center for Wine Education offers both a major and a minor in wine studies. The department is an interdisciplinary venture between the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Business. Students study the science of winemaking as well as marketing, logistics and operations. In 2023, the department was recognized as the most innovative wine studies program in the nation and third in the world by “Leary’s Global Wineology: a Guide to Wine Education” by wine historian Charlie Leary.
The Center for Wine Education also features multiple graduate programs. The McMinnville campus offers a Master of Science in Business in wine business leadership. A five-year combined undergraduate and master’s degree program in partnership with Ecole Superieure d’Agriculture (ESA) comprises three years at Linfield followed by two years in Angers, France. Students graduate with a B.A. or B.S. plus an International Vintage Master degree.
Beyond degrees, Linfield offers certificates in wine management and wine marketing and Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) classes. The Acorn to Oak Wine Experience on McMinnville’s famed Third Street gives students real-world experience in all aspects of running a tasting room, and the Oregon Wine History Archive is a comprehensive historical record of Oregon’s second-largest industry. Each summer, Linfield serves as the home base for the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) and multiple wine-related events.
For more information, visit linfield.edu/wine.