By Greg Norton | July 1, 2025 A warm, sunny April day brought 15 Oregon vineyard stewards, along with family and friends, to Chemeketa Community College’s picturesque Eola Campus. All were celebrating their graduation as AHIVOY’s sixth cohort.
Since 2019, AHIVOY has provided a winter instructional program for vineyard stewards nominated and supported by their employers.
The nonprofit’s 17-week curriculum first explores how different vineyard practices and techniques affect wine, the final product. Participants increase their knowledge through winery visits and classroom studies including winemaking, cellar techniques and the business aspects of the industry. Miguel Garcia, beverage director for República & Co., supplies insights on wine history, appreciation and etiquette. Previous graduates, along with industry experts also conduct sessions.
A remarkable vintage
For the first time, women comprised more than one third of the cohort. Miguel López, an AHIVOY founder, as well as a current board chair and owner of Red Dirt Vineyard Management and Winemaking, felt women might change the group’s dynamics. ‘And, they did,” he said, “in a beautiful way,” citing the group’s immediate rapport.
Family members, colleagues and supporters enjoyed wine and sandwiches while overlooking rolling hills of vines displaying the first signs of budbreak. Board member Maria Uribe invited each graduate forward to receive a diploma, medallion and wine gifts provided by Argyle Winery. Other event sponsors included Anderson Family Vineyard, Ayoub Wines, Chemeketa Community College, Cramoisi Vineyard, Dobbes Family Winery, The Four Graces, Lange Estate Winery & Vineyards, Linfield University, LucidWild Estate, Native Flora, Results Partners and Stoller Family Estate.
Many graduates thanked López, the Education Committee’s Elena Rodríguez as well as Bryan Berenguer, vineyard management instructor at Chemeketa, the location of much of the instruction.
Jorge Loeza, recipient of one of four Oregon Wine Symposium’s Vineyard Excellence awards, was part of this graduating cohort. In announcing his award, the Oregon Wine Board affirmed that ‘Jorge’s consistency, dedication and willingness to learn make him an invaluable member of the winegrowing community.’
‘I promise you all that everything I learned I will teach to others and I will encourage others to move forward in their lives,’ said Filiberta Andrade, addressing the gathering in Spanish. ‘I can teach younger people to move forward, to continue their studies, to continue trying, so they have a higher level of knowledge.’
Learning never ends
Nearly 80 vineyard stewards have completed the AHIVOY program since it began. The organization remains dedicated to their lifelong learning through funding for enrollment in Chemeketa’s Vineyard Supervisor Certificate classes. They also offer occasional sessions on specific technical topics, ongoing English classes and mentoring support.
López reflected on what began ‘as a simple idea, over coffee between three friends, has evolved into an educational component that has opened doors.’ During the past six years, ‘we have helped 79 families and established generational education growth. We have created opportunities to explore ideas, things they might have thought were out of reach for them,’ he said.
‘Not so much anymore.’