When women were rarely decision makers in business or agriculture, Susan Sokol Blosser, a pioneer in the Oregon wine industry, distinguished herself in both.
The Story Behind The Work
The life and experiences that shaped the author and her work.
A founder of Sokol Blosser Winery, one of Oregon’s pioneering wineries, after running the business for 17 years, in 2008 Susan Sokol Blosser turned control over to her children and went on to start a nonprofit, write books, keep chickens, become a beekeeper, and continue as mother and grandmother.
She and her husband, Russ Rosner, Sokol Blosser’s Winemaker Emeritus, live at the vineyard with their cats, dogs, chickens, and bees.
Susan holds a B.A. from Stanford University, a M.A.T. from Reed College, and an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Portland, citing her entrepreneurship within the context of environmental and social responsibility.
She has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Wine Board, the Portland Business Journal’s Joan Austin Woman of Impact Award, the Chehalem Cultural Center’s Galaxy Award, and the Oregon Historical Society’s Oregon History-Maker award.
Community Leadership
The Story Beneath
The Vines
The Story Beneath
The Vines
The history of the land and the generations that shaped it.
1970 was winding down when the winery’s founders, Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol Blosser pulled their ’68 VW Camper up to an abandoned prune orchard some 30 miles southwest of Portland. They had little farming experience and just a basic knowledge of winemaking. What they did have, in abundance, was a passion for growing the Pinot Noir grape and creating world-class wine. A year later, they would plant their first five acres of Pinot Noir vines and cinched their place as pioneers in Oregon’s budding wine industry.
In 1979, when Oregon wines were little known outside the Northwest, the Sokol Blosser Winery astonished the wine world by winning six medals (three gold, two silver and a bronze) at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London. It was, says Susan, “our first affirmation that we were on the right track.”
In the ensuing years, the winery would expand to 87 certified organic acres and become the 6th largest wine producer in Oregon. Sokol Blosser’s unique farming, harvesting, fermenting and aging all play key roles in crafting high quality, elegant and age-worthy wines with a sense of place.
In January 2008, after three years of slowly taking over daily operations from Susan, the transition from first to second generation was completed as Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser became co-presidents.
Today, the Sokol Blosser family of wines includes various levels of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Rosé of Pinot Noir, Rosé sparkling Pinot Noir, and a line of proprietary blends under the name Evolution.
Sustainability
A commitment that endures.
The second generation continues Sokol Blosser’s long-standing “good to the earth” commitment through certified organic farming, biodiversity, and sustainable business practices. The vineyard, USDA certified organic since 2005, is farmed without synthetic chemicals, relying instead on composting, biodiesel-powered equipment, and plantings that support a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
Sustainability extends beyond the vineyard to the winery itself, whose underground barrel cellar was the first winery facility in the U.S. to earn LEED certification. Renewable energy, recycled packaging, and carbon reporting are central to operations, and this work has earned Sokol Blosser recognition from Sunset Magazine, the State of Oregon, and Oregon Business Magazine and B-Corp certification.
Life, Leadership, and Stories from the Vineyard
Essays and reflections on wine, work, family, and the lessons learned along the way.