Sofia Torres-McKay

Coproprietor, Cramoisi Vineyard

Dundee, Oregon

As cofounder of her small, family-owned business, Cramoisi Vineyard, Sofia Torres-McKay worked in wine from the ground up—from developing her petite seven-acre property from scratch, to wine production and even conducting her own branding, PR and marketing. The experience led her to get involved in empowering others. Torres-McKay is also the cofounder of AHIVOY—a nonprofit that supports the advancement of those who work in vineyards (whom she properly calls “vineyard stewards”) through continuing education.

Though the people who work in the vineyards have some of the most important responsibilities in the wine production process—labor-intensive work tending vines and picking grapes—these people often are not given a title beyond “laborer” or “vineyard worker.” Sofia Torres-McKay, a Mexico City native and the co-owner of Oregon’s Cramoisi Vineyard, is looking to change that. In 2014, Torres-McKay coined the term “vineyard steward” as a means to recognize and empower the individuals who look after the vines day after day, and more recently, she cofounded AHIVOY (Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad) with Yuliana Cisneros-Guillén, Miguel A. Lopez, and the late Jesús Guillén. The group is on a mission to bolster Oregon’s largely Hispanic vineyard stewards with resources and education. 

AHIVOY’s bilingual, 17-week course includes in-depth information about the state’s various grapes, the best techniques for pruning, and other vineyard-specific information that helps vineyard stewards take ownership over their roles, which Torres-McKay says is key for strengthening and diversifying the greater wine industry. The program is free for all students and even provides a $20-per-hour stipend to cover the costs of potentially missed days of work.

We're thrilled to present the Wine Country Award to Cramoisi Vineyard. Sofia's dedication shines through in her efforts to foster a vibrant workplace environment, offering support for her employees' education, grants, workshops, and anything else to advance their careers. Sofia serves as the Vice President and a co-founder of @ahivoyoregon, a pioneering program dedicated to offering education and development opportunities for vineyard stewards within Oregon's esteemed wine industry. Continuously striving to attract visitors to our region, Sofia facilitates collaborations with other businesses and generously contributes to various causes through donations. Congratulations to @cramoisi_vineyard!

On February 29, 2024, from 6 - 9 pm, the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce will celebrate our Community Award recipients at the Community Awards Gala held at The Allison Inn & Spa. Indulge in an enchanting evening featuring Jon Armstrong, a magical entertainer, plus a silent auction and cocktail hour, followed by a seated dinner during the awards show. A link to purchase tickets is in our bio.

Thank you to @jodistilpphotography for the pictures of awards recipients, and @lewisaudiovideo for sponsoring the Wine Country award.

Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce award winner wills be feted at gala

Seven individuals, organizations and couples will be recognized on Feb. 29 at Allison Inn & Spa

Wine Country Award: Cramoisi Vineyard

The vineyard’s co-owner, Sofia Torres McKay, “works hard in creating a fun workplace and also helps her employees with education, grants, workshops, anything else she can do to enhance their careers,” the citation said. “She constantly works hard to bring visitors to our area, help other business with collaborations and is also generous with donations to a variety of causes.”

Sofía Torres McKay vividly recalls the moment well. She was making wine in the garage with next-door neighbor Dick Erath. Torres McKay mentioned the concept of Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad - Hispanic Association of the Wine Industry in Oregon and Community, now commonly referred to as AHIVOY. She described the enthusiastic response from her mentor (and wine pioneer) to an education program for vineyard stewards. “He was so excited– his eyes were wide open!”

That conversation eventually led the Erath Family Foundation to contribute funds for the initial AHIVOY cohort in 2020.

Sometimes it’s a mystery why certain people are “bitten by the wine bug,” and others are not. For a group of 12 Hispanic winemakers in Oregon, it’s about a strong bond of growing grapes and making wine to reflect the beauty of the land, as well as providing a legacy business for their families. Part of that legacy is sharing the joy of wine paired with food to bring friends and family together to celebrate the “good life.”

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Sam Parra, Owner of Parra

Never pass up the opportunity to walk a vineyard at sunrise, especially when spraying chamomile tea is involved.

My invitation came from Sofia Torres-McKay, the co-owner of Cramoisi Vineyard in Dundee. Torres-McKay explained that she would be spraying a mix of concentrated chamomile tea and water on her vines to combat the stresses that go hand-in-hand with a hot, humid summer.

“The chamomile tea helps my vines relax from the heat and gives them back the potassium that they are sweating out due to the heat. The spray also acts as a natural sulfur to prevent diseases,” Torres-McKay said. She called the spray treatment “a healer and a booster.”

You can't help but fall in love with Cramoisi Vineyards. Sofia and Ryan McKay purchased the land in 2011 and planted their first grapes in 2012. Following biodynamic practices, this micro boutique winery has about 6 acres of Pinot Noir planted and a little less than 1 acre of Chardonnay planted.

Wine tasting at Cramoisi Vineyards is a truly special, personal experience. Sofia hosts all of the wine tasting experiences herself, and tastings can be in either English or Spanish.

When Cramoisi Vineyard co-owner Sofia Torres McKay describes the maintenance of the winery’s compost pile, you’d be forgiven for assuming she was talking about raising one of her own children.

“It’s like we do everything we can in the beginning to prepare it, and then it grows up into a teenager, into adulthood,” she says. “It kind of makes its own independence and makes its own magic.”

“[Owner] Sophia Torres makes her own wine and usually handles the tasting in her tiny, quintessentially Oregonian tasting room,” says Remy Drabkin, McMinnville mayor, Queer Wine Fest founder and owner-winemaker of Remy Wines.

The operation uses biodynamic and organic farming techniques to create its boutique wines. Drabkin adds that Torres is focused on Pinot Noir—something already great—and making it better.

Plus, Torres, who is originally from Mexico City, also started the non-profit AHIVOY, an organization that offers education and opportunities to Latinx and Hispanic vineyard workers.

Must try: 2021 Sophia’s Block and 2017 Syrah Estate Reserve

Insider tips: Tastings are $40, but the fee is waived with a two-bottle purchase. Tastings are available in Spanish and English, by appointment only.

Meet the places and faces behind Oregon’s ‘chardonnay moment’

As the sun rises over a steep south-facing slope on the eastern side of the Eola-Amity Hills, workers arrive in dusty cars, minivans and SUVs. As though responding to an invisible signal, they mobilize, five-gallon buckets and shears in hand, delicately snipping and grabbing clusters of small translucent green grapes.

It’s a familiar setting across the Willamette Valley’s premiere vineyards: elevation high enough to cool off each night, slopes angled to catch each photon of the daytime sun, and row upon row of gnarled vines growing grapes that were first developed in the Burgundy region of France.

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.