An Immigrant Winemaker’s Rise to the Top

In his relatively short career as winemaker at White Rose Estate and now with his own label, 30-something Jesús Guillén has achieved what most vintners spend their lives working toward — earning top scores in prestigious international wine publications. He also happens to be the state’s only Latinx vintner: A Mexican immigrant, he came to the United States on a visitor’s visa and labored in vineyards alongside thousands of other migrant workers who help make the Willamette Valley wine industry what it is — though they rarely earn much credit. Oregon’s wine scene — as with the industry at large — is white-dominated. Guillén hopes his successes opens doors for people of color in Oregon and beyond.

[MattCookOregon]

Camera guy did some solid work this one.

[turbineflier]

Unfortunately, Guillen died from cancer in late 2018, sadly. RIP. I hope his family can carry on the tradition.