Harvest & Heritage: Spotlight on Gonzales Wine Company
A conversation with Cristina Gonzales about her journey, low-intervention winemaking, and the flavors of fall
October is harvest season, the busiest and most celebratory time of the year in wine country. For Cristina Gonzales, founder of Gonzales Wine Company, harvest is also a moment to reflect on her journey, her heritage, and her mission to create space for underrepresented voices in the wine industry. Her winemaking style can be summed up in three words: Innovative. Latino-owned and operated. Small production.
Meet Cristina Gonzales
Cristina’s introduction to wine began far from the Willamette Valley. In 2006, she set out on a backpacking trip through South America, eager to learn Spanish and explore new places. In Mendoza, Argentina, a glass of Malbec paired with steak sparked a passion that would change her life.
Returning to Sonoma County, where her parents lived, Cristina took a job in a tasting room and began teaching herself the craft. She gained hands-on experience through harvest internships in California and Oregon, eventually moving to Oregon in 2009 to work at A to Z Wineworks. In the cellar, lab, warehouse, and bottling line, she learned the industry from the ground up.
By 2010, Cristina launched Gonzales Wine Company with her first commercial vintage. Her motivation was clear. Latinos have long been the backbone of vineyard labor, yet leadership roles remained overwhelmingly white and male. Cristina wanted to build her own table, one where people of color and women of color could see themselves represented.
Winemaking Philosophy
Cristina’s approach is simple: If you grow good grapes, you can make good wine. She focuses on low-intervention winemaking, allowing each vintage to express itself without unnecessary manipulation. “If a wine is doing its thing, there’s no need to touch it,” she says, noting that she intervenes only when something truly needs attention.
Her wines are made in neutral barrels, with no oak influence, to highlight pure grape character. This commitment to transparency has become her hallmark.
Varietals That Inspire
Cristina is especially proud of her Gewürztraminer, sourced from a vineyard as old as she is and managed by a graduate of the Ahivoy program, a nonprofit providing education and professional development for vineyard stewards. Cristina served on its board for five years, deepening her commitment to creating pathways for leadership in the wine industry.
Her Malbec pays homage to the wine that started her journey in Mendoza, but with a distinct Oregon expression. She also works with Mourvèdre, Riesling, Viognier, and Petit Verdot, each offering a unique lens into her low-intervention philosophy.
One standout is her revolutionary Rosé, an unexpected Thanksgiving pairing with vibrant cranberry notes that complement turkey and holiday sides.
Harvest & Seasonality
October is the height of harvest in the Willamette Valley. For Cristina, it is a season of excitement and stress in equal measure. Grapes ripen when they are ready, labor shortages can disrupt plans, and this year, many producers are taking a break from winemaking due to a depressed market and high inventory levels. Tariffs have slowed sales in both domestic and international markets, and concerns about ICE detainments have added uncertainty for agricultural workers.
Still, harvest is when the wine community comes together. “It’s a time of shared exhaustion and shared joy,” Cristina says. Whether driving hours to pick up grapes or coordinating space in a shared facility, producers lean on each other and on the labor force without whom no wine would exist.
Pairings for Autumn Gatherings
Cristina’s wines are built for the table, and her seasonal pairing suggestions read like an autumn feast:
Riesling with ceviche or oysters on the half shell.
Mourvèdre or her collaboration wine Entre Amigas with mushroom risotto and chanterelles.
Petit Verdot and Malbec with grilled lamb or hearty pasta Bolognese.Revolutionary Rosé for Thanksgiving, with its cranberry lift.
Viognier with apple pie or as a snack wine alongside popcorn.
Community & Representation
With two decades in the industry, Cristina sees her role as keeping the door open and creating new ones for others. “It makes a difference to see someone who looks like you in a leadership position,” she says.
Her collaborations, such as Entre Amigas with Elena Rodriguez of Alumbra Cellars, are more than just joint projects. They are intentional acts of community building, designed to showcase women of color in wine and remove the pretentiousness that can alienate new drinkers.
Looking Ahead
While she is pausing production in 2025 to focus on sales, Cristina has exciting plans for 2026, including bottling new vintages of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Malbec. She and Elena Rodriguez will also continue their Entre Amigas project and participate in the Indie Wine Mixer, highlighting small producers from the Willamette Valley.
When asked to describe Gonzales Wine Company in three words, Cristina chose: Innovative. Latino-owned and operated. Small production. These words are more than a tagline. They are the guiding principles of her work, her wines, and the community she is helping to shape.
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VISIONARY • Advocate • Passionate • Dedicated • Community-Oriented • Empowering