open face wines
Portland, Oregon
After graduating with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, winemaker Michael Croom moved back to his home state of California and danced between kitchens and wine cellars until he decided to commit to his love for wine.
He and his partner picked up in the spring of 2014 and moved to New Zealand to follow the harvest. After being there for 6 months, his partner had an amazing career opportunity in Los Angeles so they moved back to the States.
Michael worked in wine shops such as Bar and Garden, and Esters Wine Shop, as well as wine-centric restaurants like Sotto where he had amazing exposure to producers from all over the world who were focusing on minimal-intervention techniques, which was the real shaping of his ethos as a winemaker. After he and his wife found out they were pregnant with their second child, they decided to leave Los Angeles for greener pastures, and pursue their passions in Portland, Oregon.
“In my first years as a winemaker, I am focusing on sourcing grapes from organic, sustainable vineyards, and working to add and remove as little as possible during its life in the cellar in an effort to create as honest of a product as possible. It is a humbling journey that I would love to share with you.”
Michael Croom
Winemaker
