The Four-Ounce Pour

Anna Maria Ponzi has dedicated her life to Oregon wine. At the age of four, she helped plant one of the earliest vineyards as her pioneering parents established one of the first wineries in the Willamette Valley. She’s had the rare opportunity of working in every aspect of the wine business and has served the industry in myriad ways, most importantly, as an ambassador for Oregon wine both nationally and internationally. 

In her former role as owner and CEO of Ponzi Vineyards, she grew her family wine business from a garage operation into a globally recognized wine brand. Among other industry benchmarks, she envisioned and set in motion the transformation of Oregon wine country into a world-class visitor destination. In 1999, she established the valley’s first regional wine bar and, in 2013, opened the valley’s first seated wine-tasting experience. In 2020 she published her memoir Pinot Girl, and the following year successfully negotiated the sale of the winery to Société Jacques Bollinger of Champagne, France. 

She continues to support the state’s wine and tourism industry through ongoing service for multiple organizations and through her wine consulting and speaking firm, amponzi & company. She is also the co-founder of Anthony’s Circle, a non-profit that seeks to empower foster youth through the public school system to achieve an 85% graduation rate. She currently presents her keynote “The Four-Ounce Pour” as a framework to guide our lives toward greater meaning and fulfillment.

Anna Maria is a daughter of change, wife, and mother of two adult children and two rather large dogs. She and her husband live on a 20-acre vineyard overlooking the bountiful and beautiful Willamette Valley. 

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Daughters of Change Podcast Producer:  Sarah Stacey