Tom Gerrie – Owner & Winegrower
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Tom Gerrie is a dedicated viticulturist and business owner with extensive experience in the wine industry, specializing in winemaking and vineyard management. After graduating from the University of Washington in 2007, Tom began his career at Cristom Vineyards, quickly establishing himself as an integral member of the winemaking and farming teams. In 2012, Tom became the majority owner of Cristom, a milestone that further solidified his commitment to crafting exceptional wines that embody the soils and mesoclimates of the Willamette Valley’s Eola Hills.
Tom’s expertise in winegrowing was honed over years of hands-on experience, beginning in 2004 with harvests at respected wineries across the globe. His formative years included stints at Beaux Frères, Bethel Heights Vineyard, Domaine François Mikulski, Domaine Loew, Tapanappa Wines in the Adelaide Hills with Brian Croser, and Medhurst Wines in the Yarra Valley, Australia. These experiences, working alongside renowned winemakers in diverse regions, deepened his understanding of vineyard management and wine production, which became the foundation of his approach and leadership at Cristom Vineyards.
In 2017, Tom introduced biodynamic farming practices to Cristom’s estate, taking a holistic approach to viticulture that integrates organic, biodynamic, and ecologically sustainable agricultural methods while maintaining a profound respect for the land. This transition has been part of his long-term vision to cultivate a working farm that not only produces exceptional wines and supports and sustains biodiversity and promotes the health of the entire ecosystem across the estate. In 2024, Tom expanded his leadership role at Cristom, taking on oversight of all departments across the business, including finance, sales, marketing, vineyard management, and winemaking, and playing a key role in shaping the company’s direction and future.
Outside of work, Tom cherishes time with his son, Benjamin, whom he describes as the greatest gift of his life. When not tending to the vineyard, Tom enjoys being by a river or the ocean, finding appreciation and inspiration in the natural world that nourishes his personal and professional endeavors.
Daniel Estrin – Winemaker & Vineyard Manager
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Despite growing up in the Willamette Valley, Daniel had no early exposure to wine until 2000, when his car broke down in LA, and he took a job stocking shelves at The Wine House. With a little help from his Uncle Mark (founder of Red Car Wines), Daniel developed a passion for the craft. After a couple of harvests at Red Car, he found his way to Craggy Range in New Zealand, where he became intoxicated with the idea of making wine as a life-long pursuit.
In 2012, he graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a B.S. in Viticulture and minors in Soil Science and Plant Protection. Soon after, Daniel accepted a highly coveted internship at Littorai Wines. It was at Littorai that Daniel truly found his place in the wine world. For seven years, Daniel worked under Proprietor/Winemaker Ted Lemon. Rising through the ranks, Daniel became an Associate Winemaker and helped push forward Littorai’s biodynamic program by bringing animals to the property and creating fertility on the farm. In addition to Littorai, he has been grateful to have worked at Mount Langi Ghiran, Domaine de la Cote, Bodega Chacra, and Burn Cottage.
In July 2019, Daniel returned to his Oregon roots with his wife and two pups to work for Cristom. His expertise in biodynamic and organic practices has helped to make Cristom a more self-sustaining farm and has been integral to crafting wines that are an honest recording of the vineyard and vintage.
Chris Butler – Associate Winemaker
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Chris’ path towards the world of wine began from an unlikely place: a History Channel show on the history of beer. Inspired, he bought a handful of books on brewing, and after a sufficient amount of reading, he proceeded to destroy his parents’ kitchen. A few years of homebrewing led to the pursuit ofa B.S. in Fermentation Science and a B.S. in Microbiology from Oregon State University. There, Chris attended classes on winemaking and wine analysis, and being taken by the seasonal nature and variability of the wine industry, his focus shifted towards winemaking.
After graduation, Chris worked harvests in Washington and New Zealand’s Marlborough region, before enrolling at UC Davis in theViticulture and Enology Masters program. Since completing his coursework and research thesis at UCDavis, Chris has worked harvests at Selbach-Oster in Germany, Leeuwin Estate in Australia, and Chehalem Winery here in the Willamette Valley. Chris and his partner planted roots in the Willamette Valley, and they are passionate about being a part of the winemaking community here. Chris joined the Cristom winemaking team in 2019 as our Enologist and Cellarmaster and was quickly made Assistant Winemaker. In August 2024, Chris was named Associate Winemaker. Chris proudly continues the Cristom tradition of crafting wines that are expressive of time and place.
Andy Zorzi – Assistant Winemaker
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Andy’s first harvest with Cristom was in 1996. He met Founder Paul Gerrie at the coffee shop he used to manage in McMinnville and they bonded over a shared love for sports and dogs.
After working as a harvest intern, Andy became an Assistant Winemaker. Even after 25+ years at Cristom, he’s still excited. He loves chatting with winery visitors and sharing what he loves about the estate, such as the songbirds or hawks circling above the vineyards. He’s very proud of the great Cristom wines we produce year after year.
Steve Doerner – Winemaker Emeritus
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Steve did not expect winemaking to find him as he pursued his Biochemistry degree at U.C. Davis. Upon graduation, he serendipitously connected with Josh Jensen, proprietor of Calera Wine Company (a California Pinot Noir producer) who was looking for a winemaking protégé that was comfortable with a minimalist and natural approach to winemaking. Steve was hired to help make Calera’s first Pinot Noir Vintage in 1978. After several years, Steve took over the winemaking duties, and ultimately, spent 14 years honing his craft at Calera. At this time, he was ready for a change. While he did not know where he wanted to go, he was certain he wanted to continue his journey with Pinot Noir.
Paul Gerrie, founder of Cristom, was looking for a winemaker. He was taken with the wines of Calera, noting them to be the greatest examples of Pinot Noir in the New World, and a reflection of Domaine Dujac wines, whom he believed were the finest expressions of the varietal in the world. In 1992, Paul convinced Steve to head north to Oregon and start the story of Cristom Vineyards.
Steve has been lauded for his minimalist winemaking style over his 40-plus year career, focused on whole clusters and native fermentations. He has traveled and studied winemaking from many other wine regions around the world. He says that his work is influenced by the seasons and a constant desire to meld the art of winemaking with the terroir of the Willamette Valley.
Randy Ford – Vice President, Sales & Marketing
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Randy comes to Cristom after spending 10 years with one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading wine producers, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Sales. He began his wine career in the restaurant business before spending 12 years in distribution, earning a Master Level wine certification in 2004.
Randy brings tremendous passion for fine wine, and a natural ability to teach, guide and grow markets. He is a relationship builder, and outstanding communicator with a knack for telling the stories that create attention, relevance and staying power in the international market. Randy currently serves on the International Marketing Committee of the Oregon Wine Board where shares expertise in international sales.
Everywhere Randy has worked, he has left growth, success, and deep working relationships in his wake; sincerely, he is one of the finest wine executives in the country. Based in Florida, Randy is a presence on the east coast further developing some of the strongest business relationships we have in the country.
Cameron Scott – Regional Sales Director, Eastern United States
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Cameron R. Scott, Director of Sales Eastern U.S. lends 32 years of highly successful wine sales, distributor management and extensive hospitality experience to his role at Cristom Vineyards. As a longtime veteran of our industry, Cameron displays an in-depth understanding of all levels of distributor management; equally adept at management, from executive levels of our largest distributor partners through the mid-tier distributor level to our valuable individual broker network; with a proven track record across the board. His experience in all channels of market sales has chiseled Cameron into a true champion for Oregon for the past two decades, while forging strong relationships throughout the Country.
Prior to joining the Cristom team, Cameron played a pivotal role for another leading Willamette Valley producer spanning 7 years learning about Oregon wines while managing sales in the Southeast United States. Preceding his Oregon experience, he spent 1 year with the Kobrand Corporation managing South Florida account sales. Cameron began his beverage industry career with Republic National Distributing Co. in Florida; first as a on premise sales rep, then on premise sales management in South Florida.
Cameron is a classically trained chef having honed his skills post culinary school at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, where he spent 12 years as Chef. He then embarked on the hospitality trail after leaving Disney accepting a position as Executive Chef for Levy Restaurants for 2 years followed by the Marriott Hotel Company as Executive Chef/Food and Beverage Director, going on to lead 13 new hotel openings in Indianapolis, Chicago, Austin and South Florida. Cameron went on to open a successful Ft. Lauderdale restaurant in 2012 that is going strong today.
Cameron who is a Northwest Indiana native and his wife Amanda, along with their daughter Addison currently reside in South Florida and are all very active in the community. Wine collecting, competitive swimming, golf and biking are just part of their family personal interests. Cameron keeps his culinary skills sharp in many ways, including competitive BBQ and NFL tailgating where you can find him hosting hundreds of fans on any given Sunday for Miami Dolphins games.
Dyana Soul – Regional Sales Director, Western United States
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Dyana joined the Cristom family in November 2023 as the REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR for the Western U.S. and will manage the following states: CA, AZ, NV, HI, AK, WA, OR, ND, NE, KS, SD, OK, NM, CO, UT, WY, MT, IA, TX, ID, MO, and AR.
Dyana, a wine industry veteran, holds an impressive track record and over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, training, and management. Most recently, she led sales for Colene Clemens Vineyards as National Sales Manager since 2016. Exemplifying an unyielding passion and understanding for Pacific Northwest wines, Dyana has also served multiple years on an Oregon Pinot Camp sub-committee.
Dyana brings a wealth of expertise, vision, creativity to her new role, and will undoubtedly help Cristom continue to build presence in domestic and global wine markets.
Lauren Martins – Director, Marketing & E-Commerce
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Lauren joined Cristom Vineyards in the spring of 2023. As a seasoned marketing and communications professional with a career spanning 15+ years and encompassing wine marketing, CPG advertising for global brands, and consulting, she’s poised to continue to elevate Cristom’s trade and DTC marketing.
Lauren hails from the East Coast but most recently comes from Napa Valley. As marketing manager at Silverado Vineyards, a generational family-owned estate winery, Lauren led the digital and export marketing and supported tactics for DTC, wholesale, and PR. During her time in Napa, she also worked at Kelly Fleming Wines and Visit Napa Valley.
Lauren began her career in NYC, where she spent a decade advertising for a range of CPG companies such as Nestlé Waters North America, Ferrero USA, ExxonMobil, and Sun Products Corporation. Before transitioning to the West Coast, she consulted while traveling the globe, which was sprinkled with visits to wineries across the U.S., Europe, and South America.
Lauren’s interest in wine began in 2004 at Florida State University, where, as a Communications major, she took a Wine & Culture class in the School of Hospitality. In 2018, she obtained her WSET Level II and Level III Awards in Wine.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys her parenthood journey with her spouse – taking their toddler on hikes and playing in parks.
Kevin MacDormand – Director, Membership
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Originally from New Hampshire, Kevin found his way to the Willamette Valley in 2011, in search of greener pastures and an opportunity in the wine business.
Having spent a successful career in the restaurant industry, including opening two award-winning restaurants and serving as Director of Restaurant Operations for a Marriott hotel in the Boston area, the wine business seemed like a natural transition.
After working harvest in 2012, he was given the opportunity to manage a tasting room in McMinnville where he was able to transform the space into a downtown destination. From there he transitioned to wine club and compliance operations, overseeing one of the largest wine clubs in Oregon before landing at Cristom Vineyards.
Cristom offers the best of both worlds for Kevin – world class wine and hospitality within a small and intimate setting.
When he is not deep in the world of wine club and shipping, Kevin enjoys being at home in the kitchen, creating food and wine pairings for friends and family. He also enjoys exploring the beauty of Oregon on mountain bike and foot.
Bree Stamm – Assistant Membership & Marketing Manager
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Coming soon
Claire Sexton – Manager of Guest Experiences
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Claire joined Cristom as a 2023 harvest intern, where her wide-ranging talents quickly impressed the team, leading to her transition into a hospitality role post-harvest. As a former Oregon Pinot Camper and Beverage Director at the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Kettner Exchange, Claire was a natural fit and an invaluable addition to our direct-to-consumer team. She was soon promoted to oversee the Tasting Room as Manager of Guest Experiences, where her leadership continues to elevate our guest experience.
A food and beverage industry veteran, Claire previously curated extensive wine and cocktail programs at top restaurants and bars in San Diego. As the daughter of a Marine Corps pilot, she grew up moving frequently, including spending several years in Japan as a child. Later, her role as a designer for a lifestyle brand based in Shenzhen, China, enabled her to explore Asia further, and she has also traveled to Europe, Northern Africa, and Mexico.
Claire brings a wealth of knowledge, management experience, creativity, and poise to her role, making an immediate positive impact on our tasting experiences and winery events as we uphold our commitment to world-class hospitality.
Jessica Butler – Tasting Room Lead
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Steve Thomson – CEO Emeritus
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Steve has over 30 years of wine industry experience, following a successful 12-year career as a Restaurateur and Hotel Industry Food & Beverage Director. Steve joined Cristom in 2015 after 17 years with Oregon’s King Estate Winery, from 2007 as Executive Vice President.
For nine years, Steve led Cristom as our Chief Executive Officer, shaping the company into the best version of itself and positioning us as a global brand. Steve elevated countless processes and business operations and recruited and groomed our strong team to be better wine executives. In September 2024, having made a lasting impact on how our business operates, Steve transitioned to a CEO Emeritus consulting role.
Steve has been a tremendous influence and leaves a timeless legacy both at Cristom and for the greater wine industry. Prior to joining Cristom, Steve was a General Sales Manager and a Regional Director for two of America’s leading wholesalers based in the Midwest. A native of the Chicago area and graduate of the University of Illinois, Steve has also studied at Wharton, The Harvard Kennedy School of Government, UC Davis, and has served as a senior advisor for Scion Advisors, a top wine-industry consulting firm.
Successful 21st century wineries must engage and compete in a complex global world of markets, industry structure, and regulation, and this responsibility falls especially on the CEO. Steve has spent 25 years honing his practice in these areas. Appointed by the Governor of Oregon to the Oregon Wine Board in 2012, Steve served as Chairman of the Oregon Wine Board, and President of the Oregon Winegrowers Association in 2017 and currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Export Committee. From 2006 to 2016 Steve served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Wineries. Since 2005 Steve has occupied one of Oregon’s 3 seats on the Northwest Wine Coalition, and since 2004 has served on the Advisory Committee for Chemeketa College’s Northwest Center for Wine Studies.
Steve has a deep interest in Trade Regulation and in 2011 represented the US Wine Industry in testimony before the US Senate Finance Committee on the topic of global competitiveness. In 2013 he was appointed by Oregon’s Governor to represent the Oregon wine industry on the Governor’s Task Force for alcohol privatization. In 2013 Steve successfully petitioned the US Treasury Department’s TTB, for the first and only extension of Oregon’s Willamette Valley in the AVA’s 40-year history. Thomson has been a speaker or panelist at global wine events such as Vinexpo Asia-Pacific (Tokyo, 2002), Vinexpo Europe (Bordeaux, 2003), The London Wine Trade Fair (2008), VinItaly (2011), Prowein Europe (2013), and Prowein Asia (Shanghai, 2014) as well as the WSWA’s Council for Leadership Development in 2009 and 2015.
In his spare time, Thomson and his family grow Bordeaux varietal wine grapes in their small Walla Walla Vineyard, ‘Octave’, and produce small lots of very highly regarded Cabernet Sauvignon. To this day Steve still gains immense satisfaction from watching the daily marvels of a farm, passion for craft in work and play by others, and the joy people experience daily at the table with food and wine.
Pam priest – Director, Administration & Accounting
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My official title is “Office Manager” only because “Full Time Multitasking Ninja” is not an actual job title.
Being an Oregon native, it almost seems natural that I’m part of such a fine winery as Cristom.
I love coming to work and seeing the sun rise over Mt. Jefferson, or stepping out our front doors and tasting our grapes while they’re still on the vine. That’s when it hits home that this is what Cristom – and winegrowing — is all about.
For me wine and travel seem to go hand in hand: culture, people and caring.
Come out to Cristom and see for yourself.
Holly Flowers – Operations Coordinator
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Holly joined Cristom Vineyards in 2021 after many years spent in the security and access control industry. Over the years she has held roles throughout Customer Service, Finance and Sales Operations. In 2019, she completed her associates degree in Winemaking with Chemeketa Community College, with the dream of someday pursuing a career within the wine industry. Her professional experiences, combined with her love and knowledge of wine, made for the perfect pairing to support Cristom’s operational needs. During her time away, you can often find her tending to her lavender fields or taking care of her many farmyard companions.
Luis Armando Orozco – Vineyard Foreman
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Coming soon
Ivan Orozco – Assistant Vineyard Foreman
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Coming soon
Full-Time Cristom Farming team
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Cristom Vineyards has a dedicated, full-time farming team of 16 individuals that average nine years of employment. Their intimate knowledge of the vineyards and impeccable vine management and care allow us to have a block-by-block mentality, yielding balanced, expressive, and distinctive wines.
PAUL & EILEEN GERRIE – FOUNDERS
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Paul and Eileen Gerrie are the visionary founders of Cristom Vineyards, established in 1992, naming the winery and estate in honor of their children, Christine and Tom. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paul and Eileen graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and married in 1967. Eileen, an ICU nurse and mental health therapist, and Paul, a petroleum engineer, embarked on a distinguished career in the natural gas industry. Paul founded his first natural gas company in 1974, and over the following decades, the couple achieved considerable success in the industry while also nurturing entrepreneurial ventures together. In the 1980s, they shifted their focus to a new passion: wine. For nearly a decade, they meticulously planned the development of their vineyard, blending their business expertise with a growing love of fine wine.
Their journey into the wine industry was profoundly shaped by their friendship with renowned wine critic Robert Parker, whom they met in the early 1980s. Parker played a pivotal role in deepening their understanding and appreciation of exceptional Burgundy and Bordeaux wines, inspiring them as they envisioned their own vineyard. Through this connection, they met Mike Etzel, Parker’s brother-in-law, whose guidance was instrumental in realizing their dream. It was Mike who introduced them to the land that would become Cristom Vineyards, setting the stage for the creation of one of Oregon’s most celebrated wineries, nestled in the heart of the Eola Hills of the Willamette Valley.
Guided by a deep respect for world-class Pinot Noir, Paul and Eileen were determined to craft wines that honored the varietal, the region, and the land itself, blending tradition with a modern approach to viticulture. They were particularly influenced by the single vineyard wines of Domaine Dujac, admiring their use of whole-cluster fermentation for the complexity it imparted. Paul also recognized the exceptional quality of Calera wines and, in his pursuit of excellence, hired Steve Doerner from Calera Wine Company in 1992 to help shape Cristom’s winemaking philosophy. This commitment to quality and craftsmanship became the cornerstone of Cristom Vineyards, establishing a legacy of wines that reflect the unique character of the estate.
Paul’s vision extended beyond winemaking to the naming of the estate’s vineyards. In homage to Burgundy’s traditions, he named each vineyard after the matriarchs in his family, beginning with Marjorie Vineyard in honor of his mother. Other vineyards were named after his grandmothers, Jessie and Louise, as well as Eileen Vineyard, dedicated to his wife. This personal and thoughtful approach to vineyard naming reflects the Gerrie Family’s deep connection to both family heritage and the tradition of honoring specific sites of land.
After enjoying a fulfilling and successful career in both the natural gas and wine industries, Paul and Eileen retired in 2012, passing ownership of Cristom Vineyards to their children. Their legacy endures in the exceptional wines crafted at Cristom, which continue to embody their unwavering commitment to quality and respect for the land. Their vision of creating a family-owned winery focused on terroir-driven wines has shaped Cristom into one of Oregon’s most respected and enduring names in the wine industry.
CHRISTINE GERRIE – CO-OWNER
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Christine Gerrie, the “Cris” in Cristom, daughter of Paul and Eileen Gerrie, is proud to co-own the winery with her brother, Tom. After earning a B.A. in Communication from Lewis & Clark College and a Master’s in Education from Webster University, Christine pursued a career in Adult Learning and Enablement. While she too loves wine, her path led her in a different direction from her brother, who now manages the winery as Owner and Winegrower of Cristom. She is passionate about dogs, baking, and travel, with a lifelong dream of visiting the Egyptian pyramids. The winery remains close to her heart, filled with cherished memories of her youth spent among the vines and barrels.
