Pioneering Oregon Vineyards

 

Momtazi Vineyards and Maysara Winery

Moe Momtazi was born in Iran and lived in the Iranian city of Shiraz. He graduated with an engineering degree from the United States. After graduating he and his wife Flora returned to Iran.

During the Iranian revolution and hostage crisis in the late 1970’s-early 1980’s they escaped the country and ultimately entered the United States and filed for political asylum. After immigrating they settled in McMinnville.

He always had an interest in wine as his father and grandfather used to make wine in Iran. Some of their Iranian wine was made from the local red grape variety called Shahani. On April 1, 1997 he purchased a 496-acre abandoned wheat farm near McMinnville, and since then his property has grown to 560 acres.

In 1998 he planted the first 13 acres of vines. Over the years the vineyard has grown to about 260 acres. Most of the vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir with small amounts of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling. Grapes are sold to a number of Willamette Valley wineries. The Momtazi’s practice biodynamic farming and the vineyard became Demeter Certified (the strictest of all biodynamic certifications) in 2004.

Moe Momtazi states: “We practice holistic farming, employing practices from biodynamic agriculture. We believe that healthy soil and healthy vines will produce superior grapes, without the need for man-made chemicals and poisons.” The Momtazi family also started the well-known “Maysara Winery”. Maysara is an ancient Persian term that means “winery.” Maysara Winery and Momtazi Vineyard is located at 15765 SW Muddy Valley Road, McMinnville, OR 97128.


 

Fun Facts

The Momtazi family also started the well-known “Maysara Winery”. Maysara is an ancient Persian term that means “winery.”