Blair Trathen
Director of Winemaking at Abbey Road farm- Claim this Profile
Click to upgrade to our gold package
for the full feature experience.
Topline Score
Bio
Credentials
-
Advanced Open Water Diver
PADI -
American Red Cross CPR
American Red Cross
Experience
-
Abbey Road farm
-
United States
-
Insurance
-
Director of Winemaking
-
Jan 2022 - Present
Carry out and over see the production of 3,500-4,000 cases of wine in a new wine making facility which highlights the estates diverse array of 15 different planted varieties. Overhauled the wine production program to focus on estate grown wines. Increased production by 120% and reduced operational costs by 66% in year one. Carry out and over see the production of 3,500-4,000 cases of wine in a new wine making facility which highlights the estates diverse array of 15 different planted varieties. Overhauled the wine production program to focus on estate grown wines. Increased production by 120% and reduced operational costs by 66% in year one.
-
-
-
-
Co-Owner / Co-Winemaker
-
Sep 2009 - Present
Specializing in single vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc that are specific to time and place and are made from bio-dynamically or organically grown fruit. Production is minuscule. During 2020 increased DTC and wholesale sales by 90% and opened up one international export market and one out of state market. Specializing in single vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc that are specific to time and place and are made from bio-dynamically or organically grown fruit. Production is minuscule. During 2020 increased DTC and wholesale sales by 90% and opened up one international export market and one out of state market.
-
-
-
Shea Wine Cellars
-
United States
-
Beverage Manufacturing
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Winemaker
-
May 2012 - May 2019
• Managed and directed all winemaking activities, as well as picking decisions, and including fruit processing, fermentation, pressing, barrel selection, fining, filtration, and bottling. • Conducted all in house lab work including photospectrometry. • Made wines that placed on “top 100” lists 2 years running and made over 40 wines scoring 94 pts. or greater. • Streamlined winemaking procedure and operation through the purchase and alteration of key pieces of processing/winemaking… Show more • Managed and directed all winemaking activities, as well as picking decisions, and including fruit processing, fermentation, pressing, barrel selection, fining, filtration, and bottling. • Conducted all in house lab work including photospectrometry. • Made wines that placed on “top 100” lists 2 years running and made over 40 wines scoring 94 pts. or greater. • Streamlined winemaking procedure and operation through the purchase and alteration of key pieces of processing/winemaking equipment which resulted in a 30% production increase and cut labor costs by 20%. • Generated work orders and recorded all winemaking movements, additions and wine analysis in a winemaking data base, (IVIS.), and generated quarterly reports at both state and federal level. • Brought the winery and all winemaking activities into compliance with OSHA, Dept. of Agriculture and the FDA and made sure the winery stayed compliant. • Hired and trained harvest staff in all SOP’s, forklift operation and safety procedures. • Worked in conjunction with scientists from USDA and OSU with regards to vineyard trials and sampling. • Conducted winemaking and cooperage trials each year to better quality and focus style for particular wine programs. • Represented winery at trade tastings and tours with distributors and members of the public. Presented wines at symposiums, technical tastings and represented the winery on tasting panels. • Maintained plant and facilities. Trouble shot and repair key pieces of wine making equipment. Repaired leaks in winery glycol plumbing. Rewired all solenoid valves on stainless steel tanks and installed new temp controllers. Possess an intimate knowledge of all pieces of cellar equipment including pumps, destemmers, presses, filters and barrels. • Monitored wastewater and stormwater systems for correct functioning. • Repaired all and any barrel leaks as well as wooden fermenters. • Hire and train hospitality staff during weekend open houses. Show less • Managed and directed all winemaking activities, as well as picking decisions, and including fruit processing, fermentation, pressing, barrel selection, fining, filtration, and bottling. • Conducted all in house lab work including photospectrometry. • Made wines that placed on “top 100” lists 2 years running and made over 40 wines scoring 94 pts. or greater. • Streamlined winemaking procedure and operation through the purchase and alteration of key pieces of processing/winemaking… Show more • Managed and directed all winemaking activities, as well as picking decisions, and including fruit processing, fermentation, pressing, barrel selection, fining, filtration, and bottling. • Conducted all in house lab work including photospectrometry. • Made wines that placed on “top 100” lists 2 years running and made over 40 wines scoring 94 pts. or greater. • Streamlined winemaking procedure and operation through the purchase and alteration of key pieces of processing/winemaking equipment which resulted in a 30% production increase and cut labor costs by 20%. • Generated work orders and recorded all winemaking movements, additions and wine analysis in a winemaking data base, (IVIS.), and generated quarterly reports at both state and federal level. • Brought the winery and all winemaking activities into compliance with OSHA, Dept. of Agriculture and the FDA and made sure the winery stayed compliant. • Hired and trained harvest staff in all SOP’s, forklift operation and safety procedures. • Worked in conjunction with scientists from USDA and OSU with regards to vineyard trials and sampling. • Conducted winemaking and cooperage trials each year to better quality and focus style for particular wine programs. • Represented winery at trade tastings and tours with distributors and members of the public. Presented wines at symposiums, technical tastings and represented the winery on tasting panels. • Maintained plant and facilities. Trouble shot and repair key pieces of wine making equipment. Repaired leaks in winery glycol plumbing. Rewired all solenoid valves on stainless steel tanks and installed new temp controllers. Possess an intimate knowledge of all pieces of cellar equipment including pumps, destemmers, presses, filters and barrels. • Monitored wastewater and stormwater systems for correct functioning. • Repaired all and any barrel leaks as well as wooden fermenters. • Hire and train hospitality staff during weekend open houses. Show less
-
-
-
A to Z Wineworks
-
United States
-
Beverage Manufacturing
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Assistant Winemaker
-
Apr 2009 - May 2012
Managed day to day wine making activities in one of Oregon's largest and fastest growing wineries. Formulated all blending plans and tracked all wine and cellar operations through winery software programs, IVIS and WMDB. Obtained winery LIVE certification and constantly refined and where necessary write new SOP's Part of wine making team that created the 2011 A to Z Pinot Noir which placed of Wine Spectators Top 100 list. Adapted to change when a key management position in my… Show more Managed day to day wine making activities in one of Oregon's largest and fastest growing wineries. Formulated all blending plans and tracked all wine and cellar operations through winery software programs, IVIS and WMDB. Obtained winery LIVE certification and constantly refined and where necessary write new SOP's Part of wine making team that created the 2011 A to Z Pinot Noir which placed of Wine Spectators Top 100 list. Adapted to change when a key management position in my department was cut pushing me into taking on a greater managerial load. Show less Managed day to day wine making activities in one of Oregon's largest and fastest growing wineries. Formulated all blending plans and tracked all wine and cellar operations through winery software programs, IVIS and WMDB. Obtained winery LIVE certification and constantly refined and where necessary write new SOP's Part of wine making team that created the 2011 A to Z Pinot Noir which placed of Wine Spectators Top 100 list. Adapted to change when a key management position in my… Show more Managed day to day wine making activities in one of Oregon's largest and fastest growing wineries. Formulated all blending plans and tracked all wine and cellar operations through winery software programs, IVIS and WMDB. Obtained winery LIVE certification and constantly refined and where necessary write new SOP's Part of wine making team that created the 2011 A to Z Pinot Noir which placed of Wine Spectators Top 100 list. Adapted to change when a key management position in my department was cut pushing me into taking on a greater managerial load. Show less
-
-
-
-
Harvest Cellar Assistant
-
Dec 1999 - Oct 2008
After graduating with a Post Graduate diploma from Lincoln University in New Zealand I worked back to back harvests in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres working with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Port varieties. Vintages in New Zealand: Neudorf Winery, (Nelson). Mt. Difficulty, Gibbston Valley (2), Peregrine, Vin Pro, (Central Otago). Vintages in Oregon: Beaux Freres (2), Archery Summit, Hamacher, A to Z, Shea Wine Cellars, Patricia Green Cellars. Vintages in New York,… Show more After graduating with a Post Graduate diploma from Lincoln University in New Zealand I worked back to back harvests in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres working with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Port varieties. Vintages in New Zealand: Neudorf Winery, (Nelson). Mt. Difficulty, Gibbston Valley (2), Peregrine, Vin Pro, (Central Otago). Vintages in Oregon: Beaux Freres (2), Archery Summit, Hamacher, A to Z, Shea Wine Cellars, Patricia Green Cellars. Vintages in New York, Long Island: Pellegrini, Premium Wine Group. Vintages in Australia, Pemberton: Salitage. Vintages in South Africa: Glen Carlou. (Paarl) Show less After graduating with a Post Graduate diploma from Lincoln University in New Zealand I worked back to back harvests in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres working with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Port varieties. Vintages in New Zealand: Neudorf Winery, (Nelson). Mt. Difficulty, Gibbston Valley (2), Peregrine, Vin Pro, (Central Otago). Vintages in Oregon: Beaux Freres (2), Archery Summit, Hamacher, A to Z, Shea Wine Cellars, Patricia Green Cellars. Vintages in New York,… Show more After graduating with a Post Graduate diploma from Lincoln University in New Zealand I worked back to back harvests in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres working with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Port varieties. Vintages in New Zealand: Neudorf Winery, (Nelson). Mt. Difficulty, Gibbston Valley (2), Peregrine, Vin Pro, (Central Otago). Vintages in Oregon: Beaux Freres (2), Archery Summit, Hamacher, A to Z, Shea Wine Cellars, Patricia Green Cellars. Vintages in New York, Long Island: Pellegrini, Premium Wine Group. Vintages in Australia, Pemberton: Salitage. Vintages in South Africa: Glen Carlou. (Paarl) Show less
-
-
Education
-
Lincoln University (NZ)
Post Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology, Viticulture and Enology -
1990 - 1993
University of Otago
Bachelor of Science - BS, Geology/Climatology -
1990 - 1993
University of Otago
Bachelor of Science - BS, Soil Sciences and Climatology -
University of Otago
Bachelor of Science - BS -
Lincoln University (NZ)
Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology -
Lincoln University (NZ)
Post Graduate Diploma, Viticulture and Enology
Community
