In 1986, Ken moved to McMinnville and started Panther Creek Cellars. His concept of focusing on vineyard-designate bottling began during those years and was cemented as a core philosophy in 1994 when Ken Wright Cellars was founded in historic downtown Carlton. Ken now makes a single vineyard bottling from 13 vineyard sites and is known as a pioneer of Oregon Pinot Noir. Before the move to Carlton, Ken met Karen in 1991 when she invited him to join her co-ed softball league. At the time, Karen had a design studio in McMinnville. She has been responsible for the revitalization of McMinnville’s downtown third street. One of Karen’s most well-known projects, which comes to no surprise, is the restoration of Carlton’s 1923 train depot, now home to the KWC tasting room. Inside the tasting room, you will find a collection Karen’s one of kind jewelry. When away from her jewelry bench, Karen is coaching on the soccer field with her and Ken’s two young girls Josie and Evy.

Ken and Karen continue to invest in their communities of Carlton and Yamhill through countless hours of non-profit volunteerism. The dynamic duo are also founding members of ¡Salud! A program that provides healthcare for the seasonal vineyard and winery workers. Their philanthropy & commitment to Oregon wine was recognized when there were announced as 2012’s Oregon Wine People of the Year.

Originally from a small town in Ohio, she fell in love with Oregon and moved there in 1991. After saying, “I will never live in a small town again!”, she and her husband settled in the quaint little town of Carlton in 1996 and proceeded to have two children. Watching as Ken & Karen built their winery and revitalized the town, she became not only a fan of the wine but of Ken and Karen’s generous spirits. For 20 years Angela worked in the corporate world of advertising and marketing, tired of all the traveling she felt there had to be more to life. One day in passing she mentioned this to Ken, and he replied “I have a place for you.”  Attending all the Ken Wright Cellars’ events for years, Angela thought she knew a little about wine, so when she accepted this new path in 2008, she was unprepared to have her mind blown the first day. She finally understood why the extent of Ken’s viticulture and winemaking knowledge was considered legendary. Angela wears many hats in the company, her favorite is her Wine Princess crown. Using a Vinology Informational System, she follows the fruit from harvest to bottling and loves the memories that come from the different vintages. Always thankful for the winery family, she is glad she traded her high heels for flip flops all those years ago. When not at the winery, you will find her either at the beach or at one of her kids’ sporting events.

Given the opportunity during a gap year,  Ken offered Brogan a chance to work his first harvest in 2014.

Having taken several courses at the University of Oregon between harvests, he left the advertising track to pursue a career in winemaking with KWC.

Diversifying his understanding of wine through constant learning both in the cellar and at home, he’s eager to experience all winemaking can throw at him.

An enthusiastic traveler, Brogan has visited over 18 countries trying wine from every corner. “Being away, an appreciation for my home state grew. Through travel, it dawned on me that just an hour from where I grew up was a wonderful community making world-class wine and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Living just a few paces from the winery Brogan breathes and sleeps wine. A keen observer and fast learner he now manages bottling operations in addition to his fervent cellar work.

“I went to a Spanish Immersion School and became fascinated with language so I am currently working on German at home. I’m avid about playing soccer as often as possible and I’m passionate about film photography and the whole developing process. As cheesy as it sounds, I make it a point to learn something new every day.”

Carrie started working in the summer of 2006 for Ken Wright Cellars as a Tasting Room Associate. Carrie worked closely with Ken and his team to learn the unique winemaking and viticultural philosophies that create Ken Wright’s single vineyard Pinot Noirs. After 2 years of training and guiding tasting room visitors from around the world to experience Ken Wright Cellars wine, Carrie was promoted to Tasting Room Manager. Carrie has been influential in starting our very first wine club and 3 different renovations to our tasting room, including the recent addition of our brand new bar in 2017. Carrie also manages Ken and Karen’s Winery Loft accommodations, established in 2005, located in downtown Carlton between the winery and tasting room.

Carrie says, Ken and Karen’s inherent passion for their community inspired her to become more involved in community events on her own. She says it was a true joy and pleasure to see how this little community can come together through multiple non-profit organizations and give back in such a big way. Outside of the tasting room, Carrie enjoys volunteering for the Carlton Business Association, visiting other tasting rooms, and spending time in her garden and with her 5 adorable grandsons because there is never a dull moment with them!

After being self-employed and working in construction for about 30 years, Darrin decided to construct a slightly new career at Ken Wright Cellars. Ken and wife Karen had hired Darrin for many different jobs over the years. At one point, Darrin was working on so many different projects for the Wright’s the only thing separating him from being a full-time winery employee was a piece of paper… so they made it official in April of 2015. Darrin says he has really enjoyed being in a new industry and having a whole variety of new projects to work on. He said the Ken Wright Cellars team has been very welcoming and he already feels like part of the winery family. Outside of the winery’s projects, Darrin enjoys off road riding, hunting and fishing and spending time with family and friends.

September 5th, 2019—I approached Ken about working harvest with him and the team. Ken agreed after a working interview…which I deemed successful since I was offered a full-time position. I’m forever greatful to now be his assistant winemaker.

I graduated with a BS in Bioagriculture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA. After graduation I moved to Aspen, CO where I worked as Chef at the Aspen Skiing Co. and catered to many of Aspen’s elite clientele including Robert DeNiro, Will Smith, Malcom Forbes Jr., Paula Zahn, Don Johnson & Melanie Griffin. After Colorado, I opened a resort in Belize and then worked for the Hyatt.

My love of wine is a culmination of all these experiences in the food & beverage industry. I fell in love with Oregon Pinot in 2007 and then again in 2009 at Oregon Pinot Camp, where I decided to move to Oregon. Learning under Robert Brittan, Eric Hamacher, Anthony King and now the tutelage of Ken will only further enhance my winemaking ability.

Outside of wine, I love the outdoors, dogs and working on my property with my wife Coral, and daughter, Phoebe.

Josie Wright is the eldest daughter of Ken and Karen Wright. Although being born into the industry and lending a hand at wine events over the years, Josie officially joined the Ken Wright Cellars team part-time during the year 2016. Coming on board during her sophomore year in high school she would help run the back of the house at the tasting room on the weekends.

Growing up on Savoya Vineyard she was enrolled in the Yamhill Carlton school district. In 2019 she graduated as the student body president and valedictorian of her class. Josie then attended Chemeketa Community College on a scholarship where she completed her Associate of Science/Oregon Transfer Degree in Business in a year while maintaining her 4.0. During Covid-19, Josie continued her studies virtually at Chemeketa taking a variety of business courses. Instead of immediately transferring after graduating from Chemeketa, Josie decided to take a break from schooling and focus on her interests at the family winery. Joining our team full-time and working her first full harvest during the year 2021, Josie helps out in the tasting room and cellar while taking on the role of creating media and content for the winery.

Away from the winery Josie enjoys playing and coaching soccer at the Yamhill Carlton Soccer Club run by her mom Karen. Along with snowboarding, hiking, scuba diving, paddle boarding, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Although she enjoys learning about the family business and the wine industry, Josie plans to eventually travel and return to school to pursue a degree in marketing and graphic design.

Joylin came to Oregon from Texas in May of 2012. Joylin was studying Restaurant and Hotel Institutional Management at Texas Tech University and wanted to focus on event planning. A long time friend mentioned to Joylin that she had an uncle in Oregon who makes wine and plans many events and that she should consider taking up an internship with him. When Joylin arrived in May of 2012 for her internship at Ken Wright Cellars she planned to stay for six weeks… and then six weeks turned into 3 months, 3 months turned into 6 months… and eventually six months turned in to a full-time job. Joylin is now the wineries Events Coordinator and Wine Club Manager. Joylin says that she loves working in the wine industry because she is always learning new things. Joylin recently recieved her WSET Level II certification. When not in the cellar Joylin loves to run and train for marathons. She also says that coming from Texas, she had no family here but Ken Wright Cellars feels like her new Oregon family (minus the accents.)

If you have been following KWC closely over the past few years, you may have noticed a new obsession with soccer. Karen Wright, our soccer general, coaches hundreds of kids every year through her soccer club. Karly and her husband Wade, both transplants from Idaho, have three young girls who caught the soccer fever. One day after a soccer volunteer meeting, Karen asked Karly if she would be interested in some part time work at the winery. Karly began working for Ken Wright Cellars in 2013 helping maintain the company’s Winery Loft accommodations in downtown Carlton. In 2015, Karly started working in the tasting room pouring wine on the weekends. Karly, who graduated from Idaho State University in 1998 with a Bachelors Degree in Dental Hygiene still carries a passion for science. Karly says that she loves that her new wine job as it continues to fuel her love for learning. From the science to the people, one can stay busy learning for a long time. She has also found people much prefer wine tasting to dental work! When out from behind the tasting bar, Karly says her life mostly revolves around her kids but enjoys her new hobby of playing the guitar and her daily early morning dog walking in Carlton.

Lynn, originally from East Tennessee, made the one-way trip to Portland, OR with her husband Jay in 1998. They eventually found their way to Carlton in 2007, where after several wine country visits they impulsively purchased a fixer-upper farm in the beautiful Willamette Valley. That (ongoing) project led to a major appreciation of the nuances expressed in Oregon Pinot noir, and ultimately a career in food and wine!

“I count my blessings every day to have landed in the literal ‘great little town’ of Carlton, OR. There is so much vitality and community spirit in this wine-centric village, and Ken Wright Cellars has been at the forefront of Carlton’s renaissance. I really appreciate being part of that dynamic and team.”

When outside the kitchen and tasting room, Lynn enjoys spending time with Jay and their two daughters (and Ringo the dog), traveling near and far, geeking out on history, reading cookbooks, vintage thrifting, and repurposing, sewing, puttering in the garden, raising chickens and various cats, and of course continuing to rehab an old farm!

All the stars aligned for me when receiving an offer to work for Ken. My husband James and I were looking to relocate from New York to the Willamette Valley and visited Oregon in January of 2022. One of our stops during our trip was to the tasting room at Ken Wright Cellars. We expressed our dream of moving to the west coast and how much we love the wine region of Oregon. A few months later in April, I received a call from Ken Wright Cellars letting me know they had a full-time position available. I was in Oregon at the time finalizing the details of our move. I met with Ken the following day before we flew back to New York. After meeting with him I knew this was where I belonged! I was honored to accept the position and started in May of 2022.

As a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, hospitality has always been my passion. I have worked as a Private Chef, Chocolatier and most recently as the Membership Coordinator of a Private Golf Club. Working in the wine industry was always a dream and now has become a reality.

When I’m not in the Tasting Room I enjoy cooking, reading, crocheting, hiking, and exploring new adventures with my loving and wonderful husband James. There is so much to experience as a new resident of the west coast!

What I love most about the Willamette Valley is the community feel. That is why we picked Oregon to relocate over any other wine region in the country. There is a special feeling being here that is unexplainable. Working for Ken Wright Cellars is like having a second family. Ken, Karen, and the whole team have been so welcoming!

Mark met Ken for the first time in March of 1992 at the first Salud event while he was the Executive Chef at Atwaters in Portland, they became friends that year. Fast forward to 1997, Mark left the restaurant he was working at on New Year’s Eve. His plan for 1998 was to have a sabbatical year working with friends at their business’s while he developed his own restaurant concept. Mark had planned to work for Ken over harvest that year but Ken called Mark in January and asked if he would come to help out for 2 days. Those 2 days turned into 2 weeks and now 20 years. Mark says he won the lottery. Mark has had the opportunity to develop 7 vineyards from the ground up and redevelop another 3. He feels that each project is a legacy for him. He says, being connected to the land and the season, to the relationships with people that own the land and his coworkers and to the product that we make together makes his job very special. When Mark isn’t in the vineyards with his sidekick Scout, he loves snowboarding, riding and competing with his cutting horse ‘Lil’ and working with his wife Alice on their farm property.

Seth began working at Ken Wright Cellars part time between 1994 and 1997 while going to school. Upon graduating Pacific University where he recieved a degree in Business, Seth knew his future career was meant to be spent in nature. Taking a full time position at KWC in 2001 allowed him to do that. When Ken purchased Canary Hill Vineyard from Dick and Nancy Daniel in 2006, the Daniels wanted someone who would be a good steward of the land…Ken knew Seth was up for the task! Seth now lives at Canary Hill with his wife Kay, daughter Elliot and German Pointer Belle. He manages Canary Hill and Carter vineyard, two estate Pinot Noir vineyards that continue to produce fruit focused and ageable wines under Seth’s thoughtful management. Seth has been instrumental in carrying out multiple vineyard trials and projects including a 10-year crop thinning trial at Carter Vineyard with Oregon State University and a Prairie Restoration Project that converted 1.5 acres of unused land at Carter back to native plant species. Most recently, Seth has worked to recreate native habitat at Carter for the Fender’s Blue butterfly. Seth says he loves working with the talented group at Ken Wright Cellars and how we are able to come together at harvest to bring in the fruit, setting aside our primary roles. He is also grateful for the commitment of Ken in participating in many research groups for the betterment of both the company and the Oregon wine industry. If you can’t find Seth in the vines, he may be pouring in the tasting room, but most likely he is fishing on the river or snowboarding down the mountain.

Susan first met Ken and Karen Wright through her husband, Kris . Sharing a love for the area, the four of them have been friends and supporters of all things Carlton for over twenty years.

In June of 2022, Susan retired from teaching in McMinnville School District. A few months later, Susan was presented with the opportunity to work in the tasting room, and it seemed like a natural fit. “I’m still teaching and learning; the subject has just changed to wine!”

Away from the tasting room, you may find Susan working out, biking, golfing, hiking, kayaking, or suping with her family or friends.

Susan says it is an honor to be an employee of Ken Wright Cellars. “I get to spend my days working with amazing people, sharing and selling world class wines, and connecting with interesting, positive people from all over the area and beyond! What more could you ask for?”

After decades in the hospitality industry doing everything from serving and bartending to management and events, the transition into the wine world was a seamless and welcomed change. I genuinely enjoy hosting people in their travels and good times. Sharing deliciousness with people is a great way to spend your time!

In my off time, I enjoy gardening, cooking, jewelry making, painting, reading, DIY projects, camping, hiking, kayaking, and anything outdoors. Spending time with my two daughters, my furry friends, and my honey, whenever possible, and traveling are my absolute favorite pastimes.

I’ve always enjoyed learning about wine and after getting to know Ken and the amazing group of people involved in this company I feel very lucky to have joined the crew.

Taylor began his career with Ken Wright Cellars as a young high schooler, when he began mowing lawns for Ken and Karen in 2003. Ken, who was anxious to get local young people involved in the new and growing wine industry asked Taylor if he would be interested in working full time at the winery during his summer break. Taylor agreed and upgraded from lawn mower to driving tractor in the vineyards for the summers of 2004 and 2005. Taylor continue to work part-time while going to school and eventually completed his high school senior project based upon his experiences at Ken Wright Cellars. While Taylor enjoyed his work in the cellar, his true passion resided in the vineyards where he spent most of his summers. After graduating high school in 2006, Taylor went on to Chemeketa Communtiy College and studied Vineyard Management. Ken and Karen welcomed him to the team as a full-time vineyard manager after he graduated in 2008. Taylor focuses on maintaining the health of Ken Wright’s Yamhill-Carlton & Ribbon Ridge AVA vineyards; Savoya, McCrone, Tanager and Bryce vineyard. He says his favorite part about his job is not having to do the same task every day. There is a lot of variety to his job and he get’s to wear multiple hats. When away from work, Taylor enjoys bonsai, gardening, rockhounding and wood working.