186: Oregon Wines, History and Future with Eugenia Keegan of Jackson Family Wines

Are you curious about what makes Oregon unique from other wine regions? How could climate change impact winemaking? What can we learn from the youngest generation in the wine industry?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Eugenia Keegan, a winemaker and pioneering legend in the wine industry.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Highlights

What was Eugenia’s most memorable moment growing up on a farm?

Why does Eugenia prefer to start her mornings in the vineyard?

Which wine would Eugenia pair with some of her favourite childhood foods?

Why did Eugenia leave her career in the film industry?

Where did Eugenia’s interest in wine come from?

Why does Eugenia say we’ve been farming wrong for the last 100 years?

What has been the best moment of Eugenia’s wine career so far?

What worries Eugenia most as a winemaker?

Which aspect of her career does Eugenia love most?

What can we learn from the youngest generation in the wine industry?

Key Takeaways

She really illustrates how Oregon is unique from other wine regions in its climate, geography, history and wine focus.

Eugenia gets at the heart of how climate change may impact winemaking and wine styles.

I love her take on what we can learn from younger generations in the wine industry.

Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live

Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.

I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?

Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621

About Eugenia Keegan

A fifth-generation Sonoma County native, Eugenia is recognized for her excellence in the wine industry as both a winemaker and a business executive. Today, she serves as General Manager and Vice President of Oregon Winery Operations and Business Development for Jackson Family Wines (JFW), leading a portfolio of prestigious Pinot Noir houses such as Penner-Ash, WillaKenzie, and Gran Moraine.

Her path to Oregon may not have been conventional, but it’s certainly been remarkable. Along the way, Eugenia built a reputation for her keen business sense, advocacy, and dedication to mentorship and community.

Eugenia Keegan joined Jackson Family Wines (JFW) in 2013 to head up the company’s fast-growing Oregon portfolio. As General Manager, Keegan oversees JFW’s holdings in the Willamette Valley: Gran Moraine, Zena Crown, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and Willakenzie Estate wineries. She also supervises Willamette Valley winemaking for Sonoma-based Siduri and La Crema. Actively civic-minded, Keegan is the chair emerita of the board of directors of the Oregon Wine Board, and serves on the boards of the Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, the Chemeketa Wine Advisory Committee, and the Linfield Wine Education Advisory Council.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/186.