DHRUV SINGH

director of hospitality & membership

Morgan Beck
Winemaker/General Manager

After growing up in Colorado and pursuing a degree in Finance and International Business, Morgan's winegrowing journey began with an Enology & Viticulture certificate program in Argentina. After her first harvest experience she fell for Pinot Noir and followed this grape around the globe -- chasing harvest in California, Central Otago NZ, Casablanca Valley in Chile, and Oregon. With the desire to gaining experience in organic/BD viticulture, she worked few growing seasons with a vineyard management in Sonoma/Napa. Jumping back to the cellar, she focused her winemaking pursuits on ‘low-manipulation’ approaches and eventually landed in Oregon. Seeing the care, resulting quality and expression of the fruit and wines from these experiences, Biodynamic practices have become a foundation of Morgan's personal winegrowing approach.   Morgan joined the Johan team as the winegrowing assistant / tasting room associate in 2015. After working closely with mentor/winegrower Dan Rinke, Morgan stepped into the head winemaker position in 2018. With a desire to work and grow every aspect of the business, she took on national sales in 2017 and in 2020 was promoted to General Manager.  While always working towards a holistic/regenerative system, Morgan’s goal is to share the story of the growing season, the place, and the people behind the wines each year when guiding the wines from grape to bottle.

Kattie Zielinski
Wine Club/Office Manager

Kattie grew up in a tiny ski-town in Idaho, surrounded by potatoes and cows rather than wine grapes. Life eventually brought her to Oregon where she finished up an art degree and met her farmer/nurseryman husband, Josh.  They raise their rambunctious daughter Alyce, a few dogs, cats and chickens on their nursery in North Salem.Kattie has been working in the wine industry for about a decade, starting out as a tasting room associate as a side-hustle in 2012.  Before landing at Johan, Kattie had the opportunity to gain experience at a few great wineries in the Willamette Valley, including Cristom, Soter and Domaine Serene.  Kattie wears many hats at Johan, including wine club manager, HR/office manager, and most importantly, harvest chef!

Brent Smith
Assistant Vineyard Manager

Brent grew up in Paso Robles, California surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful vineyards. While living in Santa Cruz, he started making cider and wine in his garage, beginning with 5 gallons of fresh-pressed apple juice. A couple years later, he moved back to Paso and took an internship with John Munch at Le Cuvier Winery. After a few years of harvest positions around Paso and one at Two Hands in the Barossa Valley of Australia, Brent landed at Brecon Estate as their Assistant Winemaker for 2 years. With a growing interest in farming and lighter bodied wines, he decided to make the move up to Oregon to produce the wines that he loved to drink. After stints at Ponzi and Beaux Freres, Brent found Johan Vineyards and was excited about the farming style and the wines being made. While he still occasionally moonlights in the cellar, most of his days are spent working in the vineyard and wrenching on equipment.Brent still makes cider and wine in his garage, mostly for himself and his thirsty friends. In the future, he hopes to have his own farm with grapes, apples, and a garden. When Brent’s not at Johan, he enjoys rock climbing and hanging with his border collie, Papa.

Anna Hanson
Marketing Coordinator

Bringing a little bit of "Midwest Nice" to Johan, Anna is a face of Johan hospitality - but like everyone at Johan, her role has become more diverse since she came aboard in summer of 2020.Anna was born just south of Chicago (on the Indiana side), and she started her professional life as a videographer, photojournalist, and concert promoter. Her passion for wine led her to a part-time position at a wine bar, which grew her love and appreciation for the expansive, but intimate, world of wine. She expanded her knowledge of wine by earning diplomas from both the Master Court of Sommeliers and WSET and attending wine seminars in Chicago in her spare time. After taking the leap abroad to work at a biodynamic vineyard in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, she made her way to the Willamette Valley. Anna joined the Johan team as a Tasting Room Associate, but she now coordinates Johan's digital marketing, continues to welcome new (and familiar) faces to our Tasting Room, and helps tend to Johan's furry and feathered friends.

Kyle Hall
Assistant Vineyard Manager

Originally from Colorado, Kyle made his way west and joined the Johan team for harvest in the wild year that was 2020. After working in the sales side of the beer industry for several years, he was eager to get back to his initial passion: fermentation science. The world of wine provided an opportunity to not only be involved with the winemaking process but also presented a closer tie to the agricultural side of the business. Johan’s sustainable approach to farming and minimal intervention winemaking philosophy was a quick draw. During his first year at Johan, Kyle worked both in the winery and vineyard taking advantage of a hands-on approach to learn everything he could about the unique site. Recently he has moved into a new role where he will help with the development of the estate. In his free time, you’ll find Kyle exploring the great outdoors, riding bicycles, surfing, snowboarding, and fishing.

Kyle Manning
Cellar Hand

“I’m a reformed Texan and part time gallivanter. After completing a four-year stint at Cal Poly and vintages in California, New Zealand and Oregon, I had the good fortune of trying a few bottles from Johan. The wines lit me on fire. They had crazy ageability, engaging textures and a sense of place that was endorsed by a breathtaking site. I ended up working the best harvest of my career and staying on full time. I’ve never been more excited by the activities in my day, or surrounded by closer friends. When I’m not making wine, I’m reading sci-fi, noodling poorly on a guitar or embarrassing Brent in a game of chess.”

Tim Schmidt
Tasting Room Manager

Tim left Oregon in 1999 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry where he rose to head film restoration artist for Sony Pictures. After a nearly 20 year career as a respected film editor, he felt his passion for wine was pushing him to explore a new direction. Tim began enology and viticulture classes while closing out his career in film and moved back to the Willamette Valley in 2018 to complete a degree in vineyard management. One of his first stops upon his return was Johan Vineyards, where he became captivated with the approach to biodynamic and regenerative winegrowing. When an opportunity to join the team at Johan Vineyards presented itself, it was an easy decision for him. Tim became the Tasting Room Manager in early 2021 and thoroughly enjoy working the tasting room and sharing the Johan wines with our visitors.

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