Small Pours, Big Impact
Anna Maria Ponzi shares her intimate guide for living with intention, from her roots in Oregon wine to finding meaning in a four-ounce pour
When I reflect on the pillars of Oregon wine country, few stories captivate me quite like that of Anna Maria Ponzi. Her family's legacy is woven into the very soil of the Willamette Valley, yet it's her personal journey - from a four-year-old planting vines alongside her parents to becoming a transformative force in the wine industry - that truly inspires. Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with Anna Maria for an intimate conversation that meandered through topics of leadership, legacy, intentional living, and the courage to forge new paths.
Planting Dreams in Oregon Soil
In 1969, when the Ponzis arrived in the Willamette Valley with three young children and an audacious dream, they were met with skepticism. The prevailing wisdom was clear: wine couldn't be made in Oregon. Yet this family of dreamers didn't just prove the critics wrong - they helped birth an entire industry. Today, that first vineyard still stands off Scholls Ferry Road, its vines as old as Anna Maria herself, testament to the power of believing in impossible things.
“We moved into a tiny little one-bedroom shack and started planting that vineyard almost immediately. Again, I was four, alongside my sister and brother, ages two and six. And yes, we planted the vineyard and many people say, ‘Yeah, no, you didn’t.’ No, we actually did.”
A Mother’s Intentional Blueprint
Anna Maria's mother wasn't just a co-founder of a winery - she was an architect of independence for her daughters. With deliberate choices that seemed unconventional at the time, like forbidding typing classes but encouraging student government participation, she built a foundation of self-sufficiency and leadership in her children. She created daily rituals of intention, from properly set dinner tables to fresh flowers and lit candles, teaching her daughters that how we do things matters as much as what we do. This early training in mindfulness and independence would shape not only Anna Maria's business approach but her entire philosophy of living.
“My mother is extraordinary. She raised both of us to be very strong, independent women. You know, I was raised during the seventies, right? Women’s lib and all that stuff. And my mother forbid me to take a typing class in high school because she didn’t want me to work for the guy.”
Sisters in Wine: A Story of Complementary Strengths
The story of Ponzi Vineyards isn't just about wine - it's about family, and particularly about two sisters who found their own paths within the same legacy. Anna Maria and her sister Luisa naturally gravitated toward different aspects of the business, with Luisa's love for science leading her to winemaking while Anna Maria's gift for storytelling drew her to marketing and communications. Their partnership demonstrates how family businesses can thrive when each member embraces their authentic strengths.
“It was natural for her to roll into production and become the head of the winemaking and viticulture. And for me to take on the communication sides and the marketing and the sales side of the operation.”
Breaking Ground: Women in the Wine Industry
The early days presented unique challenges for women in the wine industry. Anna Maria and Luisa found themselves navigating not only the complexities of building a brand, but also the added pressure of being women in a male-dominated field. They worked twice as hard, pushed twice as far, and maintained their focus on excellence even while balancing motherhood with business leadership.
“We were doing it all and not getting that kind of recognition that the guys were getting, who honestly may have just shown up. And so those things were very, very difficult, but I kept feeling like we just need to keep pushing on.”
The Four Ounce Pour: A Philosophy of Intentional Living
Beyond the business of wine, Anna Maria has developed a powerful philosophy about intentional living, embodied in her "Four Ounce Pour" keynote. This approach isn't just about wine appreciation - it's about the art of slowing down and savoring life's moments. It's a reminder that in our fast-paced world, there's profound value in taking time to appreciate the people and experiences around us.
“I feel that so many of us have forgotten to do those things, right? We are in an incredibly fast-paced lifestyle right now. Everybody’s living at a high capacity that is not healthy for anything. It’s not healthy for relationships. It’s not healthy for your body, your emotions.”
The Heart of Giving Back
For Anna Maria, success is about creating lasting impact in her community. Her work with Anthony Circle to increase graduation rates for foster youth, mentoring incarcerated young people, and protecting Oregon farmland demonstrates her lifelong commitment to extending her influence beyond the wine industry. These efforts reflect a deeper understanding that true success lies not in personal achievement but in lifting others up and preserving what matters for future generations.
“One of my most rewarding experiences has been helping a young man through his incarceration. I realized that all this young man needed was support, and he made it through ... There’s so much good that one single person can do. You just have to apply yourself and just do it.”
Lighting the Way Forward
Now as the leader of Linfield University's wine studies program, Anna Maria continues to shape the industry's future. Her vision extends beyond traditional viticulture to encompass the business aspects that sustain the industry: marketing, finance, compliance, and hospitality. It's about creating a holistic understanding of what makes wine culture thrive.
“I would like to see some emphasis now in the area of what sustains that, right? So that means experience in wine business and finance and compliance and wine law and wine marketing and wine sales and hospitality and tourism.”
As our conversation drew to a close, I was struck by how Anna Maria's story exemplifies the power of believing in something bigger than yourself while staying true to your own path. Her journey reminds us that success isn't just about individual achievement - it's about creating space for others to grow and thrive.
You can learn more about Anna Maria’s work and connect with her via her website.
I invite you to embrace your own "four ounce pour" moment. Take time to reflect on your journey, consider how you can support others along their path, and perhaps raise a glass to the dreamers who plant vines in impossible soil. After all, as Anna Maria's story shows us, those "insane" dreams just might transform an entire industry.
