Wine made with grapes from Momtazi Vineyards continue to garner top wine rankings but Moe Momtazi, founder of Momtazi Vineyards and Maysara Winery doesn’t go for the numbers, preferring instead to let his grapes speak for themselves. In his estimation, wine is either “yum or yuck.” Behind this seemingly simplistic response lies a modern-day conservationist and an ancient Zoroastrian philosopher. Momtazi views wine not as a commercial commodity but as a living spirit that springs from the marriage of the sun and the earth.
Following the Iranian Revolution, Momtazi left his homeland in 1982 on a motorcycle along with his eight-month pregnant wife, Flora. They eventually landed in McMinnville, Oregon. Others scoffed at his decision in 1997 to purchase 496 (now 532) acres of abandoned wheat farm, as the land had been deemed unsuitable for planting finicky Pinot Noir grapes.
But Momtazi knew he could breathe life into this soil by employing his family’s ancient vineyard practices to produce Pinot Noir wine using holistic means such as growing a variety of medicinal flowers and herbs — even select weeds — into making compost teas that harness the beneficial properties of each plant. These teas work in tandem to maintain long-term vine and soil health.
His instincts proved to be spot on as his Demeter Certified Biodynamic vineyard sold Pinot Noir grapes to 18 wineries following the 2024 harvest. Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent Winery in Jefferson, Oregon, has the distinction of being the first winemaker to sell a bottle of Momtazi Vineyard wine nationally back in 2006. According to Vlossak, “The unique umami texture, the savory spice and blue-black fruit set it apart as a unique terroir that I love, as well as the family behind the vines.”
John Adams of Wildsound Wines in McMinnville met Momtazi while filming the 2024 James Beard award-winning documentary SOMM: Cup of Salvation that included the Momtazi family. “Moe has a quote in the film that always sticks with me: ‘Wine is the sun’s radiance in liquid form’,” Adams reflects.
According to Adams, Momtazi has the remarkable characteristic of being able to teach you about a lot of things by just being around him. “We have similar philosophies about biodiversity and holistic approaches to farming and winegrowing, and he has been so generous in sharing his knowledge of biodynamics with me. He fundamentally changed the way I approach farming our own vineyard and property here at Wildsound.”
In Adams’ estimation, Momtazi Vineyard should be considered one of the jewels of the Willamette Valley. “The entire property is alive and a place that brings me peace and inner happiness when I am there. Sometimes I just go watch the sunset or sit by the pond in the afternoon to be present in the moment. It’s only natural that we’d want to make wine from this place.”
Adams adds that Pinot Noir grapes from Momtazi Vineyard “possess a certain depth and spiciness with dark fruit characteristics and remarkable ability to retain acid even in warmer vintages.”
Winemaker Tracy Kendall concurs that grapes from this vineyard build one of the most balanced, long-lived and complex Oregon Pinot Noir wines. “Momtazi Vineyard is one of Oregon’s most unique vineyards for Pinot Noir. No matter the vintage, there is always a feral quality to the wine, a wildness that is very unique,” she opines.
When Tracy left Nicolas-Jay in Newberg, Oregon, and launched Folly of Man in Amity, Oregon, with her husband Aaron, they decided to continue purchasing fruit from Momtazi, whom she describes as her long-time mentor. Currently, they are bottling their first vintage, 2023, slated for release this March.
Soak in the Momtazi spirit by booking an appointment at Maysara Winery’s tasting room.
