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Anna Maria Ponzi

@amponzico

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Oregon wine leader. Creator of “The Four-Ounce Pour” keynote. Author of “Pinot Girl”. Event Curator.

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by @amponzico

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21 days ago

Ireland!! 🇮🇪 Just completed the most glorious two weeks in this gorgeous part of the world. So green, fresh and vibrant. Everywhere you look is a painting. Overwhelming beauty.

A week of cycling in plenty of brutal wind and unrelenting rain was a total blast, followed by drier days touring more popular sites inside an annoying rental car. A perfectly poured Guinness a day, paired with a high carb diet of mainly fried food, kept us anxious for the next day’s activity.

This country’s natural beauty, warm hospitality and jovial spirit of the locals have left me inspired, refreshed and grateful for the opportunity to experience such a special place on our Earth. 🍀🇮🇪💛 by @amponzico

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a month ago

Two weeks in Ireland biking through wind and rain and experiencing tremendous beauty. Gorgeous!! 🍀🇮🇪🍀 by @amponzico

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a month ago

Like many of you, my grandparents immigrated to America in search of a more meaningful and prosperous life. Despite a myriad of challenges, they were resilient, tough and resourceful, which resulted in a better life for themselves but perhaps even more impactful for their offspring – my father in particular, who went on to contribute his energies towards creating industries that helped to build a stronger economy for our state, and opened opportunities for others to prosper.

This is what America has always represented to me; a place where all people have the ability to seek independence, forge their own paths and pursue their dreams for the betterment of others - it’s the American spirit.

But in the last few years, a different perspective is in motion. The current administration is making every effort to prevent this spirit from thriving. Today, under this administration, more than 100,000 children—many of them U.S. citizens—have been separated from a parent due to detention or deportation since 2025.

And effective today, funding that was promised to non-profit organizations that represent unaccompanied minors on a path towards legal citizenship is frozen.

I recently joined the board of ICS (Immigration Counseling Services) which currently serves 175 unaccompanied minors in Oregon, some under 6 years old. Without the critical funding of nearly $640,00 that was promised to @ics_pdx , these children will be left unrepresented, leaving them in dangerous conditions, without any support. Thank you if you can help during this desperate time. by @amponzico

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3 months ago

by @amponzico

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3 months ago

This week marks the end of another short chapter as I leave my role as Wine Director at Linfield University. What an opportunity it was to work with such brilliant young people and passionate professionals!

I am so grateful I had this chance to share my love for wine through education with so many extraordinary individuals. The position enabled me to meet new friends across multiple regions and professions who have inspired me with their enthusiasm, energy and character.

Watching young people, new to wine, light up with the discovery of the aromas and flavors in the glass, to learning how we care for the land and nurture the vines, to understanding the science behind it, the culture it creates, and its rich history - beyond the critical importance of having the business acumen and strong leadership required to sustain it, reignited my love for it all.

Bringing community together to share personal stories, insights and wisdom enriched the program in so many ways. I’m so grateful for all the support so many of you gave me. Thank you.

So, although my time here has been brief and I was unable to accomplish all that I set out to do, my amazing team and I did some great things and I am so proud of our accomplishments. I look forward to continuing to support the program as I move forward in other ways to enhance this beautiful wine industry.

Cheers! by @amponzico

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3 months ago

Hot days. Staying cool. by @amponzico

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4 months ago

honored to be among a long list of inspiring changemakers in the beverage industry 🥂 by @amponzico

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5 months ago

by @amponzico

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5 months ago

Required Reading! So grateful for @gailoberst much needed coverage of the trailblazing women of Oregon wine. Reading it with a smile and teary eyes it offers reflection on the many contributions these remarkable women made putting Oregon on the map as a renowned wine growing region.

With all of these icons now in their mid-80’s it’s a testament to how hard work, determination and resiliency produces strong souls. How wonderful to bring them all together for this reunion!

While their talents and contributions varied from vineyard work to marketing and sales to winemaking, and in some cases all three - they were also devoted mothers and wives and vital contributors to the industry’s growth and eventual success which now attracts thousands of new dreamers from across the globe.

I grew up alongside these women who I consider my mentors, and my heroes who have inspired me throughout my life. They showed me at a young age that working hard was expected and recognition for it would not necessarily follow.

In fact, I was there on that day, helping the women set that now popular Thanksgiving table, where the men stood for the photograph, as the women were asked to stand back. It was a pivotal moment for me as a young girl. The women initiated the campaign, coordinated the event, then stepped away for the praise and acknowledgment. It’s the kind of thing that leaves a lasting impression. It also creates a sense of purpose.

I admire each one of these women and few others that were missed - which is inevitable. They are well educated, driven individuals who abandoned their personal plans for a man and an adventure, but whom without there would be no wine industry in Oregon. Period. I’ll be forever grateful I was in their midst.

More insights on those early days are revealed in my book “Pinot Girl” which you can link to in my bio.

Thank you, girls!! We just keep going. 🌟 by @amponzico

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5 months ago

by @amponzico

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6 months ago

Leadership isn’t always something you find; sometimes, it’s something you’re nudged into. 🍷✨

In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, Dream Big Darling is proud to spotlight the incredible Maria Ponzi and the woman who inspired it all: her mother, Nancy Berry Ponzi.

Maria wrote this beautiful tribute to her mother, describing her as one of the true thought leaders and pioneers in Oregon. Maria watched Nancy build both a family and a world-class wine community from the ground up—often working quietly behind the scenes and “setting the table” perfectly to create magical experiences for media and trade visitors since the inception of the AVA.

Nancy’s vision for Maria was just as intentional. She famously prohibited Maria from trying out for cheerleading or taking typing classes, pushing her instead into student government. As Maria says, “that’s how it started.” Today, Maria is a powerful force in the wine industry, carrying forward the same spirit of hospitality and leadership her mother championed.

From baby photos to their journey together in the vines, we celebrate these two incredible women.

📖 Want the full story of the family, the grit, and the vines that shaped an industry? Check out Maria’s book, Pinot Girl.

Is there a woman in the industry you'd like to spotlight? DM is, we'd love to share.

#DreamBigDarling #WomensHistoryMonth #PinotGirl taken in Sherwood, Oregon by @amponzico

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7 months ago