April 8, 2026 (Dayton, OR) — Remy Drabkin, founder and winemaker of Remy Wines, was honored to receive the LIVE Award for Excellence in Sustainability at the LIVE Annual Meeting on April 2 in Newberg, Oregon.
Each year, LIVE awards one individual for their outstanding work in land stewardship and a deep and ongoing dedication to sustainable practices in viticulture and enology. Drabkin’s work has long embodied these principles, from her sustainable farming practices to her advocacy for equity and community within the Oregon wine industry. Drabkin was chosen especially for her work reducing invasive plant species, replanting native flora, working with partners to create pollinator pathways in vineyard properties, and consistently showing up to help find answers to the sustainability questions facing the wine industry today.
“Remy’s impact extends far beyond the vineyard,” said Chris Serra, Executive Director for LIVE. “She exemplifies the Oregon wine industry’s ethos with integrity and care for the environment, and is a solutions-driven advocate for progress.”
Founded in 2006 in McMinnville, Oregon, Remy Wines is known for producing Italian varietal wines rooted in Old World traditional styles from their estate vineyard and selected sustainable vineyard sources. The LIVE Award recognizes Remy Wines’ longstanding initiatives, including:
- The estate vineyard is LIVE certified and dry farmed without tilling, and Drabkin uses regenerative practices and maintains a vegetable garden and orchard on the property as well, and composts the winery’s agricultural waste to use in garden beds and as a weed suppressant.
- More than half of Remy Wines’ 29.8-acre property is riparian forest. Remy Wines also has mason bee boxes and kestrel boxes in the vineyard for wildlife management.
- The winery building is an adaptive reuse facility. Drabkin converted an old pole barn on the property using reclaimed materials and recycled winemaking equipment (such as wood from pallets) in its construction. The building has an R60 rating and is engineered for more sustainable infrastructure in the future, such as holding a planned solar array.
- The biggest achievement in the winery’s construction is the floor: concrete is one of the materials with the worst carbon footprint, so Drabkin helped develop a carbon-sequestering concrete mix named the Drabkin-Mead formula. The formulation achieves its carbon-neutral state through the use of biochar, a carbon-negative material made from pyrolyzing organic waste, and Remy Wines was the first winery to be built with a carbon-sequestering floor.
- Drabkin prioritizes low-intervention winemaking, and sources from vineyards that adhere to rigorous sustainability standards. Her approach emphasizes stewardship of the land, transparency in production, and fostering a more inclusive wine culture. For Remy Wines, this recognition underscores the winery’s commitments to producing quality wine and progressive leadership within Oregon’s wine community.
“We see sustainability as an entire eco-system—from the health of the people that work on this land, through the plants to the ground and the water systems below it—and how those elements contribute to and overlap with a healthy community,” Drabkin shared in her acceptance speech. “I’m honored to be recognized by LIVE and to accept this award on behalf of the Remy Wines family and the many people who have contributed to our shared efforts along the way.”
In addition to her winemaking and vineyard stewardship, Drabkin is widely recognized for her role as a community leader (including as the first female and first queer-identifying mayor of McMinnville) and champion for small producers and underrepresented voices in wine. She was named one of Wine’s Most Inspiring People in 2023, chosen for the Imbibe 75 list, and named a Future 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast. Her efforts continue to shape a more sustainable and equitable future for Oregon wine. In 2022, she founded Queer Wine Fest, the first gathering dedicated to queer-led wineries, and helped open the door for many small wineries that didn’t have enough production for a tasting room. Queer Wine Fest has been featured in Bon Appetit, TimeOut, Vogue, and more. The event is a fundraiser for Wine Country Pride, 501(c)3 non-profit Drabkin co-founded that creates visible celebrations of the queer community while connecting all people through education and economic activity. The fifth annual Queer Wine Fest will be held on June 28, 2026.
ABOUT REMY WINES
Founded in 2006 by native Oregonian and queer winemaker, Remy Drabkin, Remy Wines is a Willamette Valley winery rooted in service to the community. Much like its visionary founder, Remy Wines honors Old-World winemaking traditions with a fresh, progressive voice and undeniable flair. Remy Wines boasts an impressive portfolio of Italian-style wines made primarily with Oregon fruit and a welcoming, unpretentious farmhouse tasting room in Dayton, Oregon where they accept both advanced reservations and walk-in visits daily from 12 to 5pm. Remy Wines will additionally host its 3rd Annual Queer Wine Fest on June 30, 2024. Please visit remywines.com for more information.
