Willamette Valley Winery is a community hub, nonprofit incubator, and leader in sustainability
August 20, 2026 (McMinnville, OR) — Remy Wines, the Willamette Valley winery founded by winemaker and community leader Remy Drabkin, is celebrating their 20th anniversary this month, marking a milestone for the queer-led winery. To mark the occasion, Remy Wines will host Opera on the Lawn on Sunday, August 23, a community celebration under the oaks at Three Wives Vineyard.
Founded in 2006, Remy Wines began with Drabkin’s vision of bringing Italian grape varieties and Old World winemaking traditions to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Today, the winery is known not only for its distinctive expressions of Italian varieties Dolcetto, Arneis, Lagrein, and Sangiovese, but for Drabkin’s environmental stewardship and work to create a more equitable and connected wine community.
This year, Drabkin was awarded the LIVE Award for Excellence in Sustainability, an award that honors both sustainable practices in viticulture and enology, and the work Drabkin has done to address sustainability questions faced by the wine industry today. Drabkin was selected especially for her work reducing invasive plant species, replanting native flora, and working with partners to create pollinator pathways in vineyard properties. In addition to the work in the vineyard, Remy Wines built the first winery with a carbon-sequestering concrete floor, and the winery construction (an adaptive reuse facility) utilized many recycled materials and created a healthier working environment with workplace improvements.
In addition to her winemaking and vineyard stewardship, Drabkin is widely recognized for her role as a community leader and champion for small producers and underrepresented voices in wine. She was named one of Wine’s Most Inspiring People, chosen for the Imbibe 75 list, and named a Future 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast. In 2024, she earned the Governor’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Award for Tourism. Her efforts continue to shape a more sustainable and equitable future for Oregon wine. She also served as McMinnville’s first female and queer-identifying mayor.
Remy Wines creates a space and platform for community events and serves as an incubator for nonprofits. Drabkin was instrumental in the creation of Wine Country Pride, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that creates visible celebrations of queer community in wine country, and the McMinnville Downtown District Wines and Wineries Association, and created Queer Wine Fest, the world’s first celebration of queer-led wines, in 2022.
“Over the last twenty years, we’ve built so much more than just a business; we’ve built a community. Remy Wines has been an incubator for social justice, innovation and friendships,” shared winemaker and founder Remy Drabkin. “We’re a gathering space for celebrations and new ideas, we continue to reshape the mold on what a winery is and how it should function whether that’s through design, humanity, environmentalism or business leadership. Remy Wines has been assiduous in its impact on the world. Twenty years is a milestone, but our journey is far from over. Watch what we do next!”
Remy Wines is celebrating their anniversary with Opera on the Lawn on August 23, featuring Portland Opera, Portland Lesbian Choir, JOY Youth Orchestra, and Sewing Dissent. The concert and lawn party is from 10am to 1pm, and Remy Wines will be serving bubbles and mimosas in addition to wine glasses and bottles. Tickets are available here.
Event Details: Opera on The Lawn
Date + Time: August 23, 2026, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Address: 17495 NE McDougall Road, Dayton OR 97114
Tickets: Available on the Remy Wines website, $15/person.
Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs to this event.
About Remy Wines
Founded in 2006 by 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. Remy Wines hosted the world’s first Queer Wine Fest from 2022 until 2026.
