Born and raised on her family’s east coast winery, Kristin moved to Portland, Oregon in 2001 where she earned her BA at Portland State University. In 2006 she began working alongside her father Rudy after his acquisition of Montinore Estate. In the early days of what was quickly becoming a successful winegrowing region, Kristin and Rudy set out to revitalize the legacy brand and grew it to become one of the most widely known and respected Willamette Valley brands nationally and one of the largest certified Biodynamic wineries in the world. After being acquired in 2016, Kristin led Montinore through a 3-year transition with new owners, Ackley Beverage Group.
In 2019 Kristin joined Antony Beck’s domestic wine team. Known internationally for their winery Graham Beck of South Africa, Kristin was hired to manage their US winery operations. During her tenure she launched Beck Family Estates, the United States import arm of the company that oversees and manages national wholesale sales for all of Beck’s brands. Back in Oregon she focused on a multi-year strategy to grow Beck’s footprint. This included an acquisition and vineyard development of a 160-acre parcel in the Eola Amity Hills, a rebrand of Angela Vineyards and overseeing the construction and development of the new boutique winery and brand, Abbott Claim in Yamhill-Carlton.
Over the years Kristin has worked to promote the Willamette Valley’s region, tourism, and enhance Oregon’s wine community. Her contributions and leadership resulted in being named Forty Under 40 by the Portland Business Journal in 2018. Kristin has sat on the board of directors for the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, International Pinot Noir Celebration, and Oregon Pinot Camp and has proudly worked alongside Oregon’s industry leaders to help shape it to the world-renowned growing region it is today with a collaborative community at the core of its soul.
Kristin lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two children and a menagerie of pets. Her happiest days are spent in the great outdoors by day and cooking for friends and family by night.