The tasting room will be closed Monday, September 7th to host the in a landscape concert.
The tasting room will be closed Monday, September 7th to host the in a landscape concert.
OUR PHILOSOPHY PLACES PEOPLE AT THE CENTER OF BUSINESS
Creating a culture of inclusivity, accountability, and personal development for all of our employees is top of mind. We work closely with our business managers to ensure our practices remain in alignment with these principles, and with the changing environmental challenges we face on our planet.
WINEMAKER
Chris Fladwood is responsible for our entire winemaking operation. He oversees the production of every wine we make from our Planet Oregon and Origin Series wines, to our limited production sparkling wines and estate Pinot Noirs. Chris’ commitment to quality, focus, and precision are hallmarks of his work, and our wines are a reflection of his relentless devotion to the craft of winemaking.
Born and raised in Oregon, Chris Fladwood considers himself to be what we’d call a true Oregonian—kind in nature, slow driving, and considerate of others. Coming from a diverse background, including service in the United States Army and harvest work in Washington state, Bordeaux, and New Zealand, Chris spent years learning as much as he could about wine and winemaking. Eventually, his interest grew into a passion that ultimately led to him earning a degree from WSU in Viticulture and Enology. In 2009, Chris joined Soter Vineyards’ winemaking team as Cellar Master. Over the years, he has worked his way up, mastering every level along the way to achieve his current position as Winemaker.
ASSOCIATE WINEMAKER
Jess brings an inquisitive and worldly perspective to our winemaking program. Jess also plays an active role in our Biodynamic viticulture program, and contributes her time and skill to sales and trade events throughout the year.
Jess Arnold, originally from sunny Los Angeles, embarked on a journey of exploration and discovery at the age of 18. After college, her passion for adventure led her to travel the world, immersing herself in diverse cultures and landscapes. This global exploration eventually guided her toward a career in wine, where she found a perfect blend of her love for travel and appreciation for new experiences.
Jess’s professional wine journey began in the vibrant cities of San Francisco and New York, where she initially worked in hospitality. Her mission was to share her enthusiasm for wine with friends and to make the often intimidating world of wine lists more accessible. She was inspired by wine’s humble origins in thoughtful farming and was determined to demystify it for others.
In 2014, Jess took a pivotal step in her career by participating in a harvest in Sonoma. This hands-on experience expanded her theoretical knowledge and provided her with the most satisfying work she had ever done. Despite the lack of frills, glamour, or rest, the tangible satisfaction of contributing to the creation of wine cemented her commitment to the industry. This experience led her to the renowned Willamette Valley in Oregon, where she developed a deep appreciation for biodynamic principles and their impact on the land, people, and the final product.
Her dedication to sustainable winemaking practices found a perfect home at Soter Vineyards. As the Associate Winemaker, Jess collaborates with exceptional winemaking, vineyard, and sales teams, applying biodynamic principles to their daily work and contributing to the vineyard’s success.
Beyond her professional life, Jess maintains a balanced and enriched lifestyle. She enjoys yoga, hiking, foraging, quick dips in cold water, traveling, and sharing great meals with friends. Leisurely vineyard walks with her beloved pug, Marty, add to her enjoyment and provide a well-rounded approach to her winemaking career.
Jess Arnold’s journey from Los Angeles to the world’s vineyards reflects her passion for adventure, commitment to sustainability, and dedication to making wine accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
AQUILLES GIRON
cellar master
FIDELFA GIRON
cellar worker
EMILY ROZGA
viticulturist
HUNTER ANDERSON
cellar lead
TOUGH STUFF
security guard
RANCH MANAGER
Antonio oversees all farm and ranch operations at Soter Vineyards. He tends our fruits and vegetable plots at MSR, oversees our animal husbandry program, and ensures our regenerative farming practices extend to every aspect of our property from our honeybees, to oak restoration projects.
Born and raised on a farm, Antonio developed an early appreciation for the vital role of animals and vegetables in our lives. For the past 17 years, his professional journey has been deeply intertwined with vineyard landscapes, where he has honed his problem-solving skills and deepened his connection to agriculture. Each season’s unique challenges have taught him to approach his work with curiosity and adaptability, seizing every opportunity for growth.
Antonio oversees property management for our Mineral Springs Ranch. Everything from forest management to vegetable farming and animal husbandry. Antonio’s wide breadth of skills makes him a pivotal member of the Soter team.
Beyond the fields, Antonio prioritizes his physical well-being, viewing his body as the essential vehicle for his work. As a dedicated fitness enthusiast, he finds strength and solace in his workouts, recognizing the importance of maintaining physical health. His passion for jiu jitsu further enhances his problem-solving skills and resilience, as he navigates the intricate dance of defense and attack, continually refining his strategic thinking and mental agility. Antonio also finds joy in spending quality time with his wife and daughter, who provide balance and purpose in his life. Family is his anchor, grounding him amidst the demands of his profession.
OSVALDO REYES
ranch forman
CECILIO GONZALEZ
equipment supervisor
ROMAN FRIAS
ranch hand
DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY
Rachel understands that human connection lies at the heart of exceptional hospitality. Through her passion for team building and her commitment to meaningful, educational experiences, she leads Soter’s hospitality team in creating welcoming and memorable moments rooted in authenticity and place.
EXPERTISE
Team Building Wine discovery Hospitality Leadership
ABOUT
Rachel spent her early childhood in Fairbanks, Alaska, before relocating to Olympia, Washington. While earning her bachelor’s degree in modern French history, it felt only natural to enhance her studies with wine! That curiosity soon drew Rachel into the world of wine retail, expanding her palate, deepening her wine knowledge, and gaining opportunities to travel. Seeking a new challenge and room to grow, Rachel and her husband relocated to the Willamette Valley in 2018, where she began the next chapter of her journey at Soter Vineyards. Drawn to Soter’s commitment to sustainability, the hands-on experience of harvest, and the chance to be part of a family-owned winery, Rachel has found a place where her passion for wine, people, and thoughtful hospitality truly align.
INTERESTS
When Rachel’s not tackling DIY home renovations or gardening projects, she loves relaxing with friends and family, hiking mountainous trails, and sneaking a run (or two) into her week.
EDUCATION The Evergreen State College, BA in Modern French History CSW, WSET III
DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER SALES
With a passion for sustainability and relationship building, Autumn helps our team provide the best experience for our members and customers alike. Her background in hospitality, marketing, and non-profit development has seasoned her skills and made her the perfect ambassador for Soter.
HEAD CHEF
Clayton strives to embrace the seasonality of the farm at every turn. His restraint and thoughtful approach to cooking lets the food and wine take center stage.
Clayton Allen was born from a long line of farmers and immigrants from Poland and Sweden. Food has always been a central part of his life and he enrolled in Culinary School at Sullivan University immediately following high school. He worked in a handful of places in Kentucky serving modern American food with backgrounds rooted in classic French techniques, from local ingredients. Working with farmers and foragers was a way Clayton stayed in touch with his community and sated his desire to work with ingredients harvested at their prime. In 2012, he moved to the Portland area and worked in Wine Country before landing at a Portland mainstay, Clyde Common.
MARKETING MANAGER
Ali believes every piece of communication should be crafted with care and intention, creating conversations where our wines, our land, and our guests come together in a dialogue that feels both thoughtful and alive. Having worked harvest in the vineyards, connected with guests in the tasting room, and now leading marketing initiatives, she brings a rare depth of experience and genuine passion for the Soter story to everything she creates.
MEMBERSHIP & OUTREACH MANAGER
Mariah brings a warm, hospitality-first approach to her role as Membership and Outreach Manager, focused on growing and caring for a loyal community of members, both at the vineyard and beyond. She’s passionate about creating thoughtful experiences for members and guests, from personalized communications to special offerings, so every interaction feels considered and true to the spirit of Soter Vineyards.
JEFF PETERSON
hospitality lead
JESSICA RILEY
hospitality captain
KINSEY LLOYD-COLES
shipping coordinator
RYAN CARPENTER
warehouse manager
SANDI SCHMITT
hospitality lead
JENNA HUNTER
culinary lead
ZACH LA RUE
culinary lead
AUSTIN DAVIS
culinary assistant
MELEA WILDER
administrative assistant
JODI MCCRACKEN
administrative sales assistant
MISHEL HODGE
warehouse assistant
JACK MATNEY
hospitality lead
WILLIAM STEWART
hospitality lead
CHELSEA WALKER
hospitality lead
DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SALES
Kurt’s 20+ years of experience in the wholesale wine business makes him the perfect leader of our National Sales team where he oversees the sale of our wines in over 40 states. His relationship with Tony Soter began in California over two decades ago where he worked for Tony on the now iconic Etude brand. His innate gifts of storytelling and building relationships are reflected in our company’s reputation and breadth of distribution.
Born in central Ohio (Go Bucks!) surrounded by corn and soy fields, and a Midwestern teetotaling family, Kurt cut his teeth in the food and beverage industry via his love for restaurant-quality food, travel, and university life. With experience managing successful fine dining venues and wine programs under the belt, Kurt eventually followed his nose to the Napa Valley to work in vineyards and cellars while taking courses in business, enology, and viticulture at UC Davis. During this time, Kurt got to experience the wine business quite literally from the ground up while working with iconic wine growers in California and Oregon. With over two decades in the industry, Kurt brings his knowledge, passion, and experience contributing to the causes at Cain, Etude, and Beaux Freres to Soter. His focus has always been on premium wines with a true sense of place, and he believes that “real wine” is simply easier to sell.
REGIONAL SALES MANAGER
“I love how personal, subjective, and collaborative wine is. It brings together a wide range of philosophies and beliefs from people all over the world. There is no single ladder to climb in the wine industry, but instead, we parachute in from any direction, often times because passion guided us here.”
REGIONAL SALES MANAGER
Darrin’s first taste of the wine world came from a glass of perfectly cellared cabernet, poured by his father-in-law. One sip, and he was hooked. What drew him in was everything beyond the glass: the history behind each bottle, the stories that come with it, and the way wine pulls people together around a table. Twenty-two years later, he still can’t picture a different path for himself.
His career has moved through every side of the business, buyer, distributor rep, and now wholesale, each step adding to how he sees the industry today. All of it traces back to that first pour from his father-in-law, the moment that started everything.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mary is an incredibly deft business manager with a breadth of experience in everything from restaurant management, mergers and acquisitions, farming, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail sales. Her diverse resumé, fondness for food and wine, and desire to work with intensely talented leaders are most befitting of her role at Soter Vineyards.
Mary Sarles-Hoeschen is our company’s financial virtuoso. Her skills and expertise in accounting, analysis, forecasting, and money management are what keeps every facet of our business on track. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Mary found a circuitous route to the wine industry that began alongside her father learning the ins and outs of pre-computer math and accounting. She earned a degree in Mathematics at the University of Maryland, and took Accounting coursework at the University of Virginia, before making her way to the Pacific Northwest, where she received early training in accounting in restaurants. In 2012, while looking for a new and exciting path, she discovered wine and has never looked back. For Mary, holding an occupation sometimes known for being rigid and unyielding, wine offers the thrill of uncertainty, stomach-churning fear at times, wild exploration, and moments of great triumph.
TERESA KOMINSKI
controller
BETH ANN PAINTER
administrative sales manager
ALEXIS GODWIN
office manager
EXPERIENCE
EXCELLENCE
POLICIES
SOTER VINEYARDS
10880 NE MINERAL SPRINGS ROAD
CARLTON, OREGON
503.662.5600 | info@sotervineyards.com
COPYRIGHT SOTER VINEYARDS, 2026. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
SITE DESIGN BY GLINT CREATIVE.
