WVV Founder Jim Bernau Continues as Chairman
and President, Marking Strategic Leadership Succession
SALEM HILLS, Ore., May 12, 2025
/PRNewswire/ -- Willamette Valley Vineyards (NASDAQ:
WVVI, WVVIP), one of Oregon's most
respected estate wineries, announced today that Mike Osborn, founder of Wine.com, has been named
Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The appointment
follows founder Jim Bernau's
January 2025 announcement that he
would be stepping back from the CEO role while continuing to serve
as President and Chairperson as part of a long-term succession
plan.
"Willamette Valley Vineyards was founded on the belief that
Oregon could produce world-class
wine through collaboration, innovation, and respect for the
land," said Bernau. "As the wine market
continues to evolve, we need the added horsepower of a new CEO
grounded in the industry's business side to accelerate our
momentum. Mike brings visionary leadership, a deep connection to
Oregon, and the sales and
marketing experience to invigorate our brand with distributors,
retailers, and restaurants across the country and
globally."
Bernau founded Willamette Valley Vineyards in 1983 and spent
more than four decades building the winery into one of the Pacific
Northwest's most respected wine companies. Under his leadership,
the company pioneered a community ownership model, invested deeply
in environmental stewardship, and helped elevate Oregon Pinot Noir
to international acclaim.
Osborn, who grew up in Southern
Oregon and launched Wine.com in Portland, is recognized as one of the most
influential figures in modern wine retail. Over the past 27 years,
he has built Wine.com into the nation's leading online wine
retailer, building marketing and technology infrastructure while
successfully navigating complex alcohol laws to serve hundreds of
thousands of customers annually.
"It's a true honor to join Willamette Valley Vineyards at
such a meaningful point in the company's journey," said
Osborn. "This winery has always stood for integrity,
community, and quality—values I share deeply. I've long admired Jim
and the legacy he's built. I'm excited to work with the team to
elevate the winery's national and global presence while remaining
rooted in the people and places that make Oregon wine distinctive."
Willamette Valley Vineyards is publicly traded and continues to
operate under its unique shareholder model, with thousands of wine
enthusiasts invested as co-owners. The company's dedication to
innovation and transparency has long made it a model for
sustainable wine business practices.
"This is more than a leadership change," said
Bernau. "It's an acceleration of our mission. With Mike's
energy and strategic expertise, we're poised to bring Oregon wine to more tables and more markets
than ever before."
About Willamette Valley Vineyards
Founded in 1983 by President Jim
Bernau with the dream of creating world-class Pinot Noir
while serving as stewards of the land, Willamette Valley Vineyards
has grown from a bold idea into one of the region's leading
wineries, earning the title "One of America's Great Pinot Noir
Producers" from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. In addition, all the
vineyards have been certified sustainable through LIVE (Low Input
Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon-Safe programs. With 1,000 acres
under vine, Willamette farms its Estate winery in the Salem Hills,
sparkling winery Domaine Willamette in the Dundee Hills, pioneering
Tualatin Estate Vineyard near Forest
Grove and Elton Vineyard in
the Eola-Amity Hills. The winery has expanded recently to include
10 tasting rooms in Oregon,
Washington and California – growth made possible by the stock
ownership of many wine enthusiasts.
Press Contacts:
Michelle Erland
Colangelo & Partners
merland@colangelopr.com
Courtney Conte
Colangelo & Partners
cconte@colangelopr.com
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SOURCE Willamette Valley Vineyards
