Willamette Valley Vineyards Names Wine.com Vet Osborn As CEO

Oregon’s Willamette Valley Vineyards has appointed online retail veteran Michael Osborn as chief executive. The winery’s founder, Jim Bernau, announced earlier this year that he would be relinquishing CEO duties while remaining president and chairperson. Osborn founded Wine.com and spent 27 years developing the business into a top player in online wine retail nationally.

Willamette Valley Vineyards had volume of 186,000 cases last year, according to Impact Databank, down 2.7% from the prior year. It has 1,000 acres under vine, and its holdings include the estate winery in the Salem Hills, sparkling winery Domaine Willamette in the Dundee Hills, Tualatin Estate Vineyard near Forest Grove, and Elton Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, as well as 10 tasting rooms across Oregon, Washington, and California.

“Stepping into the CEO role at Willamette Valley Vineyards—following in the footsteps of an industry icon like Jim Bernau—was an extraordinary opportunity,” Osborn told SND. “We’re building something truly unique—where wine, food, lodging, and learning come together to create immersive experiences.”

“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,” said Bernau. “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.”—Daniel Marsteller

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