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Stoller Family Estate Grows Management Team

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March 20, 2017, Dayton, OR – To match growth over the last four years, Stoller Family Estate has hired two new employees and promoted two others. Jason Tosch has been named to vineyard manager and Michelle Kaufmann to communications director. Additionally, Ben Howe has been promoted to winemaker and Austin Raz to digital brand manager.

“Jason and Michelle bring strong knowledge and expertise to our team,” said Gary Mortensen, president of Stoller Family Estate. “Furthermore, the promotions of Ben and Austin strengthen our extraordinary management team, allowing us to continue advancing Stoller’s legacy as an innovative company that produces exceptional wines.”

Jason Tosch, photo by Stoller Family Estate

A native of Oregon’s Tualatin Valley, Tosch has made his career farming premium quality wine grapes in the Willamette Valley, most recently at Anne Amie Vineyards.  He has served in leadership roles for the Oregon wine industry’s wine research and sustainability focused communities. Tosch earned his degree in horticulture from Oregon State University, focusing on small fruits and berries. His high level of industry involvement led his alma mater to honor Tosch with the College of Agricultural Sciences Luminary Award for early professional accomplishment in 2010. And, in 2016 the Oregon Wine Board presented Tosch with the Outstanding Industry Service Award.

Michelle Kaufmann, photo by Stoller Family Estate

Kaufmann, a Portland, Oregon native, earned her degree in journalism from the University of Oregon, focusing on public relations and communications. She most recently served as communications manager for the Oregon Wine Board, a semi-independent state agency dedicated to marketing, research and education initiatives that help Oregon wineries and vineyards throughout the state. Kaufmann has been involved with key media related initiatives in the Oregon wine community including the International Pinot Noir Celebration. In her new role, Kaufmann will oversee all media relations and communications efforts.

Since joining Stoller Family Estate in 2015, Howe has been instrumental in helping the director of winemaking, Melissa Burr, grow the winery’s production without compromising quality, skills developed when working at one of Oregon’s largest wineries. In his new role, Howe will oversee day-to-day operations at the winery facility and help lay the groundwork for continued growth with improved efficiencies. 

Austin Raz joined the Stoller Family Estate team in 2016 as marketing assistant. Having worked for two of the world’s most influential brands, Nike and MTV, and studying new media communications at Oregon State University, Raz has proven dynamic with new media insights. In his new role, Raz will act as the in-house technical producer, growing the winery’s content creation and development.

About Stoller Family Estate
Stoller Family Estate is one of the most highly regarded vineyards and wineries in Oregon. Pioneering Oregonian and Founder Bill Stoller purchased his family’s second-generation farm in 1993 with the vision of cultivating an enduring legacy for the land and Oregon wine industry. Over the last 20 years, he has patiently transformed the 373-acre property into the largest contiguous vineyard in the Dundee Hills that has become synonyms with producing exceptional wines. Stoller Family Estate features the world’s first LEED® Gold certified winery, three guest homes and a state of the art tasting room with panoramic vineyard views. Stoller Family Estate was named Oregon’s Most Admired Winery by the Portland Business Journal in 2017 and best tasting room on the West Coast by USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice poll in 2016. For more information, visit www.stollerfamilyestate.com

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