For those who like brevity, Wine Press Northwest Magazine sums it up best in Leah's contributor bio tagline:
LEAH JORGENSEN is a communications expert who has worked in the wine industry for over a decade. She consults for several wineries and writes about travel,
wine and gluten-free living.
Contemplating a Washington
Syrah in Portland
(Leah is third from left)
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But, here's the full story:
Leah Jorgensen grew up in northern Virginia and earned a B.A. in English Literature & Creative Writing from Sweet Briar College. Thus, began her passion for the written word.
She stumbled into the wine industry back in 2000, when she left a corporate think tank, the Corporate Executive Board, to manage a small, boutique wine shop in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
With a thirst to learn more, Leah went on to manage the tasting room at Chrysalis Vineyards in Middleburg, Virginia, where she planned winery events, poured at industry tastings, and helped out during harvest and bottling.
Next, she accepted a position with a wine wholesaler, selling predominantly French wine to about 80 fine dining restaurant accounts, international embassies and a handful of retail wine shops in downtown D.C.
"I loved working the beat, schlepping wine from account to account, building relationships and learning more about the complex world of wine."
In 2002, Leah earned an advanced certificate in wine with The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Ltd. (UK).
In the summer of 2004, Leah earned an incentive trip to attend Oregon Pinot Camp as a guest (a.k.a. "silver bullet") of Domaine Drouhin Oregon.
After experiencing a long weekend of Willamette Valley hedonism, including an authentic northwest salmon bake and sipping on some of the best Pinot Noirs in the world, she set out to move to her father's home state of Oregon. She lined up a job as the Sales & Marketing Specialist at Erath Vineyards.
While at Erath, Leah conceptualized and co-produced Erath's Chef Series, working closely with Portland-based LAD Communications (now Watershed Communications). The series featured an impressive line-up of celebrity chefs, including: Michael Voltaggio of Dry Creek Kitchen in Sonoma; Alister Brown of Logan Brown Restaurant in Wellington, New Zealand; Adam Sappington of Wildwood in Portland; Cathy Whims of Nostrana in Portland; Tamara Murphy of Brasa in Seattle; Dante Boccuzzi of Aureole NYC; and Mark Kiffin of The Compound in Santa Fe.
Leah was appointed as a founding board member for the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association and served for three years.
While serving on the board, she spearheaded a Dundee Hills Pinot Noir tasting at COPIA in Napa, and was featured on San Francisco radio station KGO's Saturday morning show, Dining Around with Gene Burns, alongside winemaker Tony Rynders.
In June 2006, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates purchased Erath Vineyards and Leah was hired by Ste. Michelle as a communications manager. She moved up to the Seattle area to manage PR and events for Ste. Michelle's luxury brands, including Erath, Col Solare, Northstar and Spring Valley Vineyard.
While in Seattle, Leah was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. There is no cure for celiac disease, so a strict gluten-free diet must be followed.
That was a milestone, to say the least. Leah had to become much more mindful about the way she approached food. Since Leah worked in the food and wine industry, it became a mantra for her to write about gluten free living, if only to educate people about the disease and its restrictions.
In the summer of 2007, Leah was eager to return to Oregon. She accepted the position of Director of Marketing & Communication at Adelsheim Vineyard.
While at Adelsheim, Leah continued to improve the winery's website and online presence, collateral and print media, and image by working towards a clear storyboard for where the pioneering winery was headed.
She also helped elevate the image of the winery by influencing a fine dining atmosphere at winery events, including the pre-IPNC dinner, where she brought on Chef Matthew Dillon of Sitka & Spruce in Seattle (who, that year, was named one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs), followed by a summer winemaker dinner staged in the middle of Calkins Lane Vineyard. Both dinners were spectacular, sold-out events.
That year, Adelsheim was named Winery of the Year and Top 100 for Wine & Spirits Magazine.
In December 2008, Leah left Adelsheim to begin the full-time pursuit of consulting, freelance writing and cellar work. Her writing has been published in Wine Press Northwest, Oregon Wine Press, Mutineer, Northwest Woman, among other lifestyle magazines and blogs.
Leah worked her first harvest in 2009 as an intern at Anne Amie Vineyards. Under the tutelage of winemaker Thomas Houseman, Leah was inspired to hit the books and enrolled in the enology program at the Northwest Viticulture Center in Salem.
She worked her second harvest as a cellar worker at Shea Wine Cellars for the 2010 vintage, in addition to working on the production of Harper Voit Wines, the private label of Shea winemaker Drew Voit.
In June 2011, Leah returned to assist Drew in the cellar for bottling the 2010 wines she helped make, including racking, fining, blending and filtration.
Leah made her first wine this vintage under Leah Jorgensen Cellars - just a barrel's worth (25 cases)! Her plan is to make the very wines she loves to drink - in particular, wines in the Loire Valley style. Leah's debut is a unique "Blanc de Cabernet Franc" sourced from Les Collines Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. Details about her winemaking project are coming soon!
Leah continues to offer marketing and communications consulting for the Oregon wine industry.
"It is a pleasure to work with friends in the industry and to help them better strategize their branding efforts with more meaningful, authentic approaches."
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