Maria Ponzi: Crafting a Meaningful Life

Anna Maria Ponzi is the former owner and past president of Ponzi Vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. She helped plant its original vines, worked on the bottling line, hosted guests in the tasting room and has made countless national and international sales calls. Maria Ponzi has served the state’s wine industry in myriad ways, including serving as an early ambassador for Oregon wine both nationally and internationally while building Oregon wine country into a travel destination.
After earning her degree in journalism from the University of Oregon, she worked in Boston’s publishing industry until returning to the rural family business in 1991. Soon after, she was joined by her winemaking sister and the two young women trailblazed the growing tide of female vintners. This ownership distinguished Ponzi Vineyards as the nation’s only winery solely owned and operated by second-generation sisters at the time.
GUEST BIO:
Former owner, CEO, and past president of Ponzi Vineyards, Anna Maria Ponzi, takes audiences on a journey to better understand the importance of living intentionally. In The Four-Ounce Pour, Anna Maria presents her life in wine as a framework to inspire audiences to slow down and create more meaning in their daily lives. She illustrates how intentional actions can create longer, healthier, and more enriched lives.
Her family winery, Ponzi Vineyards, was an original producer, established in 1970. As winery President & CEO, she grew the business from a garage operation into a global brand and has been recognized as envisioning and setting into motion the transformation of the valley into a world-class wine destination. Her memoir, Pinot Girl, was published in 2020, and the following year she successfully negotiated the sale of the winery to the esteemed house of Bollinger Champagne, France. She currently farms her 20-acre vineyard, Issimo, and continues to support the state’s wine industry through her ongoing service for multiple trade organizations, including her role as an Oregon Wine Board Director and Oregon Tourism Commissioner. Her firm, amponzi & company, curates rare and exceptional wine experiences and consults on wine brand experiences.
She is married to Brett Fogelstrom of Fogelstrom Design Build and is the mother of two adult children who live in Los Angeles. She is also co-founder of the non-profit Anthony’s Circle, which aims to increase the high school graduation rate of foster youth in Oregon and is active in protecting farmland.
Connect with Maria Ponzi:
Website: www.amponzi.com/
Instagram: amponzico
Connect with Theresa and Ivana:
Websites:
Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com/
Ivana, Courageous Being: www.courageousbeing.com/
Instagram:
Ivana: courbeing
Theresa: tscconsultants
LinkedIn:
Step into the Pivot: www.linkedin.com/showcase/step-into-the-pivot/
Theresa: www.linkedin.com/in/tree-conti/
Ivana: www.linkedin.com/in/ivipol/