MJ started at Penner-Ash Wine Cellars as a harvest intern in 2009 and stayed on permanently as the cellar master. Her winemaking career began back in a small winery in New Hampshire before enrolling in the master’s degree program at University of California, Davis. After working harvest in Burgundy, MJ discovered her passion for Pinot Noir, which she followed up with stints in New Zealand and Sonoma. Her cellar and lab skills were tested and honed while she was the Enologist at Paul Hobbs Wines. But it wasn’t long before MJ decided the weather was too sunny and moved up to Portland, Oregon in order to get her hands into the cool climate wines from the Willamette Valley.

MJ continues to try to let people know that a “great wine” is a wine that tastes great to them. Her libertarian attitude, as well as her need for speed, stems from her upbringing in New Hampshire -“Live Free or Die!”. Otherwise she enjoys cooking, eating, drinking, outdoor sports, knitting, and people watching at the many fine Portland eateries. And yes, MJ still loves Oregon’s weather.