Her trip to the Willamette Valley in 2020 was cut short by forest fires but Floridian Ali Turley was already enchanted by Oregon Pinot noir. She made her way back to the valley to work the 2024 harvest at Soter Vineyards.

Tell us about your background. Where are you from, and what got you interested in wine initially? I’m from Florida, the Tampa Bay Area. I was first introduced to wine, specifically Zinfandel by one of my coworkers at a radio station. Radio people love to talk about wine. From there I got into Cabs and took a trip out to Napa, Sonoma, and the Sierra Foothills. Over the next couple years, I started doing more research (thank you Wine Bible) and took WSET 1 and found a wine study group at a bookstore/wine shop in St. Petersburg to continue my WSET studies (shout to the Vino Vixens at Book & Bottle!). Being surrounded by confident women in the wine industry helped me realize which path I wanted to take which was on the production side. 

What made you decide to come work harvest in the Willamette Valley?
Pinot Noir is the varietal I most want to work with. I fell in love with Oregon and the Willamette valley after a trip in 2020 (before the fires), I flew back out here in September of 2020 to work my first harvest but the situation with the fires and timing was too much. I always wanted to come back out here and after I graduated from my fermentation science program at Appalachian State University my wife and I made the big move across the country. I’m all in on the Willamette Valley! This area is so beautiful, where else do you get to see the coastal range mountains, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson from your vineyards?! I love the fact that we can combine all the things we love in one place: wine, hiking, skiing, and the beach. I guess you could also say seasons! 

How familiar were you with Willamette Valley wine before you came here? What are your initial impressions?
To quote MTV Diaries (and aging myself right here) I thought I knew, but I had no idea. I had just scratched the surface wineries my first couple visits out in the valley. There are so many great producers I’ve been introduced to in the few months I’ve been out here. It’s been so fun to taste around each of the AVAs and see what makes each one special. Every time I think I have a favorite AVA or vineyard it changes with the next great wine I get to taste.
 

2024 Harvest Interns at Soter Vineyards
Ali Turley (far left) with the Soter Vineyards 2024 harvest interns and winery dog, Tough Stuff.


How is Harvest going at Soter Vineyards? 
It’s going well! We have all our fruit in now, the days are flying by! It seems like just yesterday that we were cleaning bins for days! Some days it felt like drinking through a fire hose, but Chris and Jess have been amazing (patient) mentors. I have learned and grown so much these past couple months. This is only my second harvest, but the rest of our team has several harvests under their belts and have been incredibly supportive and welcoming. We laugh every day, have pet therapy (thank you Marty and Tough Stuff), and are spoiled by delicious lunches cooked for us – Fidelfa is the best. 

What has been the most unexpected aspect of the Willamette Valley for you so far?
Everyone has been so welcoming and approachable. I think people may have some preconceived notions about winemakers especially in the valley but we’re really a community of farmers and we fix things, clean things, and make wine. I feel so lucky I get to call this place home now. 

What are your favorite tunes for working in the cellar?
Oh man, that’s such a hard question! My background is music marketing, and I listen to a wide variety. So, I’ll say that depends on the day and task at hand. Generally anything upbeat we can sing along to, I put Spotify on shuffle and let it go. Lots of Glass Animals, Chappell Roan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, Kenny Chesney, and Fleetwood Mac. The long sorting line days I needed something like Trick Daddy’s Let’s Go to keep pushing.

And on Sundays I will play Redzone on the Bluetooth speakers. Just because it’s harvest doesn’t mean we can’t have fall football baby! 

Tell me about a memorable bottle of wine you had recently. 
Tony Soter joined us for lunch recently and shared a couple bottles of wine with us, one of them was a Clape Cornas,  I wish I remembered the vintage! It had delicious velvety tannins, lots of complex flavors and was just a beautiful wine.