The Oregon Executive MBA Alumni Association's May visit to Domaine Serene Winery was a lovely event. The afternoon was filled with sunshine, great food, engaging conversation and—of course—amazing wine. It's hard to beat that combo.
The group's gracious host was alumnus Evan Karp, MBA '11, the winery's CFO. His passion for the product, the process, and his fellow Domaine Serene teammates was apparent throughout the day. While Karp's official title may be CFO—and, in fact, he was recently recognized by Portland Business Journal as a CFO of the Year for 2018—it's clear that he cares deeply about every element of Domaine Serene.
Our behind-the-scenes tour included a stroll through the entire processing facility, where we learned about all the steps that go into making wine. The most impressive aspect was standing in the belly of the barrel rooms. Stacked floor-to-ceiling with cases of wine, these impressive spaces were cool and filled with the aromas of rich oak and complex wine. The level of craft and precision that goes into each bottle of award-winning Domaine Serene wine inspired our entire group.
Standing in the winery's tower, we enjoyed views of the Willamette Valley. Domaine Serene is a special place, and many of us were surprised to learn about the winery's deep connections to France. The winery has purchased one winery in Burgundy and has plans to expand there. This connection provides a bridge into France's rich wine tradition and the world's best wine makers.
Thank you to all the alumni who made it out. Most of all, thank you to Evan Karp for making this event possible.
—Jessica Kingrey, MBA '15, President, Oregon Executive MBA Alumni Board