New wave of WA winemakers is blending tradition with innovation

No grapes grow in Iceland. There are no Icelandic wines, but winemaker Tanya Bjornsson honors the land her parents came from with Esja, named after the flat-topped volcanic range that is a dominant feature of the Reykjavik skyline.

“As the daughter of immigrants, you learn to be tough and get things done,” she says. “That suits winemaking. It’s not an easy business.” Armed with a degree in French from Western Washington University, the Seattle-born winemaker moved to Portland after college with little idea of what she would do and found work as a harvest intern for a Tualatin, Oregon winemaker.