AVP Wine Collective: Empowering Portland’s Small Wineries
The AVP Wine Collective is making waves in Portland’s wine industry by providing a haven for small wineries to thrive without the burden of expensive equipment and infrastructure. Founded by Carrie Wynkoop, who spent a decade operating Cellar 503, a wine club specializing in small Oregon wineries, AVP Wine Collective aims to address a growing need in the industry.
Wynkoop recognized that fewer winery facilities were accommodating small winery clients, leaving these producers feeling isolated and unsupported. In June, she sold Cellar 503 to focus her efforts on opening the AVP Wine Collective. Housed within a spacious 60,000-square-foot building in Southeast Portland, the facility offers a custom crush and commercial storage space, conveniently located near the Bob’s Red Mill Distribution Center.
The name of the collective, AVP, is derived from the Latin phrase Alis volat propriis, meaning She flies with her own wings, which is also the state motto of Oregon. The AVP Wine Collective seeks to encourage and support winemakers in their pursuit of independence. With small wineries serving as the backbone of Oregon’s wine industry, AVP aims to provide a platform for their success and nurture the next generation of winemakers.
Equipped with everything from crushing to bottling capabilities, the AVP Wine Collective strives to become a hub for all things winemaking in Portland. Whether it is providing space, storage, bottling, labeling, or offering advice and connections to support services, AVP aims to cater to the needs of small wineries. The collective’s clients are only required to supply the necessary licenses, fruit, barrels, and, most importantly, passion for winemaking. Winemakers will pay per ton to utilize the shared space and equipment provided by AVP.
Currently, the AVP Wine Collective houses nine wineries, including Jackalope Wine Cellars, Flipturn Cellars, Gonzales Wine Co., Hooray for You Wine Co., Libertine Wines, Little Crow Vineyard, Mijita Wine Co., Zē Wines, and Brandt Miller’s yet-to-be-named label. Winery manager Corey Schuster estimates that they will process 90-100 tons of fruit this fall, with future plans to expand production to 600 tons within four years as the client roster grows.
In addition to wine production, the AVP Wine Collective boasts an 80,000-case capacity bonded commercial storage area, utilizing a state-of-the-art barcode system for efficient tracking and management of all stored wines. This service is available not only to wineries but also to distributors, retailers, and other licensees of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
Looking to the future, Wynkoop plans to launch an incubator program in the following year for two to three wineries without a first commercial release. This program aims to support individuals traditionally faced with difficulties in securing financing, such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and BIPOC winemakers. AVP Wine Collective will provide them with space to produce their first vintage, with repayment occurring once their wines are sold.
While the AVP Wine Collective is primarily a working facility and not open to the general public, it will be hosting a grand opening celebration on September 10th from 3-5 p.m. This event, open to the public upon RSVP, offers an opportunity to taste the wines produced by each winery and even purchase them to take home.
As the AVP Wine Collective opens its doors, it seeks to empower small wineries in Portland’s wine industry, offering them a supportive and collaborative environment to thrive. With its comprehensive facilities and dedication to fostering the success of winemakers, AVP is poised to make a significant impact on the local wine scene.
