How Equity Work Shaped Mayor Remy Drabkin’s Politics-and Wine

Growing up in McMinnville, Remy Drabkin was surrounded by wine. Her parents brought her to cellars and vineyards, and she found herself drawn to the community. At eight, she made a formal announcement: She would become a winemaker.

And that’s exactly what happened. Drabkin traveled around the world making wine, returning to her hometown to open Remy Wines — one of the few Willamette Valley wineries specializing in Italian varietals. But Drabkin has done far more than make wine. She co-founded the non-profit Wine Country Pride, as well as Queer Wine Fest. She served on McMinnville City Council before becoming city council president; then, when Mayor Scott A. Hill resigned in May, the Council unanimously declared Drabkin interim mayor. She was elected mayor officially this month, the city’s first female and first openly queer mayor.

Photo by Zachary Goff | Article by Brooke Jackson-Glidden
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The World’s First Queer Wine Festival is Happening in Oregon Later This Month

Tori Latham writes about the World’s First Queer Wine Festival for Robb Report.

“The festivities are being hosted by Remy Wines, a Willamette Valley winery founded in 2006 by Remy Drabkin, a lesbian winemaker and the co-founder of the nonprofit Wine Country Pride. In addition to these roles, in April she was appointed the interim mayor of McMinnville, Oregon, becoming the first woman and queer-identifying person to hold the position.”

Photo by Zachary Goff | Article by Tori Latham
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Inside the World’s First Queer Wine Festival

Kate Dingwall writes about her joyous experience at the inaugural Queer Wine Fest.

“On a sunny Oregon afternoon, 17 different wineries set up their wares at Remy Wines in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. They were there to pour but also to celebrate. Instead of silence as oenophiles contemplate the characteristics of each wine, there was a concert from Camp Crush — a new-age pop duo produced by Doja Cat’s go-to Rian Lewis — that set the mood. Business casual clothes were scrapped as the rainbow was the preferred dress code, be it neon-hued sunglasses or generally jovial prints. While wine tastings can tend to feel stuffy, this was anything but. It was spirited, special and highly celebratory.

Welcome to Queer Wine Fest.”

Photo by Aly Winstead Photography | Article by Kate Dingwall
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13 Best Wineries in the U.S. for 2022

All across America, incredible wineries are producing fantastic wine, many utilizing artisanal, labor-intensive methods, thus proving that the Judgment of Paris was only the beginning of the story.

As the owner of one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ wineries in Oregon, Remy Drabkin balances producing an array of fantastic wines with advocating for greater diversity in the wine industry (via Remy Wines). Drabkin achieves the former thanks to a childhood spent immersed in Oregon’s wine scene. She achieves the latter through the founding of Wine Country Pride, a month-long celebration of the intersection between the LGBTQ+ community and Willamette Valley’s wine-growing country, as per Wine Country Pride.

Photo by Zachary Goff | Article by Jacob Smith
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Bubbles and Rosés to Kick-Off Pride Month

Proud lesbian winemaker Remy Drabkin is well-known in wine for her activism, sincere tasting experiences and exceptional wines under three labels: Remy Wines, Three Wives and Black Heart. Remy Wines is also taking big steps toward enhanced sustainability this year. Over the summer, Drabkin plans to open a new winery constructed with her Drabkin-Mead Formula sustainable carbon-neutral concrete.

Remy Wines is all about celebrating pride, from hosting pride events to selling rainbow half-cases to support the queer community. Their Black Heart series features a classic, traditional-method sparkling made from Pinot Noir. They’ve completely mastered the traditional technique, so this bottle is perfect for anyone who likes that classic, toasty style of sparkling.

Photo by Zachary Goff | Article by  Bailey McAlister
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