Vision
Nurturing People and the Planet
Our Mission
— Sustainable Winegrowing
All aspects of Ambar Estate speak to our conviction that the care we give our land radiates outward to our customers, our community, and our planet. In addition to our Regenerative Organic® certification, Ambar is Salmon Safe, Bee Friendly and LIVE certified. Our state-of-the-art tasting room and production facility are solar-powered. We carefully consider all packaging, using lighter bottles, dispensing with wasteful foil capsules, and utilizing carbon-negative natural corks to reduce our carbon footprint.
Our Culture
— Collaboration & Kinship
Ambar Estate is a small, family-owned business. We believe in fairness, social equity, and creating a collaborative environment where every person is valued and able to flourish. We adhere to and support Regenerative Organic Certification® standards for everyone working at Ambar Estate, which include fair hiring practices, non-discrimination, protection from abuse and harassment, equal pay, health and safety, and commitment to paying a living wage.
Our Team
Rob Townsend
Owner
When Rob and his wife Pam Turner first set foot on the property that would eventually become Ambar Estate, the land was an overgrown mix of scrub oak, native shrubs, and invasive blackberries. A lone tumbledown farmhouse shrouded in vines stood at the edge of Worden Hill Road. Yet from the start Rob and Pam knew this property had the potential to yield Oregon wines of the highest quality.
Rob is the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Vinovate Custom Wine Services, an innovative wine production facility near Ambar on Worden Hill Road. Formerly a corporate attorney with Morrison & Foerster and Chief Legal Officer for Softbank and Softbank Group International, Rob also serves as Senior Advisor to Upside Foods (the leading cellular meat company), and Common Sense Growth (an innovative impact investor). He has lived and worked in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Pam Turner
Owner
Pam is a Director at Vinovate Custom Wine Services, a former public health professional, and the author of science, nature, and history books for young readers. She comes from a long line of farmers on both sides of her family. Her grandparents grew cotton in Texas but were forced off their land in the 1930s by the Dust Bowl–a disaster caused by poor agricultural practices that left the soil vulnerable to windstorms. Pam is particularly interested in sustainable farming and native plant restoration at both Ambar Estate and Vinovate Custom Wine Services.
Kate Payne Brown
Winemaker
Is there anything more exhilarating than the creation of a wine that tells the story of the land on which it is grown? Kate, a renowned winemaker with over 17 years of experience, doesn’t think so.
Raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Kate’s journey began with her studies at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. After earning a Master’s degree in Oenology, Kate honed her skills working for famed Burgundian consultant Kyriakos Kynigopoulos and for esteemed wineries in the Willamette Valley, including Archery Summit, where she focused on vineyard-specific Pinot Noir. As Reserve Winemaker at Stoller Family Estate, Kate developed the sparkling program while also crafting unique wines created to showcase different expressions of the estate vineyard. In addition to crafting Ambar wines, Kate is a Partner and Winemaker at Vinovate Custom Wine Services.
Bryan Weil
Winemaker
Bryan’s progressive path to winemaking was one that allowed him to combine a passion for food and wine with his acute precision in science and craftsmanship. Bryan admires the diversity of the Willamette Valley and his precision and keen judgement show in the end result.
Born and raised in Salem, Oregon, Bryan began his career in culinary school, where his appreciation and love for Oregon Pinot Noir flourished. Bryan earned a degree in Enology and Viticulture with a minor in Chemistry from Oregon State University. His experiences in the vineyard and cellar span three continents, with work at Domaine Serene, Tyee Wine Cellars, Rain Dance Vineyards, Hogue Cellars, and Kim Crawford. As Winemaker at Alexana Winery, Bryan assisted in the completion of Alexana’s sister winery, Corazon Del Sol, in Argentina. In addition to his work at Ambar, Bryan is Managing Partner and Winemaker at Vinovate Custom Wine Services.
Tammy Mehmed
Business Manager
After 16 years in big law at Morrison & Foerster in San Francisco, Tammy worked with the Chief Legal Officer at SoftBank, and managed the U.S. legal team for SoftBank Group International. She has curated private events from small groups to large company parties, weddings, and even mayoral inaugural celebrations. Excited about bringing her big city experience to the Willamette Valley, Tammy is looking forward to being part of the Oregon wine community.
Her interests are deep in dog sports and dog training, including agility, rally obedience, and scent work. She looks forward to getting involved in local community activities as well as with her long-term membership in P.E.O., a women’s philanthropic education organization.
Leigh Bartholomew
Viticulturist
After attending the University of Oregon, then the University of California/Davis where she earned her master’s degree in Viticulture, Leigh gained experience at such respected properties as Domaine Denis Mortet in Gevrey Chambertin; Seresin Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand; Robert Modavi Winery, California; Cain Vineyard and Winery, California; Caliterra/Vina Errazuriz in Chile and Andrew Will Winery in Washington; and Archery Summit Winery in Oregon.
Leigh joined the vineyard management company Results Partners in 2014. Her vineyard management style is a blend of scientific knowledge and experienced instinct, stemming from years of experimenting with pruning techniques, vine spacing, trellising, cover crops and clonal selection. Well-versed in organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming practices, Leigh’s philosophy is simple: “I feel that beyond respecting the land, these methods also yield healthier and more expressive fruit.”
Leigh and her winemaker husband, Patrick Reuter, co-own Dominio IV Winery in McMinnville.
Luke Pedotti
Vineyard Development
Luke paired a B.S. in Agricultural Systems Management with a minor in Ag Business and Viticulture Studies from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before moving back home to Sonoma County in 1998. There he started his viticulture career at Dutton Ranch, where he was involved in all phases of vineyard development and management.
After visiting the Willamette Valley and being taken by its beauty, Luke joined Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises in McMinnville as their vineyard manager. Luke was also Director of Vineyard Operations for Winemakers Investment Properties where he was responsible for vineyards in both Marion and Yamhill Counties. However, it wasn’t until he joined the vineyard management company Results Partners that he felt “most at home.” “I’ve always liked to build things. Seeing the potential in an undeveloped piece of property and turning it into a high quality vineyard operation is very gratifying.”
Daniel Barajas
Vineyard Manager
At the tender age of 17, Daniel Barajas, a Mexican native, emigrated to the United States. After landing in Chicago, Illinois, he made the decision to relocate to McMinnville, Oregon, in search of a better area to raise a family. After working as a cook at a McMinnville restaurant, Daniel decided to pursue a career in agriculture. He began at Evergreen Farm, where he spent more than five years working in the Christmas tree and blueberry industries. Daniel then made the decision to advance his farming career by entering the wine business. His first employment was as a crew member at WillaKenzie Estate, where he assisted in the winery and worked as a crew member in the vineyard. Daniel was thereafter introduced to Results Partners, where he was offered the fantastic chance to start as a supervisor and advance to Vineyard Manager. Daniel has been in the wine business for more than 14 years and has worked for this company for more than seven years. The beautiful views of the Willamette Valley mesmerize Daniel and make him feel at peace.
Julie Mettille
General Manager
Julie Mettille is a seasoned hospitality professional with over a decade of experience in food and beverage. Raised in Ellicott City, MD, she pursued a degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida, gaining valuable experience at the Walt Disney World Resort and through the prestigious Disney Management program. Julie’s career journey has included roles at Sunriver Resort, Brasada Ranch, and notable wine industry positions at Ponzi Vineyards, Domaine Serene, and Bledsoe Wine Estates, where she excelled in sales, marketing, events, and tasting room management.
Julie holds a Certified Sommelier designation from the International Wine Guild and a Winemakers Certificate from UC Davis. As the General Manager of Ambar Estate, she is committed to curating unforgettable hospitality experiences. Outside of work, Julie enjoys hiking, skiing, running, golfing, and exploring new restaurants and wineries with her husband, along with spending time with her two Bengal cats, family, and friends.
Heidi Whitney-Schile
Winery Chef
Chef Heidi Whitney-Schile boasts 17 years in Portland’s restaurant scene. After culinary school, she honed her French pastry skills at iconic bakeries like Crema and Pix Patisserie, and worked in high-volume kitchens such as Carafe Bistro and Bollywood Theater. In 2015, she launched a successful French brunch pop-up, Lavender & Thyme, and began teaching pastry classes. By 2017, she was heading the brunch and dinner programs at Old Salt Marketplace.
In 2018, Heidi moved to Pennsylvania to manage a large lodge restaurant, enhancing her expertise in running kitchens. She then returned to Portland in 2019, where her and her partner purchased Grain and Gristle then transformed it into a farm-to-table establishment known for its house-made dishes. Heidi decided to dive into the wine industry in 2023 where she began developing food and wine pairing programs for vineyards.
In her free time, Heidi enjoys gardening, beekeeping, CrossFit, and the outdoors. Her passion for local ingredients, farming, and wine enriches the Ambar team and elevates our guest experience.
Connory Morano
Lead Winery Educator
Connery came to the Willamette Valley by way of San Francisco. After spending 8 years working in Michelin-starred restaurants, he followed his passion for Old World Pinot Noir to Oregon. He has extensive luxury hospitality and events experience, as well as in depth knowledge of food and wine. He’s eager to apply his experience in competitive fine dining to elevate the Ambar tasting room experience.
He has a passion for gardening, cooking as well as entertaining. He spends most of his spare time with his favorite cousins enjoying the beauty of the Willamette Valley.
Morgan Baer
Hospitality Coordinator
Morgan Baer is a dedicated wine professional with a deep-rooted passion for wine that began in Napa Valley and flourished in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. With a WSET Level 2 Award in Wines from Linfield University, Morgan has thrived in roles at Stem Wine Bar, Friendship Kitchen, and Lachini Vineyards, excelling in wine program development, event planning, social media management, team leadership, and guest experience.
Outside of work, Morgan enjoys the small, beautiful moments of life through activities such as yoga, meditation, skiing, tennis, and exploring new restaurants and bars with friends in Portland, reflecting a love for diverse culinary adventures.
