Our People

De Ponte is home to some great people that make our winery one of the best in Oregon. Click on the names below to learn more about them.

Scott and Rae Ellen Baldwin

Passion, focus and commitment are three great words to describe Scott and Rae Ellen.  De Ponte Cellars means much more to them than a business, it is their home and their passion.  From the day they purchased the vineyard, they focused on building a winery from which to produce memorable wines.  Their commitment to quality is reflected by the facility, their choice of Winemaker and their loyal following.

The next time you stop by De Ponte you'll likely see one or both of them.  They are hands on owners who value time with their customers and are proud of their wines.  Be sure to say "Hi!"

Fred & Shirley Baldwin

Fred and Shirley are the inspiration behind De Ponte Cellars.  They raised a family with an appreciation for wine, a respect for the environment and a commitment to working together as a family.

It is not uncommon to see them at De Ponte Cellars assisting with a celebration or just saying hi to loyal clients and newcomers alike.

Both have been honored by their family with special wines.  The D.F.B. Estate Melon is named after D. Fred Baldwin and Shirley's Gran Reserva Pinot Noir is named for Shirley Baldwin.

Gabrielle Prefontaine

My interest in winemaking dates from a young age. My uncle is passionate about wine, Burgundy wines in particular, and I do have fond memories of family dinners where wine was shared and talked about. My uncle brought me to his tasting club in Montreal when I was 10 years old, sharing his passion through the years. We made wines in his friend's backyard in Montreal, we called the wines "Chateau Westmount.”

I studied agriculture in my hometown and worked in vineyards after graduation, which brought me to the Okanagan Valley, then New Zealand. While living nearly a year in New Zealand, I had the opportunity to participate in my first harvest where I worked in the cellar, taking part in making wine. From this experience, I knew I had found what I wanted to do moving forward: winemaking. 

I continued working harvests, trying to keep a focus on cool climate regions such as Tasmania. While abroad, I decided to apply for winemaking schools in France, and was accepted in the National Diploma of Enology program from the Dijon University in Burgundy. I then worked in the Beaujolais, Nuits-St-Georges, Germany, Australia and landed a job in 2012 at WillaKenzie Estate as their Assistant Winemaker. Oregon has been home ever since.

Joining the team at De Ponte truly is a dream come true, and I will be taking great pride in continuing the hard work Isabelle has put through the years crafting terroir driven wines.