This Black Owned Vineyard is 100% For The Culture
Abbey Creek Vineyard has much more to offer than just really great wine
Written by Jessica Fields
Photo courtesy of Abbey Creek Vineyards
There’s a special feeling you get walking into Abbey Creek Winery. Inside the spacious room the vibe is laid back, the wines are unpretentious, and the mood is artistic, hip-hop and majestically black. It’s not exactly what you would expect at a wine tasting, but owner and founder Bertony Faustin isn’t exactly your traditional wine maker. For starters he’s not a drinker, and the tasting room, better known as The Crick, is more a community space to gather, hang out, network and learn. The Crick is located about 30 minutes outside of Portland. On a pre-COVID trip to the Pacific North West, I had the chance to visit Abbey Creek and the extra-ordinary opportunity to talk with Bertony about his journey west and his true passion for inclusion in the industry he loves. The takeaway was of course a delicious tasting wine, a few bottles for the road, and a story that was as uplifting as it was captivating.
Born to Hatian immigrant parents, Bertony grew up in Brooklyn, New York before making the move to California. Though his sights were set on coastal living, he never made it to the golden state. Instead he landed in Oregon, a happy accident that he says he never regrets, and decided not to look back. Neither Oregon nor wine making was his intended plan, but he wanted a change and saw a fresh start in the 5 acres of grapes his in-laws had growing. For him the farm land and grapes represented a legacy of family pride and respect. So he made the shift from a career anesthesiologist to becoming a farmer, with a plan to turn the grapes into wine. In 2007 with no prior wine knowledge and no taste for alcohol, Bertony formed Abbey Creek Vineyards, becoming the first black winemaker in the well-known Willemette region of Oregon. The vineyard gained popularity and by 2015 Abbey Creek was one of Oregon’s most notable wineries. At a winemaking event, Bertony recalls looking around the room of local makers only to see that not one of them looked like him. It was at that moment, in a room full of his industry peers, that he realized just how important his story was. In the years to follow Bertony released, Red, White & Balck, a documentary telling his journey from self-taught viticulturist and vinter to history changing wine maker. His determination and drive to become a wine maker was rooted in something much more important than a well curated pallet and years of tradition. Like many self-made businesses Bertony Faustin is a big part of what makes Abbey Creek so special. His flair for art and music is embedded in the spacious tasting room. The walls are lined with paintings and graphic art that pays homage to some of hip-hops greats like Biggie, Tupac, Snoop and more. While his friendly nature and extensive wine knowledge makes him the warm tasting host you don’t want to walk away from. His light hearted spirit can be seen in his unique wines, each which have their own clever nickname dedicated to the culture.
As I sipped, tasted and savored wines like the pinot noir based rosé, aka the #Ooooweee and chardonnay nicknamed the #Yeahmang, I took in the warm sincerity of it all and felt proud. Being a wine enthusiast and black woman, I know all too well about the lack of black and brown faces in the industry, and while Bertony may not have set out to become THE black wine maker/vineyard owner he has blazed the trail for people of color in wine with pride. A pride that speaks to his work ethic extends through his grapes. He’s a self-proclaimed Change Maker and counts inspirational speaker and Carhartt brand ambassador amongst his growing list of professional titles. On any given day at The Crick you’re sure to hear one of your favorite 90’s hip hop songs, taste a new wine and even sample some homemade mango habanero hot sauce which he pairs with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream (don’t think, just taste…trust me you won’t be sorry!) But what will likely be the best take away from your trip is the uplifting, inspiring desire to become your own Change Maker. The wine may only last you one evening- because let’s face it, it’s damn good wine, but the conversation will be one you come back to for months to come.
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