The Iris Team

Pamela grew up in Eugene, Oregon and graduated from the University of Oregon.  After spending many years working in banking and stock brokerage institutions in Washington State, then living in Europe for 2 years, Pamela worked as a Business Manager at the University of Oregon for 12 years.  Now 100% of her time as Owner is devoted to Iris Vineyards, located 18 miles southwest of Eugene.  In 1992 the long-held goal of creating a vineyard was realized as Pamela and Richard Boyles purchased an 870-acre site with 100 acres of the estate suitable for planting a vineyard.  Planting 500 acres of Douglas Fir trees was undertaken immediately, then starting in 1996 the first Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay vines at Iris Vineyards were planted.  Pamela ascribes to the value of ARETE’- to be the very best that one can be through striving to do better each day.  At Iris Vineyards, ARETE’ means constant attention to vineyard practices, wine quality, and hospitality. Pamela currently serves on the Willamette Valley Wineries Association Board, served on the University of Oregon Bach Festival Advisory Board and for a total of 8 years has served on the executive committee of the South Willamette Wineries Association.

David Cordtz serves as the General Manager of Iris Vineyards.  David started his career in the wine business at the age of 18 working on his parent’s vineyard in Sonoma County.  After college his first job was as a cellar rat and he moved up to through the ranks serving as Production Manager, Quality Control Manager and wine maker at several prestigious Northern California wineries.   He then started his own winery (Cordtz Brothers Cellars).  He won over 150 medals nationally and internationally which included a gold medal from the prestigious “de l’Office International De la Vigne Et Du Vin” in France in 1984.  This competition is considered the “Olympics of Wine”. After selling his winery he went on to create three more nationally and internationally distributed beverage companies where he served as CEO.  These companies included a sparkling juice company, a probiotic tea company and a hard cider company. David felt his love of the beverage business, especially wine, his entrepreneurial spirit and in-depth beverage background was a good fit with what Iris seeks to accomplish. This move also gave David the chance to return to his roots of enjoying the process of building a successful premium wine brand while enjoying the process from the vineyard to the glass.

Aaron’s interest in the Oregon wine industry started in 1990 while studying soil science at Oregon State University. After graduation, he spent three years in Guatemala with the Peace Corps. There he taught farmers how to improve crop yields through plant and seed selection. In 1996, Aaron landed a job at Amity Vineyards. He has managed and/or planted several notable vineyards in the Willamette Valley. In 2001, Aaron began working in commercial wine making starting with a harvest at De Ponte Cellars in the Dundee Hills under winemaker Isabelle Dutartre. In 2002 he began making wine for his own label while working at Walnut City Wineworks. Aaron accepted the assistant winemaker position at Owen Roe in the spring of 2003 where he worked with David O’Reilly through the 2007 vintage. Aaron was informed of the opportunity to work as the first winemaker at Iris Vineyards by a long time industry friend in the spring of 2008. Going into his fifteenth vintage at Iris, Aaron has a well-developed knowledge of the estate vineyard as well as the best ways by which to coax the most flavor from the grapes and into the glass.

Arpad is a twenty-year veteran of Oregon’s wine industry.  After earning a BS from Drake University, his lifelong interests in horticulture and the outdoors led him to pursue a degree in Vineyard Management from Chemeketa Community College’s Wine Studies Program.  Arpad did winery and vineyard work for Eugene Wine Cellars and AREA Inc. before joining the team at Iris Vineyards in 2004.  He is motivated to farm sustainably and is continually learning and striving to find the most efficient and effective methods to produce top quality winegrapes.  Arpad believes that healthy soils grow spectacular wines. His passion and determination are evident in every bottle.

Our new Wine Bar manager was born in San Luis Opisbo and hails from Paso Robles, California. She has a lifelong exposure to viticulture— coming from two generations of wine-makers. Her grandfather founded Estrella River winery in the same region of California where Lauren later gained six years experience working at a Tasting Room. There, she developed familiarity with laboratory work and enology sciences while further advancing her overall wine knowledge in a customer service atmosphere. She moved to Oregon to finish earning her BS in Psychology at Oregon State University. Now, her unique and intimate ties to the wine industry allow her to have a varied perspective and passion for Oregon wines made here at Iris Vineyards. She has also discovered a passion for mycology and hiking with her dog, Nymeria, since being in the Willamette Valley.

Lindsey has been with Iris Vineyards for three years. She grew up in Eugene, Oregon before attending school at Pacific University in Forest Grove. There she double majored in Dance and Chemistry. It was while studying chemistry that her interest in wine developed and she continued to pursue that knowledge with a Certificate in Winemaking from UC Davis. She is committed to growing in the wine industry and applying her skills where applicable. Lindsey is also involved in the local community and is one of the coaches for the Dance Team at North Eugene High School.