A Purposeful Pursuit
We - Athena Pappas and Stewart Boedecker, became winemakers to be part of the entire journey—from vineyard to bottle—and that’s why our focus is on the varietal that grows best in our region: Pinot Noir. It’s uniquely suited to the Willamette Valley, and allows us to express the nuances of our climate and soils with intention.
But focus doesn’t mean limitation—we craft over a dozen distinct Pinot Noirs, each shaped by vineyard site, clone selection, barrel age and cooperage, and time in barrel. Every choice is thoughtful, resulting in wines that reflect both place and purpose.
The People Behind the Wine
Many years ago, while we were dating, we fell in love—not just with each other, but with the elegance and nuance of Pinot Noir. And when we married, we brought our two true loves together and founded Boedecker Cellars in 2003.
What began as a 400-case production in Oregon’s first shared-use winery in Carlton has grown into a 5,500-case, winemaker-owned operation. Today, we craft our wines in a restored 1956 warehouse in the heart of Northwest Portland—just a stone’s throw from downtown and less than an hour from the vineyards we work closely with.
Our philosophy has always been simple: to craft expressive, age-worthy Pinot Noir with purpose and integrity. We collaborate deeply with a select group of sustainably farmed vineyard sites, working hands-on throughout the growing season to ensure the fruit reflects the character and quality we believe in.
Now fully dedicated to winemaking, we bring a thoughtful, low-intervention approach to every vintage. And when you visit our urban winery and tasting room, chances are you’ll find us right where we belong—in the cellar, doing what we love
Stewart Boedecker
Founding Winemaker
Stewart is a lover of classic Oregon Pinot Noir—aromatically expressive, red-fruited, and brimming with nuance. He’s drawn to wines with structure, complexity, and the ability to evolve for years. His fascination with Pinot began in 1992, when he made his first wine at Cornell University.
In Oregon, Stewart volunteered at several respected wineries in exchange for hands-on experience, then studied winemaking at UC Davis and Chemeketa Community College. Alongside Athena, he co-founded Boedecker Cellars in 2003.
Now fully focused on winemaking after retiring from his day job, Stewart brings thoughtful precision and enduring passion to every vintage—still as devoted to Pinot as the day he first began.
Athena Pappas
Founding Winemaker
Athena is drawn to the tension and transparency of Pinot Noir—how its depth and delicacy, when handled with care, can reveal so much. A native Portlander with Greek roots, Athena studied winemaking at both UC Davis and Chemeketa Community College, though she’s most at home hands-on in the cellar: climbing barrels, stirring wines, and driving the forklift.
For Athena, winemaking is more than a passion—it’s part of who she is. With each vintage, she brings her curiosity, intuition, and deep respect for the grape to every barrel she touches.
Our Winemaking Community
Over the years, we’ve grown a tight-knit community of passionate, slightly wine-obsessed individuals—each one bringing a little chaos, a lot of heart, and a deep love for Pinot Noir.
While Stewart and Athena lead the winemaking, they don't do it alone. If we handed out titles, Stewart would be our Enologist, Winemaker, and Vineyard Manager, while Athena would be Winemaker and GM. Our Cellar Master wears many hats and keeps the rhythm flowing, especially during harvest.
And when it’s time to bring in the fruit, it becomes a full-on team effort. Friends, family, and an incredible crew of community members roll up their sleeves to take part in the joy (and serious hard work!) of making wine.
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