Erik Kramer grew up in South Florida, a very long way from the hills and vineyards of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. A scientist by training, Erik worked for several years as a hydrogeologist in the petrochemical industry long before he realized he could apply his passion for precision and balance to a subject that he was more enthusiastic about: wine.

Erik’s career in winemaking began over 20 years ago and most of his time in the profession has been spent in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. He joined Jackson Family Wines as the Winemaker for WillaKenzie Estate in 2017. Before taking the helm at WillaKenzie, Erik was Director of Winemaking and Viticulture for Domaine Serene, a position he held for six years. Erik was also part of the winemaking team at Adelsheim Vineyard for many years and his experiences with their estate vineyards helped foster a deep appreciation for the intricacies of Willamette Valley terrior.

Erik holds a B.S. in Geology from Florida State University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology from Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand.