Vineyard Manager/Viticulturist
Brad Sorensen
Brad comes to Les Collines Vineyard with over 18 years of experience managing premier vineyard operations in Napa and Sonoma, including Far Niente and Paul Hobbs Winery. In addition to a degree in plant pathology, he brings expertise in sustainable farming techniques. Trained in Jiu Jitsu and fluent in Spanish from his earlier years in the Peace Corps, Brad brings many life experiences to the ranch.
Viticulturist
Alex Mesick
With a background in land conservation and agforestry and a degree in enology and viticulture from WWCC, Alex first came to Les Collines in 2018 on an internship. After the 2018 harvest, he further expanded his horizons by working in both the Willamette Valley and Columbia Gorge regions, managing premium wine growing operations and gaining insights into different terroirs. Alex now returns to Les Collines Vineyard as a seasoned viticulturist.
Vineyard Supervisor
Aaron Enriquez
Aaron is from one of the hardest working farming families in the Walla Walla Valley. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, Aaron came to the US in 1978, first working at Davis Orchards and then in apples and grapes at Pepper Bridge Farms. He has been with Les Collines Vineyard since its inception, having planted the first vines and is also the proud father of a son in college and two daughters working in the Seattle tech industry.
Owner
Michael Murr
A Walla Walla native, Michael Murr has ties to the land that go back to the mid 1960's when as a teen he operated wheat and pea combines on the current vineyard site. He attended Harvard and pursued a successful career in finance and real estate, yet always maintained a strong and active connection to his roots in the valley. As he hoped, the vineyard has proven to be a wonderful means of sharing that bond with his children and grandchildren.
Behind the Scenes
Gabriel Murr
A year after graduating from Harvard in 2011 and moving to Walla Walla, Gabriel began managing the family owned estate winery, Garrison Creek Cellars, which produces limited quantities of single vineyard red wines from Les Collines. After a succesful five-year span overseeing the winery, he has now transitioned to a wider supervisory role, focusing on the recently expanded operations of Les Collines Vineyard after the Murr family acquired sole ownership in 2018.