Fireside Chat with Raptor Ridge Vineyards

Gather in The Living Room at The Allison Inn & Spa on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. for an intimate fireside conversation with a Willamette Valley winemaker. This relaxed discussion offers a deeper look into their craft, from vineyard to cellar, with time for thoughtful dialogue and open questions.

about wallace mckeel and ben dichristina

Wallace McKeel joined Raptor Ridge Winery in 2020 as a Harvest Intern. She and the team quickly formed a deep connection over shared values of sustainability, terrior-first wines, and genuine hospitality and experiences. Since then she has grown to encompass the role of General Sales Manager; coordinating consumer and guest experiences and broader national sales programming. She still likes to keep her hands dirty during harvest and share stories of Raptor Ridge with the winery’s supporters near and far.

Ben DiCristina joined Raptor Ridge as winemaker in 2024. Ben has extensive experience in both Oregon and California as both a viticulturalist and enologist with storied brands such as Sine Qua Non, Evening Land, Argyle, J.K. Carriere, and Keeler Estate. Founder Scott Shull says, “We knew we had found our match when we learned of Ben’s deep appreciation for sustainability – first as a Certified Oregon Master Gardner, and then as a degreed Horticulturalist and Enologist.”