Originally from Wisconsin, Dr. Donald Olson made the quest to Oregon in the 1980s to acquire prime vineyard property in the emerging wine region of the Willamette Valley. He purchased an existing vineyard and Japanese garden outside the town of Dundee and officially became a vineyard owner, selling fruit to local wineries. In 1993, he decided to produce his own wine and created Torii Mor Winery. The name derives from the “torii” gate in the property’s Japanese garden and the ancient Scandinavian word for “earth”….the perfect combination of Dr. Olson’s passion and heritage.
Jon Tomaselli was born on August 1, 1975 in Cleveland, Ohio. With three generations of Italian winemakers in his family, Jon began his love affair with wine at the age of 4 years old while assisting the elder Tomasellis in their viticultural endeavors.
By the age of 8, Jon knew he had found his calling in life. In 1999, Jon graduated from Arizona State with a degree in small business management. After four long years in the trenches of corporate America, Jon went into business for himself brokering wine grapes from California. A year later, he added wine equipment sales to his portfolio.
As fate would have it, Jon visited Oregon in 2006 and recognized the potential in the blossoming wine industry of the Willamette Valley. Upon moving to the state late in 2006, Jon was immediately offered a position at Torii Mor to work under Winemaker Jacques Tardy. In 2007, Jon was promoted to Assistant Winemaker and has since worked in varying facets of the company.
Leigh, a true denizen of the Rose City, began her journey at the University of Colorado, a chapter inspired by her profound love for the thrill of skiing in the Rockies. Returning to the embrace of her hometown of Portland, Leigh embarked on a journey in the field of medicine, immersing herself in audiology while orchestrating the intricacies of her husband’s medical practice for an impressive forty-three years. At age 59, Leigh added an M.B.A. from the esteemed Oregon Health and Sciences University to her collection. Leigh entered the splendid stage of retirement in 2017, excited to spend time with family and friends. Yet, her version of ‘free’ time unveiled a dynamic tapestry woven with threads of exercise, globetrotting adventures, swings on the golf course, the solace of reading, the artistry of needlepoint, more wine tasting, non-profit volunteering, cooking, and even adopting a furry friend. Still showing no signs of stopping, Leigh stands as the current president of the Society of Physicians for Wine and Health and boasts a Level 2 WSET certification. In the last two years, Leigh has plunged headfirst into the realm of Torii Mor Winery! A new and exciting adventure.
Matt has worked more than 20 years in the adult beverage business. He has worked for E&J Gallo as well a couple of well-Known wine and spirits importers. He has extensive experience in the three-tier system in the Pacific Northwest. He has worked on the distributor side, broker side and the supplier side, he even helped his older brother plant La Dolce Vita vineyard. He loves spreading the word about the great wines of Oregon. Being a native Oregonian, he loves all things Oregon and Pacific Northwest, fishing, and hiking. He loves spending time with his wife Gwen and their two boys, Jackson and Rafe.
