Mark Vlossak is founder, president, and winemaker of St. Innocent Winery in Salem, Oregon. Mark's exposure to wine began at the age of seven when he began tasting wines daily with his father, a wine educator and importer. During his university training, he developed a love for Champagne. He was inspired to make wine after reading an article in 1983 suggesting that Oregon was an ideal place to make sparkling wine.
Mark founded St. Innocent, Ltd. in 1988 and has been its winemaker and president since its inception. He was honored by the Wine Advocate in 2002 and again in 2004 as one of their "Wine Personalities of the Year."
At St. Innocent, Mark produces 10,000 cases per year, including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. However, Mark is best known for an impressive portfolio of single-vineyard Pinot noirs. In 2002, three of these Pinots earned 94-point scores from The Wine Advocate. This recognition was instrumental in helping St. Innocent reach the audience it has today. In addition to his love of wine, Mark is passionate about food and family and travels to France each year to learn both new techniques while versing himself in old world traditions.