Kelly Johnson, Owner/winemaker

Kelly grew up in Lyle Washington and attended Washington State University - Go Cougs! Earning a BS in Biology, she moved to California and embarked upon her career in the wine industry. Working in the Napa Valley for 13 years, she developed skillsets in both winemaking and Enology. These skillsets eventually allowed her to return to the Columbia Gorge. “I wanted to move back home. Wine has allowed me to do that.”

Stemming from local roots reaching back to the 1800’s, Kelly chose Lyle Washington as the location to open Tetrahedron Wines and Big River Laboratories. As a Lyle resident, Kelly is an enthusiastic member of the community and enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and generally enjoying the beauty and benefits the Columbia Gorge has to offer.

kelly@tetrahedronwines.com

Darren MICHAELS, assistant

Growing up in Santa Barbara wine country gave Darren an early appreciation of artisan wines made in classic styles. After graduating with a degree in biochemistry and working in HIV research, he decided to return to his first love and moved to the Napa Valley where he immersed himself in the American Bordeaux varietals and large scale consumer-friendly production. A return to Santa Barbara county moved his interests to Rhone styles and back to smaller production, eventually finding himself leader of a winemaking team and consulting with both large and artisanal wineries. He now enjoys himself in the beautiful Columbia Gorge and is excited to continue his focus on artisanal and low intervention techniques while exploring the terroirs of both the Oregon and Washington sides of the gorge.

DARREN@TETRAHEDRONWINES.COM

tricia barker, customer relations management

Tricia, a real gorge grown gal was born and raised in Lyle.

Kelly and Tricia grew up together from the age of five and even have family ties.

Tricia moved away right after high school and was gone for 20 years.

Tricia studied in Portland for business and computers. Then later became a military wife for ten years moving around every few years. She later became a mom to her amazing son Xavier. She dedicated most of her time to her son as a stay at home wife and mother. After her divorce she got into real estate.

Family health issues brought her back to Lyle. Tricia's family homestead Lyle and their family history goes back for several generations.

Tricia accounts of the conversations with Kelly and her dream to move home and have a wine label, tasting room and lab.

Life brought her back six months after Kelly returned and Tricia was there to help at grand opening of the tasting room and to be apart of Kelly's vision every since.

tastings@TETRAHEDRONWINES.COM

Demetrius Murray, brand ambassador

model, track, champion, Tacoma, black men in wine

Born and raised in Tacoma Washington and at the age of 18, Demetrius Murray was offered a track scholarship to attend Washington State University. He accepted the scholarship, earned a BS in Communications and became the 2000 Pac-10 Champion in triple jump and attended the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, CA that same year. It was this achievement that launched his coaching career where he led several high school students to state champions and many to college scholarships.

While coaching these champions, Demetrius cultivated a modeling career. He has modeled at high fashion events such as Seattle Fashion Week and is currently working in New York City. It is in this element that he was first introduced to wine. His palate matured quickly and his desire for fine wines had begun. This desire has lead him to pair with Tetrahedron Wines and become a New York based Brand Ambassador. “It is Tetrahedron’s desire for minimal processing that I believe sets it apart from other producers.”

DEMETRIUS@tetrahedronwines.com

Jose Rodriguez, brand ambassador

josebiopic.jpg, portland, seattle, Latino

Jose Rodriguez is a West Coaster. He grew up in the California Bay Area. Which is the default statement when you don’t really want to say that you were not really all that close to SF. However, he grew up in Fairfield, just over the hills from Napa. With the help of his mom and her Gallo drinking ways, he became familiar with the importance of the Napa Valley. Along the way, others showed him Sonoma and the love affair with wine was cemented. Jose is a Business Analyst in Portland, OR. He loves visiting wine countries in CA, WA and OR.

Jose met Kelly when he worked for Trinchero Family Estates in the Napa Valley. When she said she was re-establishing her roots in the Columbia River Gorge, and launching her own label, he said, “How can I help?!” Today he is a Brand Ambassador for Tetrahedron wines, covering the Portland Metro area, and his old stomping grounds in Seattle, WA. It is an honor and a privilege to help someone as talented as Kelly to push off on this voyage. Kelly and Darren have incredible heads for wine, and the skills to make it amazing. Good people with a great product to share with the fine people in the Pacific Northwest, and beyond!