Our Story

Arenness Cellars is a micro winery based in Portland, Oregon.  Founded in 2017, the winery is dedicated to producing memorable Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional vineyards in Washington State.  We believe in the unlimited potential of Washington State wine grapes, and we decided to focus our efforts on the State's premier variety.  This focus differentiates our winery from other more Pinot Noir focused wineries in Oregon.  We strive to produce food-friendly wine that attracts with its layered intensity and that retains attention with its lingering, complex balance of acid, fruit, and tannin.  Our wine lots are small and we are able to give each lot the individual attention it deserves.  We think the wine positively reflects our efforts. 

With hard work, a super product, and an enthusiastic customer base, we aspire to one day become a small winery.  That's it!  If you would like to join us for the journey please click the Contact tab to register for our mailing list.

Su is a founding partner in the winery and handles accounting matters for the business.  She hails from Bangkok, Thailand and first came to the United States in the early 1990s as a foreign exchange student.  Since then Su earned both an undergraduate business degree and an MBA from Willamette University.  In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga and pilates.  Su is an excellent cook (especially of Thai cuisine) and a next-level shopper.  

In addition to her duties at Arenness Cellars, Su is the Controller for a prominent real estate investment firm in Portland, OR.  

Robert Bailey

Bob is a founding partner in the winery and serves as its Winemaker and General Manager.  While engaged in a lengthy career as a lawyer and an in-house commercial real estate developer, Bob was also intensely interested in viticulture and enology.  This interest evolved further while owning vineyards in Paso Robles, CA and in Oregon's Willamette Valley.  In 2012, Bob ditched the corporate game and signed on to work harvest at Mark Ryan Winery in Woodinville, WA.  It was a life changing experience and the start of a passionate pursuit of high quality wine making.  Bob worked his way up the winery food chain serving in positions of increasing responsibility at Etude and Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley, and Alexana Winery, Owen Roe, Seven Bridges Winery, and Pamplin Family Winery in Oregon. He also completed Washington State University's 20-month Enology Certificate Program.  Invaluable know-how gained during these experiences shaped Bob's approach to wine making. 

Artwork and Design 

Helene Bradley painted the art that makes our wine labels so special. Sadly, Helene passed away on March 21, 2022.  We miss our friend very much. Although she is gone, her warmth, spirit, and gusto live on through her remarkable work. 

Peggy Pfenninger, of P-Town Prints + Designs in Portland, is our design guru. 

Portrait and bottle shots by Greg Kozawa, Greg Kozawa Photography, Portland.