Episode 11 Adriana Sassi - Founder & Owner of Envie De Vin Tours and Co-Founder & Owner of Sassi Vineyard

In this warm and inspiring episode, Rashelle Newmyer visits Adriana Sassi at her breathtaking short-term rental in the heart of Oregon wine country, located in Newberg, Oregon. Originally from Brazil, Adriana shares her incredible journey from exchange student to healthcare professional, and now to full-time wine tour guide and host of one of the region’s most beautiful Airbnb stays.

Adriana opens up about launching her business,  Envie De Vin Tours, after retiring from a 32-year career at Kaiser. With deep roots in hospitality and a genuine passion for Oregon wine, Adriana now offers fully customized wine tasting experiences, ranging from cozy two-stop half-day adventures to full four-stop excursions, complete with lunch reservations and unforgettable views.

You’ll hear about:
🍷 Her stunning 4-bedroom Airbnb, Sassi Vineyard (sleeps 8!), is available for rent with vineyard views, a large kitchen, and a table for eight.
🍇 Sassy Vineyards: the couple's growing Pinot Noir vines, and their plans for an onsite tasting room and event venue.
🚐 Adriana’s approach to wine tours—flexible, personal, and rooted in community. Whether it’s Dundee, Amity, or even a special beach day to Cannon Beach, she curates unforgettable experiences for visitors.
🤝 The beautiful spirit of collaboration over competition among local drivers and tour guides.
✨ Her pro tips for wine tasting, including why you should seek out small, owner-run wineries and take a vineyard or cellar tour when possible.
💬 Favorite spots for sparkling, Chardonnay, and hidden gems—plus the importance of food trucks, picnic baskets, and passionate winemakers.

Adriana also shares what it’s really like to harvest grapes, how many hands (and clippers!) it takes, and why romanticizing winemaking overlooks the grit behind the glamour.

If you’re planning a trip to Oregon’s wine country or dreaming about it, this episode will make you want to book your tour and stay ASAP. Adriana’s energy is magnetic, her knowledge is deep, and her love for the land and people around her shines in everything she does.

Thank you for listening! Connect and collaborate with Realtor Rashelle on any of her social media platform pages > https://linktr.ee/RealtorRashelle

Transcript

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Welcome to the Realtor Who Wines podcast. I'm Michelle Niemeyer, your hostess with the most as a student of life, a connector, a passionate wine enthusiast, and your local favorite guide. Join me as we explore the vibrant Pacific Northwest. Savor the finest wines and champion the spirit of entrepreneurship. Each episode, I'll sit down with inspiring guests, supporting business ownership and uncovering the stories that make this community unique. So grab a glass of wine, settle in, and let's embark on a journey of discovery and connection together. Cheers. Welcome back to the Realtor Who wines podcast. I'm Rashelle and today I'm with Adriana Sassy. And we are at her beautiful, short term rental location that you could rent. And we if you watch the YouTube, definitely check out the video because we're going to show you a little bit more about this beautiful location and the vineyard that's behind us. But before we get started today, I just wanted to say cheers to you. Cheers. Thank you so much for having me on the show. Thank you for or for being on the show. I'm having you on the show. I swear we have had zero wine so far. Thank you for having me. I'm. We are actually drinking. Does this wine have a name outside of, like, Pinot noir? Like, it's from, while it's my husband's wine, he makes it, and right now he calls it cherries wine. But it's going to be from the vineyard behind us here. And it's Sassy Vineyard. Yeah, yeah, I it's so delicious. I can't wait until you have your tasting room open. That'll be so great. What to it? Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about you before we dive into the house that we're in today. And the wine. You are not born and raised in America. You were born in Brazil, correct? Yeah. And what brought you to America? So I came in 1988 as an exchange student. And, I, I met my husband, went back, came back, got married and, it was supposed to be six months. I've been here for 38 years. Yeah. That's amazing. And what brought you and Sherry into the wine industry or the wine area? So we moved to West Salem, in Hopewell and around that time, wineries were starting to pop up everywhere. And, it was in people's garage, and they were making very good wine. So we stayed there for six years. So we were right in the middle of, you know. Yeah, the Salem wine areas have really flourished in the last. So we were there when it was start to, bloom down there. And then we moved, a few years later to, I think it was in 2012 to Dundee. And Shari, my husband is a carpenter and he works, he makes, the wood work for the wineries around. Yeah. He makes beautiful rooms. Yeah. Beautiful tables, beautiful wine cabinet and, like, yeah, you can see a lot of his work at wineries throughout the area. So. And we're right in the middle of wine country. Yes. The Four Graces is right across the street from us. Duck pond is behind us. And, but I worked for Kaiser Permanente for 32 years as a dental assistant. I just retired last year. Congratulations. Yeah, it's been nice, but Shari always insisted that I quit my job and just join him. Yeah. Entrepreneurial endeavors. In the industry. So it took me a while, but I gathered the courage. I retired, and I started my, wine tours business. Yeah. So talk a little bit about the wine tours business. How many people do you normally take out on a tour, So I yes. Yeah. Yeah. You're like, oh yeah, what's wrong with it? It's a little, That's okay. Maybe I won't have as many chance, but yeah, that's nice. Okay. Oh this is good view. It still figure awesome. Beautiful. Perfect. And you can keep it okay. So I'll say that question. Let's talk a little bit more about your tour business. How many people do you normally take out on a tour with you? So I have, a smaller car for 2 to 3 people. And then we have, sprinter van for 11 people. Oh, wow. Yeah. So, from, groups of two all the way up to 11. Okay. And when people book with you, do you choose the wineries or do they choose the wineries? So if they're new to the, area, I'll just pick the wine. Yeah. Because you already know the good ones to go. Yeah, yeah. And I do have my favorites, but I pick the wineries and I do all the reservations. Lunch, and, I do dinner, too, if they request me. So I do all of it. Okay. But if they've been here or they want to visit a particular winery that they've heard about, then I'll just go with what they want. Yeah. And if when you make the reservations with the fee that you charge for your tour, are the wine tastings included in that, or do they pay separately at each winery? They pay separately, okay. Each winery. So it's not just my fees. And then they just take care of the tastings as they go, because in that way they're not tied into if they don't want to do a tasting, they could buy a bottle, right? Just a glass and things like that. Do the wineries ever work or partner with you on like a discount on tastings? If you have a larger group or anything like that? I, we, I haven't had that offered to me. Yeah, yeah. I'm just curious. So yeah, I just really I choose the wineries that I really like the wine. And the smaller places that are. Yeah. Now family oriented. We still have a lot of those around here, and they are very nice. And guests usually like those. I'm a sucker for if I'm in a wine tasting room and the winemakers there or the owners there, I'm instantly like, where's your wine club? Let me sign up, because I just love supporting local families so much. Yeah, and local farmers too. When I think of wine, a lot of people are like, oh, you like to party? And there's like, no, I, I actually, I think more of the craft of the wine, the farming that goes behind it, the whole creating the wine, the chemistry behind the wine. Like I'm just fascinated by all of it. And then the love that you have to have for your art of making wine, because it takes so much time. You have to wait for grapes to be a certain age. You have to wait for the wine to age a certain thing. Like you have to have a lot of patience to be in the wine industry, and you can really see the passion total that this wine industry. Has for what they do and how they make their wine and how they take care of the environment. So there is a lot of pride in that. Yes, absolutely. Great job. It's, it's nice to see. Yeah. Yeah I agree with you. How what made you want to do something like this. So we're sitting in your short term rental which is in the heart of the Newburgh wine country. What made you decide to go and do an Airbnb? Oh, yeah. Now we just, the opportunity came to us to, get this place with, support of a partner. And, I just love hospitality. I need to, I just love to just cater to people, make them feel special and, cared for. Yeah. I just love that. Me, too. So when it was really nice to start with this place and, you know, put all the furniture and this special touches all together. It's beautiful. And this is four bedrooms. Four bedrooms. Yeah, yeah. It's gorgeous. Like I said, if you watching this podcast episode on YouTube, you'll get to see more of it. Or definitely check out our social media platforms to see pictures and things because it's available to rent. So if you're looking to visit the wine Country area and it sleeps, how many does I sleep comfortably? Eight. Eight. Yeah. So and there's a table for eight. There's a large kitchen. You'll get to see everything. And then of course you can see the view behind us, which is breathtaking. It's the best part. Also, on this piece of property, you're going to be building the tasting room and an event space. Talked a little bit about the plans for that. So it's right next door. We have 10,000 square well square meter. There used to be a barn. Well stable for horses. And when we got the property, we decided to just, tear it down inside and just make a huge event. Space. Space. And that's where the, tasting room is going to be with a deck outside, facing that. It'll be so beautiful. Is there a timeline in place for when you hope to have that? A year, then? A year and a half? Sure. Yeah, that takes time. You got a and then I'm sure you're going to do it. And parts like maybe do the tasting room and then do the venue for parties and weddings and things. Right. The tasting room comes first. Sure. Yeah, yeah. And then Sherry, is he going to keep part of it for his woodworking shop? Because I saw he has some tables. Yeah. He's making, his tables over there. I'm not sure about that. We need to see what's going to happen. Be prepared. Sherry. She's going on to talk about bit. And then there's vines behind us. Right. What variety is behind us? It's just a Pinot noir. And, I think it's just five acres down there, and we still have three years to go. Okay. And then I know that there plans to be vines on this side to do, you know, is he also going to do Pinot noir? There? Different varieties. Yeah. Pinot noir. Yes. Yeah. And, these back here already planted I think there is, is still three years to go until we can get the fruit from here. So meanwhile we get it from other then vineyards. Yes. How do you choose which vineyards to partner with or to buy grapes from. So Shari is very friendly. I also I can agree, yes she knows everybody knows everybody's and people really like him a lot. Yeah. And so they just, let him go with his helpers and pick the grapes and, he makes his wine. One year, I helped him. Not very good grapes. That's a lot of work. It's hard. Hard work. It really is. I think people romanticize it a lot because they've seen things like I Love Lucy when she's like, yeah, and. And the grapes are like any other movie or TV. But it is so much work and it takes a lot of. And you can't unlike hazelnuts and things. Or you can, like, scoop them off the ground as the hazelnuts fall like grapes you have to, like, can clip a lot. There's not a lot of machinery, or you damage the grapes when you're harvesting them, so you have to harvest a certain way or yes, you lose the grapes. So it's so time consuming. It is. How many people does he have help him when he goes out to oh back. Well this year that I helped him we had me a friend and two other guys. And I'll tell you, it takes a lot of grapes to fill up. Oh, sure. Yeah. So. And, that was, just this one time I did it, and now he just does it with his helpers. Yeah. Yeah. He loves it though. It's hard work but he loves it. Yeah. He definitely has a lot of pride in his life too. Yes. Yeah. What is next for you. So obviously working on the tasting room and the event space. But in the meantime what are some things that you're hoping to see on the horizon for you guys? Well, I'm working hard, with my business to go around. I've been doing this for two and a half years. The wine tours business. Yes. And, when I started, I was still working full time with Kaiser, so I was doing that, during the, like on the side. Yeah, weekends. And since I, retired last year in June, I've been dedicated my full time, to, to do this. And it's a little slow and, and, you know, the wineries have noticed that, business is down a little bit. So I think I have to work a little extra hard because there are a lot of other businesses like mine out there. So, but the community is wonderful. Yeah, even all of us, the drivers and the tour guide, people, we're, we're really supportive of each other. Really nice. Yeah. Collaboration over competition is the only way to go, because there's going to be times when, like, you go home to Brazil to visit family and you're not available for clients, then you can say, oh, I'm out of town, but I know this great driver. They'd be happy to help you have a great birthday, you know? Yeah. And they could do the same for you too when they're busy. And so it's super important. I've noticed, we go to industry events and we, when we meet each other, we exchanged cards, you know, and, absolutely. It's really, it's nice to know what some of our listeners are new to wine and wine tasting. What kind of advice do you give when you're giving someone a tour, like what they should do at a tasting, or how they should approach the tasting? Well, when they ask me, what kind, where they should go? Personally, I like the wineries that you like, where you can meet the owner. Yeah. And, I encourage them to take, sometimes it's, a little bit more expensive, but to take a tour, around the vineyard and, where they make the wine. Yeah. Especially if they're not from wine country or live near it. Definitely immerse yourself and learn a little bit about it. It makes the wine taste better. We probably. Oh, yes, it does when you know how much hard work goes into it. And there's nothing wrong with like the bigger box, wineries or the corporate owned wineries, but there's just something so special and like, intimate. When you get to meet the winemaker and you get to hear why they chose what they chose or which grapes they wanted to use, or what their vision was with it and stuff, and it's just a totally different experience. They have this love for the land. It's really nice to see. Yeah, yeah. What about, if someone said to you like, oh, I like more whites and reds, where would you take them in this area? So, we're in red country. Yeah. That's right. But, they're making really good, Chardonnays. Now, really, I've noticed that a lot of the wineries are having Chinese pop up. Yeah. And Pinot green. They're so good. And, Argyle has the best, sparkling wine. They do have a wide range of the. And they are corporate owned. Yeah. But they do have a beautiful tasting room and they have a wide range of sparkles and some of the lighter wines for sure. Friendly. And flexible with their, schedule and time. And they have a food truck on location, which always helps in your wine tasting to have a little nibble. Yeah, that is the one thing with some of the smaller wineries. They don't have food available, right? But they allow you to bring food most of the time. Yeah. So picnic basket. Yeah. Yeah. And there is. I just tried, the new sparkling wine at Domaine de Vue. And, I was blown away by. Okay, add it to the list. I haven't had that one yet. I'll have to go check. That is incredible. Bruno. He's a great winemaker. He's so proud of what he does. He has this passion about it and his shows. Yeah, I've had some of their wine. I just haven't had that one. You were just talking about the sparkling? Yes. Yeah. Very nice, very good. How would you people get in touch with you if they want to hire you for a wine tour, to ask you more questions so they can call me or go into my website, sent me, a message. It's all in there for them to go and click, and it's really easy. Okay. We'll make sure to put all of your details in the podcast and on the YouTube page as well. On average, when you're doing a tour, do you go to two stops? Three stops. So if we do forest stops, a lot of people like that. Yeah. For the full day, it's, they'll have, lunch at one of the wineries if they choose to go to three, then we have time to stop. And one of our very nice local restaurants. And I'll just make all the, the, reservations, and, and some people just want to go to two. Yeah. You know, and take more, a little more time. Yeah. In each of them. That makes sense. It also depends on how big your party is, right? It's harder to get ten people for stops and it to people. Yeah, especially by the third stop. It's like hurting junk. Yeah. Oh like. All right. Come on. It's funny in the car that I'm running against the clock. Yeah, it's time to go. We have one more reservation and go. But yeah, two people. It's a lot easier to. Yeah. So yeah, I think the sweet spot is like 4 to 6. Yeah. It's like, it's not that it feels like a celebration, but it's not too much. That's like easy to manage to get everybody in the car. Like who's in the bathroom now. Like there's none of that, like when there's only six or less. And I've been very lucky. I only had, so far, wonderful people. Oh, just wonderful people. Sometimes they ask, you know, invite me to drink with them, you know, and I have to remind them, you know, you're paying me to drive sober, so. No, thank you another time. I appreciate it, but we're going to arrive alive today. Yeah, right. That's funny. Do you stay, like, in the Dundee McMinnville area, or do you go towards Amity or any of the other I kin if they want to go to Amity area. So I pick 3 or 4. Close there, you know, so we don't waste time. And on the road. Yeah. I've been several times to Eugene. Oh, yeah. There's a lot of. Yes. Very beautiful places over there. And they don't have, tour business like we do up here. Yeah. So I've been there several times, and, Yeah, I just, Whatever. You're not limited to. No. Certain. So. Yeah. So somebody called and said, we really want to do like the Gorge. Would you go out to the gorge or is that too far? I think that would be too far, too far for him. Okay. Yeah, yeah, but I did take a group from, They come. They came from the East Coast, New York, Boston, a group of, ladies. And I took them to the beach. Oh, nice. One day, one day of wine tasting. And then the next day we went to Cannon Beach. Okay. Did you stay out that way too? Just for a they check them for the day. Yeah. That's nice. Just so they stay there. I wait for them, you know, but I take them to a nice restaurant stop for for the views and pictures. They go there, have lunch, walk, and, you know, it's a full day. Yeah. Yeah. Very catered. Yes. Whatever the client needs. That's so wonderful because a lot of tours I found it's very specific. Like we go to this list a winery. Oh, yeah. I like this many stops. So it's nice to know someone's coming to visit Oregon. Yes. And they just want kind of a tour in general. Like you might be able to assist them with that. I don't get anything from taking people to the wineries. So I just I pick in my opinion my personal opinion the best ones. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Which is good because where they hire you for, for your opinion and it helps that, you know a lot of people in the industry. So yeah. So now like what goes on behind it, all the things like that. Right. Thank you so much for being on the show today. I have really enjoyed getting to know more about you and sharing Sassy Vineyards with everybody on the Devon. Right? Yes. Tours. Yeah. And also this beautiful Airbnb. Again, if you are trying to travel to the Pacific Northwest, you want to see the beautiful wine country out here, but you don't want to do it alone. Your girl is right here. She is ready to help you and give you the greatest time. And she is also a hospitality hostess of the Mostess. So thank you again for being here. I really appreciate it and thanks for having me at your beautiful Airbnb. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to sit here with you. Yes, about my business and thanks for the support of really appreciate it. Yes, absolutely. Thanks everyone for tuning in and we'll see you on the next episode. Cheers.