The People

Co-CEO & Co-Founder

Ed King

With an authentic and life-long entrepreneurial spirit, Ed King works to ensure that King Estate Winery will thrive for generations to come.

Ed founded King Estate in 1991 with his father, Ed King, Jr. (1921 – 2012). Their enterprising roots go back to Kansas City, Missouri, where his father’s aviation electronics company, King Radio, was based. After earning a law degree from the University of Missouri in 1975, Ed practiced law in Alaska and then worked for King Radio. Ed made his way to the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he earned an MBA in 1982. He then went on to establish a groundbreaking cardiac care center at the region’s largest hospital. Later, in 1994, he founded Oak Hill School, a college preparatory school in Eugene.

Ed planted roots in Oregon, falling in love with the rugged landscape. By 1990 he owned timberland and farmland that included two small vineyards. A growing interest in wine and a simple search for hay led Ed to discover a spectacular piece of land on the outskirts of Eugene. The 600-acre property was a ranch at the time, but Ed envisioned a beautiful vineyard. With his father, Ed purchased the land and established King Estate Winery in 1991. Over the years other family members have joined the business — as owners and as staff. The winery continues to evolve, adding neighboring parcels, opening the restaurant in 2006, and becoming one of Oregon’s largest and most successful wineries, distributed across the country and around the world.

Co-CEO & Winemaker

Brent Stone

Brent Stone began his career as a research and development chemist and went on to manage laboratories and quality assurance programs for several years in the food industry. He joined King Estate in 2011, working as Lab Manager and Director of Quality Assurance before moving into winemaking. In 2016 Brent was named Winemaker, adding Chief Operating Officer to his duties in 2018 where he is responsible for day-to-day oversight of winery operations. He received formal training in enology at Washington State University and earned his master’s degree in Agricultural Food and Life Sciences from the University of Arkansas.

Director of Viticulture

Raymond Nuclo

Ray Nuclo began his career in wine after earning a B.S. degree in Botany from the University of Maryland. He moved to Oregon to acquire a master’s degree in Plant Pathology from Oregon State University. His first job was as a field laborer and tractor driver at a small vineyard in Philomath, Oregon. Quickly gaining hands-on experience and education, he moved into vineyard management. Ray helped produce premium grapes for some of Oregon’s most prestigious wineries, including King Estate. He consulted with King Estate for two years before coming on board full time in 2013. Today he oversees viticulture and vineyard partnerships for the estate.

Vineyard Manager

Meliton Martinez

Meliton was born and raised in a farming community in Mexico. In 1993 he moved to Oregon and started work at King Estate Winery as part of the vineyard crew. Meliton learned winemaking from the ground up. In 1999 he was promoted to Vineyard Manager and was responsible for all vineyard activities, including canopy management and soil care, mapping of new and current vineyards, and working with our winemakers to coordinate new plantings. He oversees the critical scheduling of harvest with our vineyard partners and for King Estate’s vineyard. Meliton is instrumental in implementing and maintaining King Estate’s organic farming practices.