L’Angolo Estate Founder Chase Renton Nominated for 2026 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award for Innovator of The Year

(September 10, 2026; Newberg, Ore.)—Chase Renton, founder of L’Angolo Estate, a boutique producer of estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Oregon’s Dundee Hills, has been nominated for Wine Enthusiast’s 2026 Wine Star Award for Innovator of the Year for his work with Resilience, a limited-production Willamette Valley Pinot Noir inspired by his personal journey with mental health. Launched in May 2026 during Mental Health Awareness Month, 100% of proceeds from Resilience are donated to the Kevin Love Fund, an organization dedicated to advancing mental health education and emotional well-being. The project reflects Renton’s belief that wine has the ability to bring people together and inspire open dialog.

“This is a very personal project for me,” says Renton. “I’d like to thank Wine Enthusiast for recognizing the value of Resilience, and, through this nomination, providing me with a broader platform to raise awareness of mental health challenges and help destigmatize them. This nomination is a true honor.”

L’Angolo Estate launched in 2012 as an estate vineyard in Willamette Valley’s Dundee Hills. Following the pandemic, Renton found himself confronting burnout, anxiety and depression. Ultimately, he sought professional help at The Mental Health Collective in Newport Beach, CA, a decision that became a turning point in his personal life—and eventually inspired the creation of Resilience.

Renton created Resilience to destigmatize conversations around mental wellness, particularly among men. By sharing his own experience, he hopes to inspire more open and honest conversations around mental health and remind others that vulnerability is not weakness, but resilience in action. The label, which features Renton’s handwriting, draws inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi—the practice of repairing broken pottery with gold to celebrate, rather than conceal, the cracks that tell its story. In that same spirit, Resilience symbolizes the strength found in healing, transformation and embracing imperfection as part of one's journey.

Produced from the 2024 vintage, Resilience launched in partnership with local Willamette Valley and Portland restaurants and off-premise retailers, creating opportunities to bring the wine, and its message, directly into the community. Resilience can be purchased directly on the L’Angolo Estate website.

For Renton, the most important measure of Resilience is not how many bottles are sold. It is whether the project helps someone feel comfortable enough to start a conversation, ask for help or recognize that they are not alone. He plans to continue production of Resilience every year moving forward.

For more information on the launch of Resilience, click here.

About L’Angolo Estate

Founded in 2012 by Chase Renton, L’Angolo Estate is a boutique winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley dedicated to crafting elegant, terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Renton’s winemaking journey has taken him from Italy to France and ultimately to Oregon, with experience at acclaimed estates like Kosta Browne Winery. In addition to L’Angolo Estate, Renton produces wines in Tuscany under the label L’Ignoto and collaborates on innovative projects including Chosen Family, alongside former NBA champion Channing Frye and Kevin Love. He is also a partner for Nash Vineyards in Carlton, Oregon. Through thoughtful farming, minimal intervention and a commitment to community impact, L’Angolo Estate crafts wines that tell meaningful stories both in the vineyard and beyond. Tracy Kendall joined as winemaker in 2024, with Renton serving as Director of Winemaking. L’Angolo Estate is open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., by appointment. Reservations can be made via Tock, by emailing wine@langoloestate, or by calling the tasting room at (503) 538 7953.

For more information about L’Angolo Estate, visit langoloestate.com.

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About Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast Companies is the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, the family-owned company is composed of Wine Enthusiast Commerce and Wine Enthusiast Media. Wine Enthusiast Shop provides premium wine-lifestyle products, reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, an e-commerce site, and a business-to-business division. Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine news, food trends, and more than 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Wine Enthusiast events include the annual premier Wine Star Awards gala. In 2024, the company launched a travel division, which includes the Tasting Room Directory and Cork+Compass Travel. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. We bring wine to life.

About Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Awards

Each year, Wine Enthusiast celebrates the most influential members of the wine, spirits, and beverage world at the annual Wine Star Awards. This year marks the 27th anniversary of honoring the individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the industry. There are 16 categories for the 2026 Wine Star Awards. Four of the categories will have a named winner. The other 12 categories include a list of nominees exemplifying dedication and innovation to the success and growth of the wine, spirits, and beverage sector. The nominees were nominated by members of the Wine Enthusiast media team, including the global sales, events, marketing and editorial divisions. The 2026 Wine Star Award winners will be honored at the 27th annual black-tie gala in January 2027.

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