Our Team

Phelps Creeks Vineyard’s consistent quality, excellence, and delivery are made possible through our curated team of experts and employees.
  • An older man wearing glasses, a green jacket, and a straw hat with a black band, standing outdoors in a vineyard, holding an empty wine glass and smiling at the camera.

    Robert Morus

    FOUNDER

    Bob Morus founded Phelps Creek in 1989 with a vision of raising both wine grapes and a family in the Columbia Gorge. Over the next 35 years, he helped establish one of the region's pioneering wineries, earning a reputation for exceptional wines, generous hospitality, and an endless collection of stories.

    At the center of everything Bob built was his love for his wife, Lynette, and his children, Rebecca and Toby. Today, his spirit remains woven into every part of Phelps Creek, from the vineyards and wines to the family and community he cherished most.

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and tattoos on her right arm, sitting on a brown leather couch with a glass of red wine in her right hand, in a cozy room with a large window showing a vineyard outside.

    Lauren O'Brien

    WINEMAKER

    Lauren joined the Phelps Creek team in 2023. She leads the Production team to make our wines, and has assumed the lab reigns from Bill. After fermenting beverages at home while working in nonprofits, Lauren went back to school 10 years ago for a winemaking degree from NW Wine Academy at South Seattle College. After a cellar stint in Woodinville and seven years at K Vintners as Enologist, her desire to make “mountain wine” in the Gorge, and to be more involved in grape growing, brought her to Phelps Creek.

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  • A woman and a chocolate Labrador dog are sitting in the driver's seat of an orange vehicle with "Phelps Creek Vineyards" written on the door. The vehicle has some snow on top, and the background shows trees and a cloudy sky.

    Lynette Barss-Morus

    GENERAL MANAGER

    Lynette Barss-Morus began her journey to Phelps Creek through a serendipitous visit to a Hong Kong wine bar. She unexpectedly ventured into the layover lair of Bob and his co-pilot. Bob, aiming to impress this cute Canadian lass, ordered them a bottle of New Zealand Pinot Noir, and the rest is history.

    Lynette spent 12 years in Asia in marketing and sales for medical imaging equipment throughout the Pacific Rim. While overseas she attended Hong Kong's prestigious WSET Academy (Wine & Spirit Education Trust), earning her Level 3 Certification.

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  • A man driving a red tractor through a vineyard, harvesting dark purple grapes in a rural landscape with green trees in the background.

    Irineo Magaña

    CELLAR & VINEYARD MANAGER

    Irineo Magaña has been our Manager of Vineyard Operations for over 25 years. He believes that the quality of wine in the bottle first begins with the hours of hard work in the field.

    His commitment to quality grape production stems from personal pride in witnessing the vineyards developments transforming wines that truly reflect the beauty of the land. He coordinates a team of three brothers and numerous other workers in the field to make this magic happen.

    Irineo was awarded Vineyard Excellence Award in 2016 from Oregon Wine Board.

  • A woman in a black jacket pruning a vineyard in a snowy landscape.

    Alexandrine Roy

    THE CONSULTING WINEMAKER

    Alexandrine Roy, from Gevrey-Chambertin, first joined our team in 2007, with the goal of crafting a special cuvée from our estate Pinot Noir. Over the years, her role expanded into contributions reflected in all of our wines. Even though Alex has now taken the reigns in her family estate Domaine Marc Roy, she still finds time to return to Oregon and contribute to Phelps Creek Vineyards. This fourth-generation Vigneron continually amazes our team with her timeless techniques steeped in tradition.

  • A man with gray hair and a beard, wearing glasses, standing in a wine cellar with large wooden barrels, holding a glass of red wine.

    Bill Swain

    SENIOR ENOLOGIST

    A graduate of UC Davis's Wine program, Bill Swain moved his family to the Columbia Gorge over 30 years ago, seeking the perfect place to start his own winery. He and Bob "kicked the dirt" on Phelps Creek Vineyard's estate long before the land was purchased.

    His vast winemaking experience flowed through positions crafting wine in California, Oregon, Venezuela, Virginia, and Washington. Bill returned to the Gorge in a dual role as our resident Enologist and Grandfather to his own clan.

  • A woman with short, light brown hair smiling, holding a glass of red wine, standing outdoors among green vineyards with trees in the background.

    Emily Scott-Wild

    MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

    With a background spanning luxury hospitality, graphic design, and marketing, Emily brings a thoughtful approach to storytelling and brand building. Her experience across Fairmont Hotels, non-profit communications, and the wine industry has shaped a distinctive perspective rooted in authenticity, creativity, and human connection.

    At Phelps Creek Vineyards, Emily oversees marketing and communications, guiding the winery's voice across digital platforms, campaigns, and guest experiences. Her work is inspired by a belief that the most memorable wines, like the most memorable brands, tell a compelling story of place.

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  • Ira Kreft

    ASSISTANT WINEMAKER

    Ira Kreft joined our team in 2010. He assists Alexandrine Roy and Bill Swain by bringing an appreciation for traditional winemaking practices as well as New World technology. He enjoys nurturing the native yeast essential to Phelps Creek's unique expression of terroir.  

    Earning his Certificate in Winemaking from U.C. Davis, Ira maintains a strong commitment to continuing education. Prior to joining our team, he volunteered with many other wineries in both Michigan and Oregon.