The People of Brooks

Claire Jarreau

Winemaker

At Brooks, Claire is the winemaker and also manages relationships with our growers and vineyard manager. She loves the seasonality of all of the work she gets to do and how that shapes her days, weeks, and months.

Claire came to Brooks with a wealth of knowledge and years of experience working harvests in the Willamette Valley and several other countries.

Claire is adventurous and independent. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, camping, canoeing, and climbing. She also makes a mean wild duck gumbo—she’s from the South, after all.

Pascal Brooks

Owner

Pascal Brooks is the sole owner of Brooks, having inherited the winery at the age of eight when his Father, Jimi Brooks, unexpectedly passed away. Until that time, Pascal acted as moral support for his Father and the occasional stand-in for punch-downs as soon as he could handle the tool.

After Jimi passed, Pascal came to represent the company at events and spent many of his summers at Brooks, working alongside Chris during bottling and for part of the harvest.

Pascal currently resides in France, where he has worked harvest at various vineyards and spends a lot of time with greening projects, trying to vegetalize urban spaces, and improving food security.

Pascal loves to read, has basic carpentry skills, knows how to keep bees, and can (sort of) ride a horse. He’s been told that he’s a great singer when no one is listening, and his spirit animal is an emu with some serious sea cucumber vibes.

Janie Brooks Heuck

Managing Director & Boss Lady

Portland native Janie Brooks Heuck spent more than a decade in the healthcare industry before finding herself responsible for the business operations at Brooks Winery.

After her brother Jimi’s passing, Janie was struck by the generosity and guidance of the Oregon wine community. She quickly realized the importance of Jimi’s lifework and has been keeping the Brooks boat afloat since 2004.

Janie is passionate about Brooks, family, travel, and Riesling. When she isn’t working, she loves to golf, sail, work out, and take photos.

Her karaoke song is “Rapper’s Delight,” which is also our winemaker, Chris Williams’ karaoke song, yet none of us have witnessed either one of them on the mic. Can someone say duet?!

Chris Williams

Winemaker Emeritus

Portland native Chris Williams met Brooks founder Jimi in the ’90s, and the two became fast friends. When Jimi passed away in 2004, Chris was among the friends and winemakers who stepped in to make Jimi’s wine that year.

Chris became Brooks’ full-time winemaker in 2005, and he continues to help Claire make incredible wines that honor Jimi’s vision (we are so glad that Chris didn’t pursue becoming a fashion designer!).

A self-proclaimed motorhead, Chris spends his downtime riding motorcycles, mushroom hunting, and spending time with his family.

He makes a mean spaghetti and meatballs and is a bona fide milk connoisseur.

Jen Cossey

General Manager

Jen Cossey joins Brooks with a rich background in the wine and hospitality industry, having held significant roles at Domaine Serene, Simple Matter Spirits, and The Yellowstone Club. Jen is passionate about supporting the Brooks team and engaging with guests to continue to make Brooks the best winery and wine club in Oregon. She is also actively involved in industry organizations, serving on the committees for Women in Wine Oregon and ¡Salud!.

Jen has a passion for music and loves going to concerts. Her favorite movie is “Waiting for Guffman,” and she is inspired by “100 Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez. Jen also has a keen interest in photography and her secret, not yet perfected talent, is pottery (she just isn’t quite there yet).

In her free time, Jen enjoys running, practicing yoga, and exploring the outdoors with her kids and friends. A Pinot Noir enthusiast, she dreams of someday retiring in the south of France.

Jillian Barnhart

Director of Marketing

Jillian is Brooks’ marketing maven, sommelier, and photographer. She came to us from Los Angeles, where she worked as a photographer and sommelier for over a decade.

On any given day, she can be found taking photos around the winery, writing wine tasting notes, or assessing wines for media submissions.

When she’s not at work, Jillian can be found hiking, kayaking, biking, cooking, traveling, and, of course, enjoying wine.

She mostly enjoys spending time with her husband, Aaron, daughter, Ara, and French Bulldog, Gideon, but if you put a glass of Pol Roger Churchill Champagne in her hand, she’ll hang out with just about anyone.

Heather Kirk

Director of Wine Club Happiness & Mother of Brooks’ Chicken

Heather has deep roots here at Brooks. Her Father planted the Brooks Estate Vineyard in the ’70s, and she currently resides next door to the tasting room.

You can often catch a glimpse of her on her deck, enjoying a glass of Pinot Blanc with her friends and family.

Heather is a recent empty-nester and admits that she’s a bit of a helicopter mom to her two sons. It’s good that we have all these chickens at Brooks to keep her busy!

If you have not had the privilege of meeting Heather in person, it’s true: her laugh will warm your heart and make the sun shine a little bit brighter.

Jordyn Wright

Hospitality Manager

Jordyn Wright brings a wealth of hospitality experience to his role at Brooks. His journey has taken him through various facets of the food and beverage industry, from coffee to wine and spirits.

A California native who loves national parks, Jordyn found his true calling in creating exceptional guest experiences. At Brooks, his approach is shaped by the winery’s focus on delivering outstanding moments and practicing thoughtful land stewardship.

When not at work, you might find Jordyn performing drag, embarking on outdoor adventures, or savoring a glass of Gamay, and his ideal happy hour always begins with a plate of fries.

Matthew Garland

Culinary Manager

A Pacific Northwest native, Matthew honed his skills as a chef in Seattle before joining Brooks. Matthew’s passion for cooking is rivaled only by his love for the region’s Pinot Noir and natural beauty.

An adventurer at heart, Matthew once spent three months backpacking through the Australian Outback. When not in the kitchen, he enjoys golf, baseball, and music, with a particular fondness for Modest Mouse and Neil Young.

Matthew’s global perspective and love for the Pacific Northwest shine through in every dish he prepares at Brooks. Despite his sophisticated palate, Matthew’s ideal last meal is a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup.

Shannon Mayhew

Biodynamic Estate Gardener

Shannon is the magical, light-filled being who can be found in the Brooks Estate Garden on any given day. She came to Brooks from California with a degree in plant science from UC Davis.

She loves the friendships she’s made at Brooks, growing medicinal plants, herbs, and biodynamic veggies used in the tasting room, and getting to take care of the Brooks chickens and create a habitat for wildlife.

Shannon loves hiking and mushroom foraging. When she’s not outside, she’s reading, knitting, honing her whittling skills, or cooking a beautiful vegan meal for her friends.

Zachary Speece

DTC & Wine Club Assistant

Zachary has a true passion for wine, bringing years of experience working in tasting rooms, cellars, and vineyards to his position at Brooks. He genuinely loves the wines and the people of Brooks. As he proudly says, “We’re not pretentious. We have good wine and food and like to share it.”

With his charming humility and infectious enthusiasm, Zachary is integral to creating the extraordinary guest experience at Brooks.

When Zachary isn’t working, you might find him on the golf course or crafting his own blackberry wine. Ask him to whip up a quick dish, and he’ll likely treat you to a delectable pan-seared steak paired with a Nebbiolo from Piedmont.

He’s a man of many talents, excelling at pool and table tennis, so if you’re up for a friendly competition, you know who to call.