Meet the Team
The Cho's inventive thinking and undeniable enthusiasm will stand them in good stead as they grow their business, a pandemic project like no other. - Decanter Magazine
Dave Cho is the winemaker/cofounder of CHO Wines. He was introduced to the world of winemaking while performing music at local wineries in southern California and grew his passion for the trade while meditating with monks in Burgundy and sipping through California and beyond.
He moved his family from California to Oregon to pursue a career in the wine industry and gravitated towards more nuanced and delicate wines. He holds a degree in Enology & Viticulture from Oregon State University, a university recognized worldwide for their agriculture programs. His winemaking style is a balance of tradition and innovation.
During his time in Oregon, he worked for some of the most notable wineries in the Willamette Valley, including Argyle Winery and Stoller Family Estate. Itching to make autonomous decisions from vineyard to bottle, in 2020, he jumped in head first to prepare his own small production label. He is the first Korean-American winemaker in Oregon.
His favorite pairings are sparkling wine with sushi or southeast Asian inspired foods, and he sees Oregon producing world class sparkling wine.
Lois Cho is the Chief Executive Officer/cofounder of CHO Wines and founder of Oregon AAPI Food and Wine. She is Dave's number one supporter from busking together on the streets of Santa Monica to jumping all in to building CHO Wines. After working as a family nurse practitioner for a decade, she transitioned to a full time role at CHO Wines in 2022 as CEO. Amidst running a winery, building a tasting room and production facility, and planting a vineyard, the Chos are also raising a young family (two girls and a boy).
Lois founded the Oregon AAPI Food and Wine nonprofit to shine a light on AAPI representation in the food and beverage industry. She is also a board member of Women in Wine Oregon.
Accolades: The Chos have been named a 2023 Future 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast and a 2023 Drinks Innovator by SevenFifty Daily.
OUR TEAM
Shabnam Eng is the Director of Hospitality at CHO Wines. Shab fell in love with Oregon wine country after moving to Portland in 2019 with her husband and bernedoodle. Like Lois, Shab’s career started in healthcare, working at a nonprofit for over eight years.
During the pandemic, she experienced burnout and isolation and decided to leave her career in search of connection and community. After meeting Dave and Lois at one of their Portland tasting experiences in early 2023, everything clicked! Shab joined the team in time to kick-off tent tastings at CHO Vineyards and is eager to host guests from around the country in the new tasting room.
Shab welcomes all guests with a warm, welcoming smile
David Choe is the Tasting Room Lead at CHO Wines. David studied Advertising with a Business Minor at University of Oregon. With a creative knack and range of experiences from art direction to project management, he brings a keen eye for detail and energy to the CHO team. Admittedly the trendiest of our bunch, David has a keen sense for fashion and music.
The Cho's winemaking story began while playing music at wineries. Their journey is a culmination of a decade of hard work and an inspiration to follow your passions. The Chos show that grit, authenticity, and positivity go a long way in breaking stereotypes in the wine world and beyond.
