Man from Iran builds world-ranked Oregon winery after fleeing native country, stays hopeful
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A FIRST ON FOX — As scrutiny of Iran’s leadership intensifies with renewed attention, an Iranian-born Oregon winemaker told Fox News Digital that his country “can move forward” if the regime falls.
Moe Momtazi, founder of Maysara Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, fled Iran in 1982. Today, as an American citizen, he runs one of the best vineyards in the world.
Alcohol is prohibited under Islamic law in modern Iran, but Momtazi established a world-renowned wine business in the United States.
Maysara Winery means “wine house” in Persian. It currently ranks 23rd worldwide.
“If this regime leaves, we can move forward and be the pride of the Middle East,” said Momtazi, 74.
Moe Momtazi was born in Iran and later became a citizen of the United States. He owns Maysara Winery in Oregon, home to one of the best vineyards in the world. (Direct Wines Inc.)
Iran’s restrictions on alcohol date back to the 1970 Islamic Revolution, when religious authorities banned its production and sale by most citizens.
“In Persian culture, wine has been and still is a very important component of society,” Momtazi said.
TEXAS WINERY BEATS NAPA ELITE WITH SMALL-TOWN SCIENCE AND PREMIUM TASTE
He, his wife and three daughters see the family business as a continuation of the legacy thousands of kilometers away from their ancestral homeland.
Momtazi’s 98-year-old mother and two brothers still live in Tehran.
Momtazi, center, poses for a photo with her husband, second from left, and the couple’s three daughters at the family’s Oregon vineyard. (Photography by Karissa Williams)
Middle daughter Naseem Momtazi Bachinsky told Fox News Digital that her mother has been in contact with relatives in Iran and that they are all safe.
Momtazi left Iran in 1982 with his wife Flora, who was eight months pregnant with their eldest daughter. Tahmiene Momtazi was born in Spain that year.
“We had a really rough journey to get to the United States, but I’m really excited and happy to get out of there because even then life was unbearable for us,” he recalled.
NAVY VET-TURNED WINE-MAKER EXCEEDS MILITARY TRANSLATION TO POWER CASTLES
It would be more than twenty years before he returned to visit his family.
Despite the distance, the Momtazi family’s success in America is something their relatives back home celebrate.
“They are so proud of us, which makes me proud of what we do and what we create,” said Momtazi Bachinsky, who is also head of sales.
Moe and Flora Momtazi are photographed in their hometown of Iran before they got married and settled in the United States. (Mumtazi Family)
They noted that wine is part of a cultural heritage dating back thousands of years, predating modern political divisions. Iranian poets wrote about wine as a symbol of joy, reflection and even spiritual connection, Momtazi said.
For the Momtazi family, producing wine in America is both an expression of gratitude and a nod to history.
“We are really lucky and excited to be in this country.”
“The United States is second to no other country, and we are truly lucky and excited to be in this country,” Momtazi said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Born in the USA, Momtazi Bachinsky said her parents raised her on a simple principle.
“Add value to where you are and who you are,” he said.
Naseem Momtazi Bachinsky (left) told Fox News Digital that her mother and father, pictured right, raised her with this principle: “Appreciate where you are and who you are.” (Fox News Digital)
This mentality shaped the winery and its perspectives on Iran’s future.
Momtazi Bachinsky: “I want freedom so that people can make their own choices and do what they want.” he said.
CLICK FOR MORE LIFE STORIES
She remembers her first visit to Iran and being upset that she was forced to wear a headscarf while there.
Moe and Flora Momtazi dance on their wedding day in Iran on August 2, 1981. (Mumtazi Family)
“I want women and girls to be able to make this choice without fear,” she said.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
He is also hopeful that Iran will be a country that embraces all religions.
Momtazi, pictured above, hopes for a better future for Iran. (Direct Wines Inc.)
“Personally, I am not Islamic. I have no ties to religion, but this is not religion. [is] “It makes people worse,” he said.
“There are some leaders [who] They use the religious aspect as a power mechanism. That’s what’s bad for the root of this country.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
As Maysara Winery celebrates the American opportunity with a blend of Iranian philosophy, the Momtazi family said they hope the country that introduced the world to wine will soon toast to freedom.
Related Article
