Mark Vlossak
Founder, Winemaker, President
Mark’s exposure to wine began at the age of seven when he began tasting wines daily with his father, a metallurgist, wine lover, wine educator and importer. During his university training, he developed a love for Champagne. Originally trained as a theatrical designer, Mark moved to Oregon in 1980 to complete his training as a Pediatric Physician Assistant.
Mark founded St. Innocent, Ltd. in 1988 and is Winemaker and President to this day. He also served as winemaker for Panther Creek Cellars from 1994 through 1999. At the 2001 Unified Symposium for Viticulture and Enology, Vlossak represented Oregon on the International Focus on Pinot noir panel. He has been involved in Oregon Pinot Camp since its inception in 2000, served on its Board of Directors for 9 years and was OPC President.
Mark is passionate about food, and his wines are crafted to pair with food. Together with his wife Vickianne, they create all the food pairings and cook all our Winemaker lunches and dinners. Being available to customers, both the trade and visitors to our Tasting Room, is an important part of telling his story. Traveling to Europe each year provides exposure to different approaches to grape growing and winemaking in a wide variety of regions and grape varietals. It also keeps him connected to old world traditions. Mark lives in Salem, Oregon with his wife Vickianne and they have three girls.
Vickianne Vlossak
Business Manager & Special Events Coordinator
Vickianne is a native of southern Missouri, where she grew up drinking beer at her home on Table Rock Lake. She started her career as a registered nurse, and later moved to Oregon to attend Willamette Law School. After practicing law for many years, a mutual friend introduced her to Mark in 1998. They were married a short time later in early 1999. After marrying Mark, her wine “learning curve” looked more like a 90-degree angle! She joined St. Innocent Winery in 2013 on a full-time basis. Her multi-faceted experience makes her an invaluable part of the team. Her responsibilities include supervising the kitchen, legal duties, and HR tasks. She is passionate about St. Innocent’s charity events, professional education, and wine dinners.
Alana Fontaine
Assistant Winemaker & National Sales Coordinator
During the summer of 2009, Alana moved here from Connecticut to pursue a career in our wine industry. Having completed the WSET Intermediate and Advanced wine education courses prior to her move, she was seeking an opportunity to participate in winemaking. Known as the Jack of All Trades, she is an invaluable part of the team. She contributes actively in the cellar; travels nationally to sell wine, works as part of our social media marketing team and also cooks for special events! When she’s not busy working, you’ll find her running, baking, or at a sporting event.
Susie Dunleavey
Tasting Room Manager
Susie is originally from the great state of Maine, where she first dipped her toes into the world of hospitality. She spent her summers working in restaurants on the coast and discovered her love of wine over a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino. Susie is a certified sommelier through the Court of Masters. She loves baking, board games, and hikes in the woods with her dog, Hazel.