People Behind the Wine

Ed graduated in 1970 and was hired out of college by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Houston, Texas. After two years at NASA, he returned to studying history, and while working at Princeton University, obtained a MS in the history of science. Ed then embarked on a career in medicine and attended the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver. Ed’s wife, Karen, also has a diverse educational background, having studied languages in Tours, France, Viareggio, Italy, and Salzburg, Austria. She completed her B.S. degree in Biochemistry at the University of California, Davis, and later obtained her Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling at the University of Colorado. After years of academic studies, the Kerwin family moved to Medford and Jackson County Oregon in 1993. They have four children.

Winemaker Rob Folin, doesn’t have a fancy Enology degree, he drives a souped up pick-up truck, and is proud of his military background, you could say he is a little “Rogue.” While he may not be your stereotypical winemaker, Folin has consistently produced standout wines with depth, character and elegance since 2005. In 2002 Folin took an internship at Domaine Serene winery in Dayton, Oregon. His strong work ethic, forklift driving skills and innate ability to help wherever help was needed earned him a permanent position within the company. Rob moved his way through the ranks, learning much about the winemaking process, earning himself the title of Cellar Master. “There are no shortcuts to making good wine and I won’t release a wine that’s not up to my standards,” Rob says. “If my name goes on the bottle, you know that I’m 100 percent proud of what’s inside.”

Michelle has been with Belle Fiore since the beginning in 2013. She was born and raised in the small town of Burns, OR and later graduated from Western Oregon University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and Business. After moving to Southern Oregon, she quickly fell in love with everything it had to offer. The landscape, the people, and of course the wine. “Since moving to Southern Oregon my appreciation for wine has grown tremendously. From the vineyard to the tasting room and everything in between, the wine industry is something special.” When she is not at the winery she enjoys spending time with her husband Tyler, their children Carter and Carson.