Moe and Flora Momtazi immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in the 1980s and, on April 1, 1997, purchased what is now the 532-acre Momtazi Vineyard and Maysara Winery. It is located in McMinnville, Oregon, in the McMinnville AVA, about 50 miles southwest of Portland. Their three daughters are all heavily involved in running the operation as winemaker, head of sales, and event manager.

Back in Iran, Moe had learned the value of organic farming and respect for the earth from his grandfather. Those principles remain vital to all aspects of the winemaking process at Maysara. They believe 90 percent of winemaking takes place in the vineyard. They use Demeter Certified Biodynamic winemaking methods, which are low-impact, holistic farming techniques and vineyard management practices. They never use chemicals and employ a holistic approach to vineyard management by growing a variety of medicinal and dynamic flowers and herbs that they make into compost teas.