Like the vineyard at their family-owned Sweet Cheeks Winery, Jessica Thomas, BS ’13 (art), and Katie Brown, BA ’13 (public relations), are rooted in Eugene and their shared connection to the University of Oregon.
Thomas's grandfather, Dan Smith, founded Sweet Cheeks Winery in the hills of Eugene in 2005, but the first grapes were planted long before then in 1989. Twelve years after its founding, Thomas graduated from the UO. She had originally moved to Los Angeles for her associate’s degree, but the Eugene native said it felt like something was missing.
"That was being a student at the University of Oregon," she said.
After graduating from the UO, she immediately jumped into the family business.
"[I] saw a lot of opportunities to make things more efficient, more sustainable, and more hospitality focused, so I started to offer to help in those different areas [while] ensuring that we didn’t lose sight of what we started with," she said.
At the same time, Brown, who is Smith's stepdaughter, graduated from the UO, as well. In her last year as a student, she completed an internship at the winery launching their quarterly newsletter. After a year working in financial aid after graduation, she realized she wanted to pursue a more creative career. Sweet Cheeks opened a part-time marketing role, and Brown dove right in, building the new position from the ground up.
"It was overwhelming at times, but also really energizing . . . I didn't really know what I was supposed to be doing . . . I had honestly no business being given such a project, but it was great because I was able to sit in on conversations and really get to know what was going on with the business and what the opportunities were," Brown said.
Marcus Mariota has maintained his ties with Eugene through philanthropy and events like the one held at Sweet Cheeks Winery.
When Thomas started working at Sweet Cheeks, she was 21 years old. At 26, she was asked to serve as general manager, a role she still holds today. After her internship, Brown continued to grow her marketing career at Sweet Cheeks. She now works as the company's director of consumer sales & marketing.
As they both grew their skills and found their bearings in the family business, Thomas and Brown started to think about how they could keep growing not only the business, but its impact in the community. One of their first partnerships was with Marcus Mariota, BS ’14 (general science), and the Motiv8 Foundation to raise money supporting kids in their athletic and academic endeavors. Today, Sweet Cheeks Winery donates their event space to nonprofits Mondays through Thursdays year-round.
"My grandfather planted the vineyard with the intention of this being a positive adventure. [Endeavors like this] come with challenges, but if you look at things with optimism and creativity, you can find the silver lining and look for the opportunities to create good," Thomas said.
Their philanthropic efforts aren't the only way they give back and foster community. These efforts are also facilitated through the wine itself.
"Wine, just like gathering for a family meal, is a shared experience that can create moments of connection," Brown said.
In supporting the community around Eugene, they have also come to support their alma mater. In 2025, Thomas, Brown, and the Sweet Cheeks team embarked on a new adventure: creating limited-edition wines in collaboration with the University of Oregon. A UO-branded pinot noir celebrates the UO’s legacy and the Oregon spirit, while a UO-branded pinot gris celebrates the UO’s spirit of creativity and excellence.
Working on the project, Brown said, made her reminisce on her time at the UO.
"We end up employing a ton of UO students out here, too. Sometimes it feels like we never left because we get to hear about everybody's class schedules and when finals are., It's been really energizing."
For Thomas, working with the UO was like a lightning bolt of energy.
"[The UO team] had such infectious enthusiasm for the project that it made the entire process feel uplifting," she said.
Sweet Cheeks's connection to the UO goes beyond diplomas and collaborations. During football season, fans of opposing football teams visit the vineyard to experience Eugene and Oregon's wine country. Brown shared that one group, with some friends who attended the University of Southern California and others who went to the UO, come to Sweet Cheeks Winery every time the Ducks and Trojans meet in Eugene. The winery has even had Ohio State fans sign up for the wine club.
Playing a part in how others experience Eugene and the Ducks is something they take pride in. Through wine, Brown and Thomas are creating connections and fostering relationships between place and people.
"Community isn't necessarily what you have, it's what you inspire to create," said Thomas.
—By Sarah Bathke, BA ’25 (journalism), UO Alumni Association communications generalist