Farming

Temperance Hill Vineyard | Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Willamette Valley

Dai Crisp

Dai Crisp went to school at OSU for theatre and photo-journalism, and then earned a MFA at UC Irvine.  After returning to Oregon from his studies, he went on to “do what you do when you leave acting school” and began working vineyards in the southern end of the Willamette Valley.  He planted his family’s farm, Wren Vineyard, in 1985 and never looked back.  Always farming organically, he began doing vineyard management for a number of well-regarded wineries in the area.  He has been at the helm of Temperance Hill for the past 18 years and is considered to be one of the best wine growers in the state.  He and his wife PK started their own wine label, Lumos Wines, in 2000.

Temperance Hill is a cooler site, consisting of varying slopes and exposures.  The vineyard looks straight out over the Van Duzer corridor, the large break in the Oregon coast line, receiving the full effects of the famed afternoon winds that pull in cooler air from the Pacific ocean, allowing great ripening capabilities in the area.

"Thistle Block" Haakon/Lenai Vineyard | Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley

Cody Wright

Jon and Laura Jennison moved their family from the east coast to the Dundee Hills of Oregon in 1996 to pursue their dream of producing wine from their own organically farmed vineyard. The vineyard was planted in 2000 to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc. The vineyard is now owned and farmed by Cody Wright from Purple Hands winery and his team. Maloof wines continues to control the only two blocks of Pinot Gris on the site.

Nemarniki Vineyard | Chehalem Mountains AVA, Willamette Valley

Diane Nemarnik

Diane Nemarnik farms a little slice of paradise in the Chehalem Mountain range.  Diane comes from a family with a long history in farming and produce.  She wanted to own and operate a vineyard since she was in high school.  “I think it was just something that was in my blood.”

Mae's Vineyard / Eevee's Vineyard | Applegate Valley

Herb Quady

These are a pair of vineyards Herb Quady planted on two neighboring ridges within their home property, each named after one of his daughters. Herb comes from a family of California winemakers, and has fully engaged himself in the southern Oregon wine industry. He farms his home site, as well as a slew of other organic vineyards in southern OR under his “Applegate Vineyard Management” umbrella alongside his mother-in-law. He also owns and operates Quady North winery. Pick up a bottle of their Pistoleta, you won’t regret it.

Beckenridge Vineyard | Willamette Valley

Ken Jacroux

Ken and his wife Becky (hence BEC(K)EN RIDGE) purchased the then Ellandale vineyard in the late 90s.  It was originally planted in 1976 by the Hudson family.  After retiring from their respective careers in Seattle (Becky in telecommunications, and Ken in system engineering), they decided they wanted to return to their home state and begin farming.  When they firs came in control of the vineyard, neither of them has any previous experience. “These last 19 years have been our best jobs ever.  After multiple careers and things we’ve done, these years of farming have been the best.”

Johan Vineyard | Willamette Valley

Dag Sundby | Dan Rinke | Morgan Beck

Dag Sunby purchased the property in 2005, where he and his family continue to live. Dan Rinke joined Dag just two years later in 2007 to head up the farming, as well as the winery. Dan began converting Johan into a biodynamic farm upon his arrival, and has aggressively grafted and replanted portions of the vineyard using lesser known varieties ever since. Today, Dan focuses solely on the farming, while Morgan Beck heads up the cellar. The Johan crew continues to push the envelope in Oregon in both farming, and winemaking. It is a truly special place. Drink their wines!