To get the wine business started, we purchased a few tons of premium grapes from established local growers. We partnered with the experienced team at Pallet Wine Company of Medford to produce a total of 150 cases of two of our favorite varietals Chardonnay and Merlot. Since we are organic food consumers, we were immediately attracted to the low impact and sustainable processes employed by the vineyards and the winery which are each Live-certified (Low Input Viticulture and Enology). Variation and lengthy native yeast and natural malolactic fermentation are important to natural winemaking processes, and result in complex and flavorful wines. Our wines are plant-based, low carb, with no artificial flavors or colors. We have subsequently added more varietals and presently have eight in our portfolio.
After several years of learning the wine part of the business, we then turned our attention, time, and energy to planning our own estate vineyard. Our 60-acre site on Slagle Creek Road, formerly a cattle ranch, is in the beautiful Applegate Valley AVA of southern Oregon. Roughly half of the property is available for agriculture, with the other half a beautiful forest. Slagle Creek meanders across the property providing water and habitat for an abundance of wildlife.