CENTRAL OREGON IS BECOMING KNOWN AS A WINE REGION by KRISTINE THOMAS — A&E Feature Writer
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ewGen Vineyard Services President Chad Vargas said many people in Oregon’s wine and vineyard industry are unaware of what’s happening in Central Oregon. “Once they do learn what’s happening and what’s being grown in Central Oregon, people are fascinated,” Vargas said. “They are intrigued and watching closely to see what happens with the vineyards growing cold hardy hybrid grapes.” Before starting his vineyard services company in the Willamette Valley, Vargas was the vineyard manager for ten years at Adelsheim Vineyard, one of Oregon’s founding wineries. His experience and leadership have earned him a reputation of being an influencer in the success of Oregon’s wine industry. He was unaware wine grapes were being grown in Central Oregon until he met Kerry Damon at the 2019 Oregon Wine Symposium. A professional viticulturist and vineyard manager with 23 years of experience working at vineyards and wineries in Oregon and California, Damon invited Vargas to tour several vineyards and to taste wine last spring. “There are several pioneers in Central Oregon who are passionate about growing grapes and making great wines. Kerry is definitely one of them who is eager to help everyone succeed,” Vargas said. This winter, Vargas worked with Lava Terrace Cellars co-owner Duane Barker to prune the vines for cuttings of Brianna and La Crescent. Vargas propagated the cuttings at his greenhouses to create new plants for Lava Terrace and a new vineyard near Redmond. A game changer for Central Oregon’s wine industry, Vargas said, is the recent news Redside Ranch in Terrebonne won a gold medal for its 2019 Marquette at the 21st annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, one of the largest and most important for American wines in the world. Redside Ranch’s 2019 Marquette received the highest points for a Marquette in the United States, competing against well-established and award-winning wineries and vineyards in the
Monkeyface Vineyards at the Ranch at the Canyon near Terrebonne is the oldest vineyard in Central Oregon. It was first planted in 2004. Photo by Kristine Thomas
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May 2021 | www.CascadeAE.com
