Pheasant Hill Vineyards

In 1988, we began entertaining thoughts of growing wine grapes in Southern Oregon. At the time we were living in the mountains of Colorado and after only one year of trying to grow a garden there we had given up the thoughts of growing anything. We had moved there from Alaska where Kurt had worked as a pilot in the bush (we could grow more there than in Colorado)! Neither of these two locales was a great place to grow grapes, but Southern Oregon seemed like a wonderful place to get involved in a budding industry and Kurt's job as an airline pilot would allow the move. Kurt's parents had retired in the area, and a visit to Foris found us talking to Ted Gerber. Ted had a wonderful way of encouraging us -- he said don't do it! Then he proceeded to give us all kinds of information on growing grapes. He told us to get Winkler's General Viticulture and read it. This dry textbook was written 20 years ago and while come of it still applies, I think Ted's idea was, if we got through it we would be serious enough to see the project through.

We planted our first five acres in 1990. Most of our family and many of our friends helped us with it, from deer fencing, to planting, to training the vines and waiting what seemed an eternity for the first crop in 1993. We had a concern that other growers would not want to see new growers and would be secretive with their knowledge. What we found was just the opposite. From the first conversation we had with Ted until today, we are impressed with the openness of this industry and with the help and shared knowledge of growers and wineries alike. It's like a big family.

Our first planting was of four varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay (The Chardonnay was removed this fall). In 1995 and 1996, we planted a second five acres, all reds this time, as Merlot and Cabernet Franc were sought after varieties and grew well on our site. This spring we will plant eight acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and have an additional 15 acres to plant (our philosophy has been slow growth and to reinvest the cash back into the vineyard, this is not just a labor intensive industry, it is also capital intensive). Every grape we have sold ha gone to Foris! Ever since Ted told us not to plant, we have had a great relationship with them. Winemaker Sarah Powell visits our vineyard several times a year. At harvest she comes out to taste the grapes and make picking decisions, but earlier in the year, she is also here to make suggestions to enhance grape quality before the fact. We work together to provide the best quality grapes we can grow so Foris can produce high quality wine for the consumer.

We believe in integrated production to provide for sustainable agriculture for generations to come. Weed control is primarily mechanical, insect control is via natural predators, and mildew control is primarily with sulfur, all of which serve to reduce the amount of chemicals going into the general environment and make the Earth a better place to live.