COVER STORY KRISTINE THOMAS

by KRISTINE THOMAS — A&E Feature Writer

NewGen 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

Zack Gomber is managing Monkeyface Vineyards for his wine, Central Vineyards. United States. The award-winning Marquette was handcrafted by winemaker Christopher Kirk Ermisch at Elixir Wine Group in Bend from Redside Ranch’s harvest in 2019.

“This recognition is important, and it will help establish Central Oregon as a place to grow wine grapes and make wine, and the award will encourage more people to try Marquette and other cold hardy varietals,” Vargas said.

Vargas said there was a time when people doubted grapes could be grown in the Willamette Valley. “Look what happened,” Vargas said. “The people pioneering the wine industry in Central Oregon are determined to show it can successfully be done.”

Kerry Damon has tirelessly and enthusiastically worked to establish Central Oregon as a region to successfully grow cold hardy and French/American hybrid grapes in Central Oregon. He is a founder of Central Oregon’s first commercial size vineyard Monkeyface at Ranch of the Canyon in 2006, and the president of the Central Oregon Wine and Grape Growers Association.

Damon serves as a consultant to several young vineyards in Central Oregon. He is focused on Redside Ranch’s development and his continued research on collecting data on soil, weather, bud break and harvest dates, vine physiology and more.

He stated Central Oregon vineyard owners’ future lies in working together to share their knowledge and to promote Central Oregon as a wine region. Through trials and errors, he

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