Friday, September 9, 2022
Paradis Vineyards:
It’s about the grapes
By BRENNA WIEGAND
For the Capital Press
SILVERTON, Ore. —
When Pete and Donna Par-
adis planted their first Pinot
gris vines in 1990, they rep-
resented 15% of the variety
grown in the state.
And that was with 12
acres.
The couple had just pur-
chased a pastoral 100-acre
property in the Abiqua Basin
near Silverton, Ore. Its nat-
ural slope overlooked what
would become a 60-acre
vineyard that now includes
40 acres of Pinot gris and 20
of Pinot noir.
When their sons, Tim
and Pierre, took over man-
agement of the vineyard in
2017, they brought into the
Brenna Wiegand/For the Capital Press
partnership a 35-acre vine-
yard they’d planted near Tim, left, and Pierre Paradis on the patio of their new
Molalla. The property adds tasting room. Paradis Vineyards and Winery is in the
28 acres of Pinot noir, 5 Abiqua Basin near Silverton, Ore.
acres of Muscat and 2 acres
The brothers do most of it was only 25 people and
of Gamay to the mix.
The brothers began mak- the vineyard work, and they you knew everybody,”
ing wine in earnest and pro- say no day is the same.
Pierre said. “It’s more to
duced their first vintage in
This year will be espe- manage now ... with nearly
cially tricky with cool, wet 90 club members who bring
2017.
“In 2017 we went all in spring weather delaying har- other people along.”
and made 8,500 gallons, vest an expected three or
While the winery has
mostly Pinot gris that we four weeks.
been producing an aver-
Their new tasting room, age of 500 cases for several
made because we had sur-
plus fruit,” Pierre Paradis, opened in March, over- years, this year they are tri-
the winemaker, said. “We looks the mature vineyard pling production. All but
then backed off on that and and its backdrop of forests, 5-10% is sold on premises.
“We didn’t make wine in
were planning on staying at hills and mountains. The
1,700-square-foot facility is 2020 because of the fire and
800 to 1,200 gallons.”
Above all, they say, it’s also home to the vineyard based on our average sales
offices and features outdoor we need to ramp up pro-
about the vines.
duction, so it’s not a terri-
“The wine is fun; that’s patio dining.
In addition to the tastings, ble thing,” Pierre said. “Tri-
the experimental side and
we enjoy trying different the brothers offer special pling production is a little bit
things,” Tim Paradis said. events — including outdoor nerve-wracking, especially
“But we are farmers first and movie nights; a corn hole since it’s going to be a late
we want to produce the best tournament; a beer-tasting harvest.
“We’d still like to expand
product possible and get it with Benedictine Brewery
of the nearby Mount Angel the grape side of things;
out to other wineries.”
The vineyards produce Abbey — and host private we’ve just got to find some-
place to do it,” he added.
an average of 400 tons of gatherings.
“Our wine club was “It’s kind of a crazy market
wine grapes a year, 95% ear-
marked for other wineries.
pretty easy to manage when for real estate right now.”
CapitalPress.com
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