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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2011)
2 0 AUGUST 19,2011 W hen Ken Morrison and Mauro Hernandez first moved to their six-acre property in rural Sherwood, they couldn’t resist cracking Green Acres jokes. But aside from some playful bicker ing about who was more like Zsa Zsa’s character and briefly feeling overwhelmed by their new surroundings, the men embraced their decision and set to the task of learning the land. Just four years later, the couple farm three acres of wine grapes and have their own wine label, K&M Wines. This might not have happened, however, without an almost magical dose of serendipity. Morrison was already making wine in his garage and basement when a mutual friend in Portland introduced him to Hernandez in 1997. One o f their earlier experiences together was harvesting grapes from Sherwood wine growers Fred and Jill Newton. W hile both men appreciated wine, they didn’t start explor ing and visiting wineries until a few years later, when work transferred Morrison to San Fran cisco in 2000. Once settled in the Bay Area, Morrison and Hernandez began visiting the wine regions of California, where they were particularly taken with the smaller, more low-key wineries of the Russian River Valley. “We enjoyed the slower pace and the personal experience of meeting the owners when we visited these small winer ies,” Morrison explains. In the summer of 2006, Hernandez was of fered a new work opportunity back in Oregon and the couple once again was faced with re • profile' What’s Wine Is Yours the lack o f prejudice they have experienced. Hernandez says that “people assume that we live in a conservative, rural community and that our neighbors might not understand or respect a gay couple, but we have absolutely BY SARAH HORNER been welcomed.” Morrison adds, “O ur sexuality hasn’t been an issue at all. W e’re respected as neighbors x who appreciate the land and who participate $ in the community of people here living the same dream.” The couple laugh when they share that in San Francisco they never felt the sense o f community and neighborly spirit they enjoy now. Hernandez and Morrison launched their wine label in 2009 and are focused on selling their wines made from estate-grown pinot noir and chardonnay. They have help main taining the gardens, including four “baby doll” sheep that roam the vineyard keeping the location. A hesitant Morrison told his partner farmers quickly dissipated, replaced by a weeds at bay. They love to entertain guests and the only way he’d move back to Oregon was if grounded feeling the couple got from working are open by appointment and on special wine they could live in a place like Fred and Jill’s. on their land. “You get into a zone,” he shares, tasting weekends such as Memorial Day, La Just two days later, while reading Craigslist “you’re working in the earth and it is really bor Day and Thanksgiving. “Just like those ads, Morrison found that—go figure— Fred hard to feel stressed.” small, intimate tasting rooms we loved so and Jill’s place was for sale. The decision was a Hernandez and Morrison named their much in the Russian River, we have created a no-brainer. The couple closed on the property vineyard “Alchemy,” what Morrison describes personal experience here,” says Morrison. in August 2007, their tenth anniversary. as a metaphor for their life: “Alchemy is about Hernandez agrees: “We love to share what During the first year, the previous owners transformative change, which is what we’ve we love with others.” came back regularly to help the men learn experienced together as we embraced this new how to manage the three-acre vineyard and lifestyle.” K&M W ines is located at 30875 SIV Heater maintain the other three acres of lush gardens. One o f the most pleasant surprises in the Road in Sherwood. For more information, call Hernandez says that anxiety about becoming couple’s move from the city to the country is 503-625-3236 or visit kandmwines.com. Sherwood winegrowers practice “alchemy” Dianne Applegate Silver Jewelry in the Pearl Dental .Care o tí t. r n 23 Years Experience WWW.JUSTOUT.COM Excellent Customer Service Comprehensive Dental Monday- Ihursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. C are Low Radiation Digital X-Rays mrapr In-Office Whitening Interest-Erce Payment Plan •4840 SF 39th Avenue ♦ 503-775-9500 ♦ www. d rd i an n eapp 1 ega te. co m PROVIDING SOCIAL WORK AND NURSING MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENTTO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS SINCE 1995 PARTNERSHIP HIV ADVOCACY* SERVIO S SIXTE W Serving 1200 individuals a year in the Portland 4 county area. Working to keep you insured, in medical care and in contact with the services you need! SERVICIOS DISPONIBLES EN ESPAÑOL For intake scheduling, information and referral, call our intake team at 5 0 3 517-3590 - www.ohsu.edu/partnership OREGON HEALTH &SCIENCE UNIVERSITY soul and style 1033 NW Couch, Portland 97209 www.rebeljeweler.com 503-224-4485
