For Doug Irvine, family is everything. He spent a part of his childhood on a ranch in southern Oregon, where his father instilled in him the value of hard work. From bucking hay to fixing irrigation pipes to rounding up cattle, Doug learned early on that farming requires dedication and perseverance.

After graduating from UC Irvine with a degree in economics, Doug set out to develop real estate in Southern California. He met and married Dionne in 1990, and in 1997, the family moved back to Oregon to the beautiful mountain town of Ashland to raise their three daughters, Alyxandra, Carlie, and Nicolette. It wasn’t until 2005, after a revelatory experience with Gaja Nebbiolo on a vacation in Italy, that Doug had the idea to return to farming by planting a vineyard. Now, many vintages later, with nearly forty acres planted of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and a brand-new winery and tasting room just down the road from their home, Doug puts the lessons he learned from his father into practice every day. Doug’s favorite thing about wine growing is seeing the delight on guests’ faces in the tasting room, and his reward for all the hard work is the joy of welcoming each new visitor into his extended family.