We kick off our series with one of Oregon’s all-time greats: John Paul Cameron. Since founding his winery in 1984, John Paul has never conformed to other people's techniques or expectations, and has always trusted his gut over current trends. He farms his famed 4-acre vineyard Clos Electrique in the heart of the Dundee Hills, and follows the techniques of Burgundy to produce some of the most ‘old world’ wines in Oregon. A veritable font of knowledge, and a PHD scientist by trade, John Paul is the over-educated rebel (and the most fun guy at the party.) We couldn't be more excited to start this series with him at our table!

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From a fascinating journey of travel, politics, and conflict resolution in her youth, Maggie landed the role of assistant winemaker at one of the most iconic wineries in the world. At Sine Qua Non, Maggie worked closely under the tutelage of Manfred Krankl for 10 years before starting her own Syrah project: Lillian. In an unexpected turn of events, friends invited her to Oregon to check out a rocky, fossil-filled vineyard – Antica Terra. It took about 30 seconds for Maggie to decide to uproot her California life and move to Oregon. Antica Terra was born, producing revered wines that have achieved ‘cult’ status in the last 10 years. Treat yourself to a night with this power lady.

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After a storied career traveling the world for CBS as a foreign correspondent, Doug returned to his hometown of Newberg to make wine. A dilapidated hazelnut farm on Ribbon Ridge became one of the most darling wineries in the Willamette Valley. It was one of the first wineries to be certified as organic and then biodynamic, and anyone who’s visited the property knows the magic of the herb gardens, the horse barn-turned-winery, and the namesake brick farmhouse. Doug is even more delightful than his wines (which is hard to accomplish), and we can’t wait to share both with you.

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Born and raised in Calcutta, India, Rajat went to New York City to become a chef and was quickly led to the path of a sommelier. Landing in San Francisco under the mentorship of celebrated sommelier Larry Stone (our December guest), Rajat’s tenacity and talent led him to eventually earn three James Beard Awards for his various wine programs. After running the wine program for the Michael Mina group for five years, he opened RN74, the landmark Burgundy-focused restaurant that brought wine lovers to their knees. Along the way, Rajat began the foray into winemaking with Sandhi and Domaine de la Cote in California and, later, with Evening Land in Oregon. Rajat is the author of multiple books on the topic of sommeliers and wine regions, and also produces some of the most excellent wine in Oregon. We are honored to have him grace our table!

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A true family operation, Bergstrom has become one of the most beloved wineries in Oregon since its inception in the late 90’s. After deciding as a family to move from Portland to Dundee to start a winery, Josh took it upon himself to learn how to make the product. He went to where any smart would-be winemaker would go to learn: Burgundy. After getting a postgraduate degree in enology and viticulture in Beaune, he returned home with a newfound French skillset. Since then, Josh has created a style for Bergstrom that is influenced by the old world, but uniquely Oregon. Focusing solely on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Josh farms and makes wine with respect to the land and the grapes. If you’ve been in Oregon for any amount of time, you probably already love his wines as much as we do!

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Another Oregon local and world traveler, Jim graduated from Oregon State and headed into the corporate world before leaving it all for the Peace Corps. After backpacking, cycling and business-advising on five continents, Jim’s love of travel spurred his love for wine. He made wine in New Zealand, Austria and Burgundy before landing home in Oregon. Since its start in the late 90’s, J.K. Carriere has become a mainstay on Oregon tables, loved for its elegant Pinot Noirs and bright Chardonnays from esteemed vineyard sites. Join us in hosting this lifelong adventurer – and ask him the story behind the wasp!

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While on vacation in Oregon in 1986, Mike happened upon an 88-acre pig farm for sale. He saw something special enough in that property that he uprooted his family from Colorado to put down vines in Ribbon Ridge. Along with his brother-in-law, or ‘beau-frère’ Robert Parker (yes, that Robert Parker), he started what would become one of the most iconic wineries in Oregon. Now at the helm of a legendary brand, Mike is still as down-to-earth as it gets. If this dinner is half as much fun as our event with him last summer, you won’t want to miss it.

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Born in Bourbon, Kentucky, Ken forsook his hometown legacy in favor of wine. After 8 years of making wine in California, a trip to Oregon convinced him of the possibilities of the Willamette Valley. In 1986, Ken founded Panther Creek Cellars, a former exploration of single-vineyard Oregon Pinot Noirs. In 1994, Ken Wright Cellars was born. Based in Carlton, Ken makes Pinot Noir from 13 different exemplary sites, and created a brand that now has cult status both in Oregon and nationwide. We are thrilled to have Ken in conversation, and think you will, too!

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Arriving in Oregon by way of New York and California, Brian was a homebrewer itching to get his hands on his own vineyard. After one too many California earthquakes, Brian and his wife, Jill, moved to Oregon in 1992 to follow their dreams. Belle Pente (‘beautiful slope’) is as charming as it sounds. One of the first fully biodynamic wineries in Oregon, Belle Pente is buzzing with goats, lambs, chickens, and even a pig or two. Brian is a quiet hero of the Willamette Valley – though you’ve probably had his ‘Belle Oiseau’ as the house cuvée at Le Pigeon and Little Bird – and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate the holidays with him.

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What do you say about the world’s most celebrated sommelier? That he was the 9th person ever to be granted the title of Master Sommelier, or was the first American to win the ‘Best Sommelier in the World’ award in Paris? Or that he was blind tasting by the age of 7, won a Fullbright scholarship straight out of college, and opened a restaurant with Robert DeNiro not too long after? Or that he’s served on the board of both the James Beard foundation and the Court of Master Sommeliers? Or maybe that he partnered with Dominique Lafon to create Lingua Franca, making waves as one of Oregon’s top new wineries. These are just a few accomplishments of Larry Stone’s storied life, and we can’t think of a better note to end this series on than with him at our table.

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