Chehalem Winery grows grapes, mentors winemakers

Harry and Judy Peterson-Nedry moved to the Northwest in 1972. He was educated as a chemist, but spent most of his adult career in technical and management roles in the high tech manufacturing industries, focusing on quality and process control. (His daughter Wynne is a senior in college, majoring in chemistry and may follow in her dad's footsteps.) The property for Chehalem was purchased in 1980, with the first crop of grapes harvested in 1985.

The label on Chehalem wines is artistic and abstract. Peterson-Nedry says the staff each sees something different in the art label.

"It says something about wine, too," he said. "It's subjective. It's OK to be different from someone else. We like that idea a lot."

Chehalem recently released a Pinot Gris that is getting noticed by wine publications and critics. The winemakers nursed the Pinot Gris grapes as though they were children, dropping their crop to one-third of the normal size to get more concentration.

"We didn't skim on our babies," Peterson-Nedry said.

In addition, Chehalem is experimenting with synthetic corks and using them more often each year on the white wines. Peterson-Nedry, along with many other Oregon and Washington wineries, are losing wines to poor-quality corks. So far, Chehalem winemakers are satisfied with synthetic corks but are waiting to see how well they hold up in red wines.

Winemaker Cheryl Francis is developing her own seven-acre winery with her husband, Sam Tannahill, who is co-winemaker at Archery Summit. Bill and Cathy Stoller, co-owners of Chehalem, have a 360 vineyard and plan to produce a small, exclusive wine on their estate.

Chehalem staff can be contacted at www.chehalemwines.com. The folks are friendly and eager to help. However, sometimes the wines are sold out at the winery, but Avalon Wine (www.avalonwine.com) generally has a good supply.

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