Welsh for “high hill,” the Bryn Mawr vineyard is nestled atop one of the steepest slopes in the Willamette Valley amid a pristine forest of Douglas Firs, and with the influence of strong, maritime winds flowing in from the Van Duzer Corridor.
Owners Jon and Kathy Lauer knew the site had enormous potential and purchased the Bryn Mawr Estate Vineyard in 2009, hiring winemaker Rachel Rose shortly thereafter to lead the growth and development of both the vineyard and their wine program.
The winery’s first commercial vintage was in 2010, a particularly challenging year in the Willamette Valley—commonly referred to as “the year of the birds”—and was followed by one of the coldest vintages on record in 2011.
Under the leadership of Rachel Rose, Bryn Mawr crafts wines of great complexity and tension including legacy varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as burgeoning varietals like Tempranillo, Dolcetto and several aromatic white grapes.
Bryn Mawr has continually elevated its production, creating refined, ageable wines for almost a decade. A common adage among the team is “high hill, high risk, high reward,” and that tenacious spirit is reflected in all that they do.
More information: brynmawrvineyards.com
