Photo taken by Andrea Johnson .

by Karla Erovick

hile relatively new to producing wine from the lovely Chehalem Mountains , owners Ken and Celia Austin aren ’ t new to

agriculture . Ken ’ s family has been involved in Oregon agriculture and hospitality for seven generations . Their purchase of property for Rain Dance Ranch was intended to raise llamas , preserve the land , and grow agricultural crops .

It was 2009 before they decided to plant vineyards and grow grapes . At first , they were content to sell their grapes to other wineries but in 2013 they made the decision to produce their own wine , in part by the encouragement of a winemaker who was making wine from their grapes for another winery . Bryan Weil ( from Alexana ) put the bug in the Austin ’ s ear about making their own wine with his help and the rest is history .

The Austin ’ s consider themselves stewards of the land with a focus on immaculate farming , paying close attention to every detail on their property , gentle winemaking , and agricultural preservation . Today , Rain Dance is home to 120 acres of farmland including 73 under vine , wildlife corridors , preserved native trees and over 100 llamas who add a unique twist to their sustainability program .

Grapes are dry farmed sustainably using top vineyard practices such as multiple thinning passes to ensure low yields , careful attention to cover cropping , and balanced pruning . Vine by vine composting is one particularly unique approach used to accommodate the Austin family ’ s insistence on native tree preservation .

The care that they lavish on their land pays off in the quality of the wine . Each of their artisan-crafted wines reflects the vineyard soil , elevation , exposure to sun , and grape characteristics , and when combined with the alchemy of wine-making produces a beautiful , balanced bottle of wine . The wine-making becomes an extension of what happens in the vineyards , bringing out the unique characteristics of the vintage and the grape itself . When you taste one of their wines , you can almost taste the vineyard . In addition to several Pinot Noir ’ s , the Willamette Valley ’ s most famous wine , they also make a Rosé of Pinot Noir , Riesling , Chardonnay , and Gewürztraminer .

The best way to sample their wines is a visit to their tasting room where you will enjoy homegrown wines and gracious hospitality in an elegant country setting . Not only will you taste wine , and experience tranquil views from the covered porch and patio , you can also browse through a selection of artwork and estate woodwork in the tasting room . You will experience a warm welcome often by one of the owners , and treated to an informative wine tasting . Imagine sipping delicious wine while watching

llamas stroll past . Afterward , browse a selection of featured artists and owner , Ken Austin ’ s fine woodwork from reclaimed estate trees .

They are often asked why they chose the name “ Rain Dance ” for their winery . The Austin ’ s had recently returned from attending Sun Dance and were seeking a name for their property . It rains a lot in Oregon , so they selected the name “ Rain Dance .” It seems wonderfully appropriate .

You can visit them in their tasting room daily from 11 am – 5 pm .

They are located at 26355 NE Bell Road in Newberg , Oregon , just minutes from downtown Newberg .

Phone + 1 ( 503 ) 538-0197 .

Their current release wines include :

Rain Dance Estate Pinot Noir ($ 40 ) Rain Dance Estate Reserve Pinot Noir ($ 60 ) Nicholas Vineyard Pinot Noir ($ 50 ) Nicholas Vineyard Rosé of Pinot Noir ($ 22 ) Nicholas Vineyard Chardonnay ($ 30 ) Nicholas Vineyard Riesling ($ 22 ) Nicholas Vineyard Gewürztraminer ($ 27 )

www . raindancevineyards . com