A clear vision.
Once upon a time, the path to luxury wine was paved with pedigreed appellations, critic scores, and mailing lists so exclusive they made Château Marmont feel like a Motel 6. Bordeaux First Growths, Grand Cru Burgundies, and $300 Napa Cabernets set the standard for what “luxury” in wine looked like, tasted, and cost.
But a shift has been happening. What started as a quiet movement has grown into something impossible to ignore. Today, a new class of wines is redefining luxury that is less about château clout and more about originality. And the names generating the most buzz aren’t necessarily the ones with the longest histories, they’re the ones making the most compelling wines.
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Fall at Folly of Man vineyard.
When Tracy and Aaron Kendall purchased their vineyard in 2023, they did so with characteristic humility and a healthy dose of disbelief. They hadn’t set out to start their own winery. As accomplished winemakers already deeply embedded in Oregon’s Willamette Valley community —Tracy formerly as associate winemaker at Nicolas-Jay, and Aaron as assistant winemaker at Beaux Frères and now winemaker at Compris—their work spoke for itself. But when the right piece of land came along, it was impossible to resist.
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Dru Allen.
Dru and Erin Allen’s path to the wine industry was far from what they had originally imagined. As owners of a thriving logistics company, the idea of running a winery hadn’t crossed their minds. But a visit to a friend’s garage, where he was making wine as a true garagiste, ignited the first spark.
Later, while on holiday cruising along the Danube, they met three couples from Newberg, Oregon. What began as a casual conversation about their curiosity in the wine business unexpectedly took a serendipitous turn, setting them on a new course for the heart of the Willamette Valley and ultimately, their own winery called Compris.
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The Dream Team: Tracy, Brandon, Ally, Al, Chase & Andy.
As the final grapes are pressed and the last barrels tucked away, my harvest internship has officially come to a close. It’s hard to believe how much has been packed into these past 4 weeks — the early mornings, hot days, late nights, and everything in between. Physically, it was one of the toughest experiences I’ve ever gone through.
The long hours during harvest are legendary for a reason. There’s no stopping the process once it starts, and the grapes certainly don’t wait. But as I’ve come to realize, the physical side is only one part of the equation. What truly made this experience special was the people I shared it with.
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Aaron & Tracy Kendall.
In life, they say nothing is certain, but in the world of wine, few things come as close to a sure bet as two accomplished winemakers teaming up for their own project. The duo we’re discussing happen to be husband and wife Aaron and Tracy Kendall. Aaron was the assistant winemaker at Beaux Freres, now head winemaker at Compris Vineyard, and Tracy was the associate winemaker at Nicolas-Jay.
After recently purchasing an established vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, together they bring a wealth of wine expertise to their own project, Folly of Man.
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