1972 – 2012: Forty Years of Making History
Troon Vineyard
To honor the pioneering tradition and accomplishments from then and now, a celebration will take place on Saturday, August 4th from 11 am – 6 pm. The day will include vineyard tours, library wine exclusives, live music from LOVEBITE featuring Jeff Pevar from 2-5 pm, and Troon to Table Lunch Service from 12-5:30 pm. The event is complimentary.
Troon Vineyard is also asking patrons to submit their favorite Troon Vineyard memory (picture, video or story) for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate, meal at Troon to Table, Troon Vineyard logo wine glasses and tickets to our Harvest Bootcamp. A $220 value. The entries will be featured in the Tasting Room and website. The winner will be selected by the Troon Vineyard staff and will be announced at the 40th celebration. Entry deadline is July 31st. Email entries to christine@troonvineyard.com.
July 2nd, 2012 – In 1972, when Mr. Richard Troon purchased 32 acres in the western part of the Applegate Valley, Oregon. He recognized the warm days and cool nights, along with the superior soil conditions, and planted the varietals he liked to drink: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. This is where the story begins…
1972 – Mr. Richard Troon planted Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay on his Applegate Valley property. He knew it would take at least four years for the grapes to deliver good wine, so he hung an optimistic sign at the entrance of his property that read, “Purveyor of Fine Wines Since 1972.” His winemaking projections were off by two decades.
1993 – Mr. Troon started the winery.
2000 – One of Mr. Troon’s most successful winemaking efforts was created by mistake 12 years ago. Mr. Troon harvested Syrah grapes that were deficient in nitrogen leading to a stuck fermentation. The resulting wine was soft and fruit-forward with a hint of residual sugar. He enjoyed how easy it was to drink and named it Druid’s Fluid Red after his fascination with the Druid’s culture and their place in his Scottish heritage. He sold it to his friends and family and it has since grown to become the most popular red wine produced in Southern Oregon.
2003 – Mr. Troon sold his vineyard to the father-and-son team of Larry and Chris Martin. Second-generation winemaker, Herb Quady, joined the team shortly after and he continues to lead the winemaking team.
2005 – The Martin Family constructed a new winery and tasting room facility and set out to expand the estate to 98-acres with 40 planted to winegrapes. The 2002 Reserve Zinfandel was titled “Best Zinfandel in the World,” by the Jerry B. Mead New World Wine Competition. This esteemed award quickly put Troon Vineyard on the map for superior wine quality.
2006 – Troon Vineyard was the first to plant Vermentino in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Originally hailing from the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, the grape is well-suited to the climate and produces a refreshing and crisp wine that is an ideal pairing for seafood. It has become their signature white wine and has received buzz as the next “IT” varietal.
2010 – The estate vineyards received the LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) Certification for their sustainable farming efforts.
2011 – Seven acres of vines were planted to complete the estate vineyard, totaling 40 acres. Troon Vineyard launched the Troon to Table Culinary Program focused on local ingredients paired to highlight their wines. In September, Troon Vineyard celebrated their 500,000th bottle, and at the rate they are growing, estimates to be bottling their 1,000,000th bottle in 2014.
2012 – Troon Vineyard turns 40!