One of the great loves of the R. Stuart Crew is throwing a dinner party; and when it comes to entertaining our own team, there are no holds barred. It is a long held tradition to gather our staff together for a holiday party to celebrate their incredible efforts of the year. Our production crew has finally settled into a slower rhythm after a wildly busy season, and the tasting room team has continued to deliver signature R. Stuart hospitality through the summer tourism months through to the holidays. The last thing they need to do is throw their own party, so it is with great joy that the “Ex ..read more

Today marks the final day of Harvest 2023 at R. Stuart! The cellar crew is pressing off Aurora Colony Vineyard Pinot noir – a new vineyard we’re working with this year – and Cabernet Sauvignon for our Three Clowns Cabernet. When the end is so near in sight, it encourages us to reflect on where we started. With that, we share our Harvest Report of 2023! The Growing Season After the wildfires and smoke of 2020, the intense heat waves of 2021, and an incredibly high-yield harvest in 2022, we were crossing out fingers for as “normal” of a season as possible. A soggy spring created nerves as we wai ..read more

A long, hot summer’s day deserves something delicious and chilled to go with it. And while many folks prepare for the warm weather by stocking their fridges full of white wines, we’re sharing our hot take: chill a bottle of red wine instead. From restaurants to home dining rooms, red wines are typically pulled from cellars and shelves at room temperature (68°-76°F) for serving. There’s a long time notion that a red wine expresses itself better at this temperature, and that chilling it would ruin its integrity and flavor.  We know that there are definitely negative effects of heat on wine ..read more

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Autumn arrived in McMinnville later than usual this year, with 80° days lingering through the third week of the month. It has been an anomaly, without a doubt, yet we have been grateful for the higher temperatures as it has allowed for fruit to hang in the vineyards just a little bit longer. The continued maturation of the berries through warm weather continued to develop the sugars, while the inevitable cooler nights helped to keep acid levels high. We are so close to our last lots of fruit coming into the winery, signaling a close to the harvest season. But the work doesn’t stop t ..read more

A few weeks ago, our team was standing in the cellar making final plans for our Wine Club Pick Up Party. We were focused on logistics, such as moving barrels to make room for the event, making plans for a winery bathroom makeover, as well as sharing our hopes for this year’s harvest. There was a collective pause as we looked around at each other, only to say, “This job we do is wild.” In the shortest summation, that sentiment is incredibly true. Winemaking is a year round effort which showcases a passion for not only the final product, but also for the process which requires constant attenti ..read more

If you’ve caught our most recent newsletters, you know that our anticipation for this year’s harvest has been steadily building. One of the wildest parts of winemaking is that there is no tried and true “start date” to harvest. In 2011, our harvest motto was, “November is the new October,” alluding to the later-than-normal start time to that year’s harvest. In a different year, the first fruit we received came through the winery mid-September. Year to year, our timeline is dictated by forces out of our control – keeping us on our toes for when our busiest season will begin. At this point in th ..read more

R. Stuart would not exist without IPNC, so let’s look back to where it started and where it’s all going. McMinnville, Oregon is home to a variety of festivals and celebrations which bring thousands of people from across the country to our town. Whether we are celebrating extraterrestrials at the Alien Days Festival or the history of turkey farming during Turkey Rama, our town knows the value of creating experiences based on our rich history and offerings. As we sit in the middle of some of the most prestigious wine country in the world, it seemed inevitable that a wine festival would also b ..read more

Jimmy Leyden, June 1921-May 25, 2021 Owner, Courting Hill Vineyard Today we lost a dear friend. Jimmy Leyden was the owner of Courting Hill Vineyard, one of the vineyards with whom we have a very long-standing relationship. Rob has been working with Jimmy since 1994 when he started as the winemaker at Erath Vineyards. When we started R. Stuart in 2001, Jimmy was one of the growers who happily came with us. Over the years we, but especially Rob, developed a warm and wonderful friendship. Jimmy was an incredible man who led a rich and fascinating life. One day, several years ..read more

WINTER IN MCMINNVILLE IS WORTH IT A getaway weekend to the Willamette Valley during the summer months is undeniably wonderful. But we are here to argue that exploring the valley during winter months can be just as – if not more – enjoyable as those warm weekends.   1. Fewer People Means Focused Attention   The Michelin star restaurants, award winning wineries, and popular attractions can be overwhelmed with visitors in the summer. When visiting between January and March, the smaller crowds often translate to you getting a more personalized, intimate experience at your visits. The ..read more