Amity Vineyards
(1974-2014)

Oregon’s First Eco-Wine & America’s First True Gamay Noir

Myron Redford, his wife Vicki Wetle, and business partner Janis Checchia founded Amity Vineyards in 1974. As a young man Redford’s career plans did not include owning an Oregon winery. He graduated from Antioch College in Ohio, and then returned to Seattle, his hometown. However, he got the wine bug while traveling in Europe in 1966.

He landed a part-time job at Washington’s Associated Vintners Winery. This experience got him to thinking about possibly opening a winery in Washington State. The potential for growing and making Pinot Noir in Oregon turned out to be a big attraction. So in 1974 he moved to Oregon and purchased an existing vineyard planted by Jerry & Ann Preston in the Amity Hills in 1971.

Amity first became known for its carbonic maceration Pinot Noir Nouveau which was generally released within two months after the grapes were picked. The winery also produced outstanding white wines: Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Dry Riesling.

In 1988 Redford was the first, not only in Oregon, but also in North America to release a 100% true Gamay Noir.* He was not the first in Oregon to grow Gamay though. That honor goes to David Adelsheim at Adelsheim Vineyards*. Redford also produced Oregon’s first Eco-Wine, an organic, sulfite free Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir was its mainstay wine and it won many awards over the years. Amity practiced sustainable viticulture and its home vineyard was LIVE certified (Low Input Viticulture & Enology.

Amity Vineyards was located at 18150 Amity Vineyards Road S.E., Amity, OR 97101.

*Thanks to Elaine Chukan Brown for this information.