Notable Contributors

 

Wayne Hitchings

(Sienna Ridge Estate & Red Hills Douglas County Vineyard)

Wayne Hitchings led a life filled with adventure and accomplishments.  He was born in Massachusetts and spent most of his life in Alaska.  After high school he was drafted by the Army and served in Vietnam and eventually the Army posted him to Anchorage, Alaska.  In Alaska he raised his family and operated two successful businesses.

In about 1991 Hitchings partnered with a friend in buying a parcel of land near Roseburg, Oregon. About seven (7) acres had been planted to Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer, probably in the late 1960’s.    Eventually Hitchings bought his partner out to become sole owner.  After acquiring additional surrounding land Hitchings Red Hills vineyard totaled about 450 planted acres growing 10 varieties of grapes. Guillermo Guitron was his vineyard manager for over 19 years.

Hitchings always thought the property had unique characteristics, including Jory soil which is unique to the Umpqua Valley.  The vineyard’s elevation of 800-1200 feet contributes to significantly wetter and cooler
weather then other areas of the valley. This weather and the Jory soil help produce small berries that have a low juice-to-skin ratio resulting in more concentrated fruit forward wines with higher acidity.

In 2002 Hitchings petitioned the TTB to recognize his vineyard within the Red Hill AVA.  Wineries from the Willamette Valley, California, Australia, and New Zealand objected.  In 2005 the TTB ruled in favor of Hitchings and declared that his AVA be called Red Hills Douglas County AVA, entirely within the Umpqua Valley AVA. 

This makes Hitchings the owner of one of the very few single-vineyard AVA’s in the United States.

Hitchings went on to establish Sienna Ridge Estate Winery located at 1876 John Long Road, Oakland, Oregon 97462.

Wayne Hitchings passed away in September 2016.
 

Fun Facts

In 2005 the TTB ruled in favor of Hitchings and declared that his AVA be called Red Hills Douglas County AVA, entirely within the Umpqua Valley AVA.