Jerry Murray - Patton Valley
“A Pinot Epiphany”

There's no denying the complexity of Pinot noir. One might even say it's an astute varietal. It is no wonder that poets, engineers and academics fall fast and hard for this seductress. Jerry Murray was destined to partner with Pinot, but their meeting proved circuitous.

Scholarly and on the fast track for a career in academia at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Murray took a hard left to follow his folly. He traveled South to the soulful city of New Orleans, earnest to explore a craft and work with his hands. Intending to master fine ironwork, stonework or carpentry, he instead discovered his artistry through cooking.

Murray spent the next five years sauteing, steaming and searing at some of the bastions of Regional American cuisine.

As so many great foodies find their way to Oregon, so did Murray. He eventually met Pinot noir and soon after "begged" his way into his first winery, Erath, for the 2001 harvest. After two days into that first harvest, he had an epiphany. All of his exploits and experiences: salad days spent on farms, studies of science and lore and gourmet in the kitchen, led to winemaking.

"I didn't choose wine, it chose me."

Following the harvest at Erath, Murray joined international crews in New Zealand (Martinborough Vineyard & Highfield Estate) and Germany (Selbach-Oster). Interspersed were home-grown winemaking experiences with Chehalem, JK Carriere and Panther Creek.

"Mentors are a huge part of becoming a winemaker. Making wine, especially Pinot noir is not about a recipe. It is a philosophy."

Since the spring of 2005 Murray has been farming block by block and crafting wine barrel by barrel for Patton Valley Vineyard. Native yeast fermentation, no additives and no enzymes ensure a wine that reflects the vineyard.

"My evolution as a winemaker is not a path of learning more tricks or employing the newest technologies, it is a path to becoming a better farmer."