Evesham Wood is more than a winery. It is a legacy.

Founded by Russ Rainey in 1986, Evesham Wood is a pioneer of organic wine growing in the Willamette Valley. Our original estate vineyard, Le Puits Sec, was certified organic in 2000; the winery was certified organic in 2002. We continue to champion organic farming and certification within our grower relationships, and at our newly acquired Torres Hill estate vineyard.

Le Puits Sec is home to some of the oldest vines in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, a distinctive area heavily influenced by the cooling Pacific Ocean winds. Eola-Amity wines possess a special energy, which Russ recognized early on–he played a critical role in the establishment of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and its boundaries. Today, it is a growing area synonymous with Willamette Valley excellence.

Russ believed that a sense of “place” is critical to authentic, quality wines and that introducing irrigation into a vineyard eliminates the best expression of place. He co-founded the Deep Roots Coalition (drc) to educate and advocate for non-irrigated grape growing; the drc now includes 50 wineries–many of the Willamette Valley’s best and most authentic.

The benchmark for Evesham Wood’s style can be found on the label of our most age-worthy wine, Cuvee J–Russ’s winemaking idol was the legendary Burgundian, Henri Jayer. Russ believed in making authentic wines that are a true reflection of each unique season, even with the humbly-priced Willamette Valley blend and naturally, through single vineyards. This was one of many philosophies that immediately connected Russ and winemaker Erin Nuccio in 2007. Russ saw in Erin the perfect person to continue the Evesham Wood legacy; Erin recognized the opportunity of a lifetime and the importance of preserving the legacy Russ built. In 2010, Erin became the new owner and steward of Evesham Wood. We continue to grow into our future by honoring our past.