Vineyard

VINEYARD

Just three and one half miles from Yamhill, Oregon is The Lumpkin Family’s Lazy River Vineyard, 146 acres hidden from the road. From the top of the hill one looks down to the mixed terrain, interlocking puzzle pieces of woods, rolling meadows, grape vines and ponds. The land is separated north from south by a meandering small river, which by August hardly moves.

The vineyard is a bench of predominantly Jory soil, unusual outside of the Dundee Hills. Planted are 30 acres of Pinot Noir and three acre of Pinot Gris. On the far western edge of the hill in three acres of Stony Ground soil is Riesling. First to be cultivated on the east side of the property were eleven acres of Pinot Noir in 2000. First harvest took place in 2002.
Lazy River’s manager is Wallace “Buddy” Beck of Advanced Vineyard Systems. The site manager is Angel Martinez. Owners are Ned and Kirsten Lumpkin, Francoise Neuville and The Lumpkin Family.

VINEYARD BLOCKS

IMMIGRANT RUFF Kirsten Lumpkin's maternal grandparents Wilhelm and Matilda Ruff were German–Russians who came to Hillsboro, Oregon in 1910. They were farmers whose ancestors were brought to Russia by Catherine the Great to work the land in the Ukraine. The Ruff's wine press moves between Lazy River Vineyard and The Carlton Winemakers Studio. Clara Ruff Wedin, Kirsten's mother, graduated from Pacific University in nearby Forest Grove, Oregon.

FAMILLE NEUVILLE Françoise Neuville came to the Lumpkin family in 1978 as a French exchange student. Subsequently, their friendship grew, nurtured by years of transatlantic visits. In their home at Les Auzerals a half hour outside of Toulouse, her parents Arlette and Jean graciously received various Lumpkins. When Françoise learned of Lazy River Vineyard, she announced in no uncertain terms, "I will be investing in this project and will not take no for an answer."

BLAZE O’s RUN Beloved chocolate lab Blaze followed the Lumpkins on multiple trips up and down their first block of Pinot Noir as they pulled weeds and later as they tasted and tested brix for their first harvest in 2002. Blaze did his own testing deftly and delicately pulling off chosen berries from low hanging bunches.

BERNIE’s BOOM Dr. Bernard Booms, professor emeritus of marketing at the University of Washington has been Uncle Bernie to Jeff, Toby and Anna Lumpkin and time–tested friend and advisor to Ned and Kirsten. He is official advisor to Lazy River Vineyard and its marketing plans and ideas.

IMMIGRANT WEDIN Kirsten Lumpkin's paternal grandparents emigrated from Sweden. Her grandfather August in 1885 filed a claim for land in Svenson, Oregon near Astoria. He later married Emma and farmed in Gresham, Oregon. That place was sold in the 1980's. Kirsten's father, Vernon "Whitey" Wedin graduated from Oregon State College where he played football. He was one of the 1933 Iron Men.

PRIVATE LUMPKIN When Private Ned Lumpkin entered the Army in 1960 he found himself stationed near Frankfurt and Germany's famous Rheingau wine region. He pooled funds with friends to purchase, taste and compare Rieslings throughout the two years he spent in the region. It launched a life–long passion for wine and a special fondness for Riesling. In 2002 two acres were planted.

CLICK CLICK CLICK Bob Peterson’s career began with Sports Illustrated assignments when was a University of Washington student, continued through years as a photojournalist for Life magazine and then as a working photographer who traveled the world for clients such as Nike, Physio Control and adidas. Bob came to Oregon to shoot the definitive photos of Lazy River Vineyard and The Carlton Winemakers Studio. He and his wife Lynn share decades of friendship with the Lumpkins, neighbors across a back fence who enjoy together food, wine and good conversation.

CHUCK’s Ned's father moved his family from Richland, Washington to five acres in nearby Burbank, so that he could have some animals, fruit trees, a vegetable garden and especially strawberries. His parents Joseph and Mildred Lumpkin grew apples in Cowiche, Washington. Chuck received a bachelor's and a master's degree in history from the University of Idaho in spite of the Great Depression and occasional bouts of malnutrition.

ALMA’s Named for Ned's mother Alma, also the daughter of German—Russian immigrants, she drove tractors on the South Dakota wheat farm of her parents Adam and Lena Prezler. She is at heart a gardener and in June 2003 recalled how enriched she felt after finishing a day of work in her garden. In her tenth decade she eagerly awaits news of the vineyard, and went so far as to taste the family's garage wine and give it her approval.