Hauer of the Dauen

Great name, don’t you think? But what does it mean? Read on, dear WineTrail trekker.

The name Hauer of the Dauen is derived from the name of the winery’s owners, Carl and Lores Dauenhauer. Armed with a big laugh and an equally sharp wit, Carl Dauenhauer notes that his name, from the High German language, translates to “the striking of the sun.” High German is the language that Adolf Hitler forbade Germans to speak. I guess Adolf, unlike Carl, didn’t have a sense of humor.

Carl is a native Oregonian who spends most of his time tending his 110 acres of vineyards outside of Dayton. This is a certified biodynamic farm. His family’s nursery-business background made it possible to plant a 40-acre vineyard in two and a half hours back in 1980. That’s not a typo — it took two and a half hours for his family to plant 40 acres of vines! I thought he was kidding, but Carl assured me that he wasn’t. Together, Carl and his large and well-organized family scored the earth and planted the vines like a well-oiled German machine.

Carl’s current vineyard features seven different varietals: pinot noir, gamay noir, lemberger, pinot gris, gewürztraminer, riesling, and chardonnay. Although most of his fruit goes to such notable Oregon wineries as King Estate Winery, Eola Hills Wine Cellars, and A to Z Wineworks, he does set aside select grapes to produce 4,000 cases of Hauer of the Dauen’s own. Most of the wine is sold directly from the winery, which sees a steady stream of fans.

This is an unpretentious winery, where Carl no doubt sets the relaxed atmosphere. At the entrance, there’s a sign that reads, “Friends welcome. Relatives by appointment.” It’s definitely quirky, but it succeeds in making people feel welcomed. With the relatively low prices of its wines, Hauer of the Dauen is rewarded with a loyal fan base; this also helps explain why crowds line up to taste Hauer of Dauen wines at Oregon wine events and festivals. These are easy-drinking wines made for a singular purpose — enjoyment.