JLC Winery / Spofford Station

Cow tipping just got easier.

Back in 2005, the owner and winemaker of JLC Winery, Lynne Chamberlain, came up with a novel idea for recycling her spent cabernet and merlot grape skins (known as pomace). She began feeding these leftovers to her Angus cows at her Spofford Station farm. It turns out the cattle loved it, and Lynne noticed that the cattle not only gained weight but also seemed a little drowsy. The former 26brix restaurant in Walla Walla discovered Lynne’s beef and soon began offering a $14 “Cow-bernet” burger. A herd of national media got wind of the story, and soon print publications such as USA Today and television news stations reported on the tale of the tipsy beef.

To appreciate JLC Winery is to know that Lynne Chamberlain is a farm girl at heart. Following a prolonged sojourn in Washington, D.C., she returned home to her family’s 500-acre farm, located on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. It’s where she grew up and it also is home to her celebrated 40-acre Spofford Station Vineyard. Along with the grapes, other crops such as mint and wheat are grown at the station. You might even find a few cases of uncorked Angus milling around.

WineTrail note: The word “station” refers to locations where trains would stop and load farm produce for transport. Known as “stations” on the Oregon side, they are referred to as “grain elevators” in Washington. Built in the 1800s, the “grain train” still makes daily stops at the stations to load soft white wheat for transport to Portland and eventually on to markets in Asia.

JLC produces premium red wines, including Lynne’s exclusive Spofford Station estate syrah and merlot wines. The label of her popular red table wine “Palette” features an angel enjoying her “angels’ share” of wine. The original painting used for the label sold for $3,500 in a Portland benefit auction in 2006. As their own Angels Share Club member pamphlet explains, “In the days of old, before science grabbed attention, the winemaker left the cellar at evensong. His cellar rats continued to care for the precious elixirs as he rested. On returning, he noted that the juice in the barrel had been lowered. ‘You have stolen my precious nectar!’ The reply, ‘No master, a mere sip is promised the Angels.’ What is now called evaporation was known as ‘Angels’ Share.’”

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  Order the book!

  JLC Winery / Spofford Station was featured in WineTrails of Walla Walla as part of the Walla Walla WineTrail South on page 468!

• 

  Order the book!

  JLC Winery / Spofford Station was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Walla Walla WineTrail South on page 468!