Silvan Ridge-Hinman Vineyards

The phrase “visitor’s center” often doesn’t apply to Oregon wineries. Rather, most wineries’ tasting rooms serve as unofficial visitor’s centers. However, in the case of Silvan Ridge-Hinman Winery, there truly is a visitor’s center, which has been designed to accommodate major events, weddings, banquets, outdoor movies, and WineTrail trekkers like myself who are there to sample wine. A big dose of Old World charm and elegance informs the center’s design throughout.

With origins dating back to 1979, when Doyle Hinman and David Smith opened Hinman Vineyards, Silvan Ridge-Hinman Vineyards is the oldest winery in Lane County. In 1993, Carolyn S. Chambers, a Eugene businesswoman and president of Chambers Communication Corp. (the local ABC affiliate), acquired the winery. (By the way, Carolyn’s business accomplishments and lifetime achievements would fill a thick book. There’s no doubt it would make a fascinating story.) Since 1995, Carolyn’s daughter Elizabeth (Liz) Chambers has served as the general manager of the winery. Focusing on all aspects of the business, Liz has been instrumental in transforming the winery, with the label Silvan Ridge as its flagship. The name itself pays homage to her mother’s maiden name, Silva.

If asked which winery to pack a picnic for, my answer would have to be Silvan Ridge — especially if you are lucky enough to visit the winery during one of its movie nights. During those evenings, you can uncork a bottle of wine on the lawn paired with a picnic. Then sit back and enjoy a classic movie with a dessert wine, such as Silvan Ridge Del Rio Portage, with its huge black-fruit flavor. On a clear night in this part of rural Lane County, the stars are out in full force.

Winemaker Jonathan Oberlander has the task of producing 25,000 cases annually; these are primarily filled with Rhone- and Bordeaux-style wines. When you are in Lane County, your varietal choices include both cool- and warm-weather grapes from the Willamette Valley and southern Oregon’s Rogue River Valley viticultural areas respectively. It’s a winemaker’s playground and the enviable job of Jonathan to make a dozen different red and white wines.

Truly, Jonathan epitomizes the Silvan Ridge Winery. His youth speaks to the vitality and creativity of the Oregon wine scene. However, his training is grounded in tried-and-true, established winemaking techniques and processes. At Silvan Ridge, the elegant Old World charm of the winery meets New World boldness in a bottle. The result is delectable.