St. Innocent Winery

Approaching the new St. Innocent Winery, outside of Salem, you might think you are pulling into a Four Seasons Hotel. The only thing missing are matching black and white swans in the pond and a dude with white gloves to open your door.

Winemaker Mark Vlossak and other investors launched St. Innocent Winery in 1988. His dad’s name was John Innocent Vlossak, and Mark chose the name St. Innocent as a tribute to his father, who taught him about wine as an accompaniment to life. St. Innocent’s former residence was in an unattractive industrial area of Salem. To say that Mark was thrilled to close those digs and move to actual wine country is a great understatement. However, this story is much more than a tale about moving into a new facility.

Don’t let the beautiful grounds and new facilities turn your attention from the real star of the show — the land. This 133-acre estate in the Eola-Amity Hills was formerly the O’Connor Vineyard, which was, ironically, a major supplier of grapes to St. Innocent Winery. Based on a tip from Mark Vlossak, former Chicagoans Tim and Kari Ramey purchased the property from Pat O’Connor in 2002. After the purchase, the rechristened Zenith Vineyard benefited from the Rameys’ philosophy of being “stewards of the land.” Today they cultivate more than 80 acres of grapes, mostly of the pinot noir persuasion. Their sustainable farming methods are organic, and they have a LIVE certification to prove it. With wineries such as A to Z Wineworks, Seufert Winery, Adelsheim Vineyard, Biggio Hamina Cellars, St. Innocent Winery, and others as clients, the Rameys have a success on their hands. Not surprisingly, Mark is the winemaker for the Rameys’ new wine label, Zenith Vineyard.

Adjacent to the winery is the luxurious Event Center managed by the Rameys perfect for corporate events and weddings. It is a separate business from St. Innocent Winery. Whereas most wedding centers pay singular attention to the bride’s quarters, this event center makes sure that the guys weren’t ignored. They’ve included a dedicated area for the men to relax, watch TV, and play video games.

Inside the light-filled tasting room, WineTrail enthusiasts can sample pinot noir, pinot gris, pinot blanc, chardonnay, and, of course, Mark’s signature sparkling wines, made in the méthode champenoise style. His passion for making wine has not diminished since his first forays into making sparkling wine in the mid-’80s.