Van Duzer Vineyards
The westward views from the hilltop location of Van Duzer Vineyards stop you in your tracks. Beyond the vineyards lies the Coast Range and, specifically, a gap in the mountains called the Van Duzer Corridor. This passage through the Coast Range brings a cool breeze to the vineyards on summer afternoons. People and grapes love its cooling effect — winemakers swear by it. To celebrate this west wind, Van Duzer Vineyards drew upon Greek mythology and Zephyr, the god of the west wind, to adorn their labels. Their version is more of a goddess, Zephyra, who, on a green background adorned with autumn grape leaves, holds a cluster of pinot noir grapes and looks you in the eye.
The proprietors of the 140-acre estate are Chicago-based Marilynn and Carl Thoma. As owners of the Stone’s Throw Vineyards in California, they certainly knew what they were getting into when they purchased the property in 1998. However, with the Van Duzer Vineyards, they had the chance to add a new grape to their portfolio: pinot noir. To make this happen, they set about hiring a vineyard manager and a winemaker.
The vineyard management task fell on the shoulders of Norbert Fiebig, a German transplant. Charged with the task of making Van Duzer Vineyards a sustainable ecosystem, Norbert has achieved LIVE (low-impact viticulture and enology) and Salmon Safe certifications for the vineyards. He knows all 80 acres of cultivated ground, the many varieties of pinot clones, how the vines are trellised, and their orientation to the sun. And when it comes to the subject of good and bad bugs, Norbert becomes animated. With a clump of dirt in his hands, he can wax eloquently about the importance of lady beetles, green lacewings, and minute pirate bugs.
Since 1994, Jim Kakacek (pronounced “kuh-kay-sic”) has made wine for Van Duzer Vineyards to the tune of 18,000 cases annually. Expect to taste several vineyard-designated and blended pinot noirs, pinot gris, and a pinot noir rosé. The tasting room itself looks as though it sprang from the pages of Architectural Digest, with plenty of glass to showcase the spectacular view to the west. Despite the surrounding splendor, I stood transfixed, gazing at the Van Duzer Vineyards’ wine labels and the beauty of Zephyra and her cluster of ripe grapes. She seemed to be enticing me, saying, “Hey, WineTrail Guy, have you tried the Van Duzer Flagpole Block Pinot Noir?”
WineTrail: Eola – Amity Hills WineTrail South
Owner: Marilynn and Carl Thoma
Winemaker: Jim Kakacek
Opened: 1998
Tasting Room: Open to the public
Amenities: Gift Shop, Picnic Area, Tasting Room, Wine Club
Where To Buy: Winery
Phone: 800-884-1927 Fax: 503-623-4310
Website: www.vanduzer.com
Official Winery Rep/Owner: Information Change? Click Here
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Van Duzer Vineyards
Winery
11975 Smithfield Rd, Dallas, OR 97338 -123.276084 44.981221Hours: Daily 11–5 March through December; closed January and February
Directions: Accessed off of 99W, 8 miles south of Amity on Smithfield Rd, or off of Hwy 22 across from Hwy 223. Located on the northwest corner of Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. From downtown Salem head north onto Liberty St. SE for .4 miles. Turn left (west) onto SR-22 [SR-99E Bus] for .5 miles. Take ramp (right) onto SR-22 [Marion St. Bridge] and continue 13.2 miles. Bear right (north) onto Smithfield Rd and proceed .3 miles. Arrive at 11975 Smithfield Rd. From Amity proceed south on SR-99W [Pacific Hwy W.] 9.7 miles. Turn right (west) onto Smithfield Rd; go 3.2 miles and look for signs to the winery.

