Vitae Springs Vineyard

During a U.S. Air Force stint in Europe in the early 1970s, Earl and Pam VanVolkinburg discovered German wines while residing in that country’s Mosel Valley. With their newfound passion for growing grapes and making wine, the VanVolkinburgs returned to the states, where Earl began a private medical practice. However, one thing led to another, and they purchased a plot of land southwest of Salem that proved to be a great place for growing cool-weather grapes. That led to the planting of pinot noir, pinot gris, riesling, and a small amount of Grüner Veltliner.

The Grüner Veltliner grape has notable plantings in Austria along the Danube River. You rarely find it in the United States. In Oregon, fewer than 25 total acres are in production. This little factoid alone makes Vitae Springs Vineyard special. The charming, ready-to-drink white wine created with these grapes is packed full of citrus flavors and is easily drinkable by itself or served with seafood or such dishes as salad with grilled chicken or cheese-chicken tortellini.

When a family’s two-car garage doubles as a tasting room, you know it’s got to be a small operation. (In the case of Vitae Springs, there are fewer than 1,000 cases of wine produced each year.) In Vitae Springs’ tasting room, you swirl and sip wine next to the family car and in the company of the VanVolkinburgs’ white-coated West Highland terrier, who looks at you with big, teddy-bear eyes. Sydney, the dog, has an acute case of cuteness!

The VanVolkinburgs had come to the realization that the grapes they were cultivating on their 33 acres — 25 of which are planted with pinot noir — must be pretty wonderful, because wineries such as St. Innocent were signing long-term leases for their harvests. It seemed only natural that the family should start setting aside some of the grapes to make wine under the Vitae Springs Vineyard label. Fortunately for Earl and Pam, their son Joel and his wife, Michelle, have taken over many of the day-to-day grape-growing and winemaking chores. Joel’s focus is the vineyard, which requires constant attention: pruning, managing weeds, training canes, trimming the canopy, and harvesting by hand. Equally important are the sales and market responsibilities assumed by Michelle. It’s a family affair with each person having an assigned role, and it seems to work just fine.

Taste for yourself and you’ll understand why it all works. Just remember to park your car outside the garage!