Little did Joe and Vicki Stark know when they lived in that little rental house with their newborn son Aaron, that two miles down the road and many years later their winemaking dreams would reach fruition in the form of Colene Clemens.
Joe grew up working in his father’s cabinet shop and had dreams of one day owning his own business. At age 29 he founded his own cabinetry business, DMH, Inc., and the business flourished. As the years went by, a new vision began to take shape in the minds of Joe and Vicki; a vision of a winery dedicated specifically to the production of estate-grown Pinot Noir.
Special Notes
Estate-grown wines, sustainable farming practices, scenic views, wines by the glass, wine club discount
The pursuit of an ideal Pinot-growing vineyard led them a mere two miles from the old rental home to an abandoned farmstead and orchard left uncultivated for many years. The land is situated where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge and is characterized by steep slopes, rocks, and multiple soil types. Experienced wine maker/vineyard manager Steve Goff teamed up with the Starks and they jumped right in, pursuing the ever-elusive “perfect Pinot Noir.”
Their 2008 estate Reserve Pinot, one of the first two Pinots to come from the initial 23 acres of Colene Clemens’ estate vineyard, received 92 points from both Wine Spectator and The Wine Advocate. With such a strong start, Pinot lovers have much to look forward to in the upcoming years.
Wine tourists who visit the lodge-like tasting room at Colene Clemens are swept away by a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of Bald Peak to the north and the Coast Range to the west. Sunset Magazine aptly named Colene Clemens a 2011 Western Wine Awards Finalist for “Most Beautiful” Winery Tasting Room of the Year. Guests enjoy relaxing and sampling wines inside the elegant tasting room or sitting outside to soak in the beautiful views while sipping outstanding estate-grown Pinot Noir.