“to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time” – John Lubbock, The Use of Life

We wish you a happy summer from Philomath, where we have been enjoying warm weather since mid-spring (sometimes with a nice glass of chilled Pinot Blanc). Our grapevines are growing vigorously in the heat, which means lots of work to be done in the vineyards and back at the winery clearing space, cleaning and prepping equipment and vessels in anticipation of what may be an early September harvest. 

Many if not most wineries purchase their grapes. Our family winery is unique in that we do it all, from growing to production. Matt Compton has always been our winegrower  and our winemaker. He knows exactly what is going on in the vineyards throughout the year and has the historical perspective gained from working the same sites for years. His trusted vineyard manager and team have been a consistent presence as well.  Our holistic approach to wine has garnered us consistent acclaim.

The Compton Farm and vineyard and the several other local vineyards we lease and manage are smaller sites, most with old vines, located within about 15 miles to the South and North from our winery. We work with variables of microclimate and soil, and a diversity of wine grape varieties and clones. Every growing season is different, from warm or cold in spring which determines bud break and the timing of flowering and fruit set, to wet or dry in the late summer and early fall which affects our picking window. 

Matt practices regenerative agriculture to build biology and fix nutrient deficiencies proactively. Homemade compost and compost tea applications build soil and beneficial microbes. Cover crops help to keep invasive plants out, and add organic matter that provides nutrients for the grape vines, and for our livestock to graze. When the sheep and chickens graze in the vineyard they contribute fertility to the soil too. All of this work in the vineyard leading up to harvest, and the long term process of building healthy soil ecology pays off with the highest quality fruit. Matt’s decisions during the winemaking process are informed by his grower’s knowledge and perspective. Quality fruit requires little interference through crush, fermentation and aging, setting the stage for a harmonious balance of fruit, acid, tannin and alcohol in the finished wine.  

Join us in a toast to our latest Compton Graduate! Our family is very proud of our son Porter who graduated from Philomath High School this June. Porter takes after his father in that he is a humble guy who doesn’t brag about his accomplishments. So we will brag for him! Porter holds the record for the most wrestling wins and also broke the record for the most matches wrestled for Philomath High School. Porter was successful at staying healthy and competing for each full wrestling season. He also broke another school record for the most points scored for his high school career and is a 2 time All-American. We are so proud of all his hard work wrestling for over ten years and will miss watching him compete. Porter is pursuing a career in welding and we look forward to supporting him in his next chapter. Our eldest, Kael, is continuing his education as a welding inspector, and youngest, Odin, is raising pigs for 4-H again this summer. Come say hello  and support our local 4-H at the Benton County Fair at the end of July.

Thank you for being the most important part of our family business. We treasure our community and truly enjoy connecting with you at the winery and around town. Enjoy a delicious summer with plenty of good food and wine!

Cheers to summer days and summer nights, Matt and Tabitha Compton

Rosé of Pinot Noir, 2024 (2 Mix and 6 Mix Club)
Hello summer, it’s your favorite Rosé calling! Matt Compton crafts a crisp, fruit forward, refreshingly dry Rosé of Pinot Noir with a beautiful pale-salmon hue. Three-quarters of the lot of fruit is quickly whole cluster pressed the morning of harvest and the remaining quarter left in the press to macerate on the skins overnight before pressing and blending to ferment in steel.

Gewürztraminer, 2023 (6 Mix Club)
Lovely old-vine Gewürztraminer from Mary’s Peak Vineyard made in a classic off-dry style. Don’t be shy to say it out loud: “ge-vurz-tra-me-ner”. This aromatic grape with a German name serves up a heady blend of floral, fruit and spice with just a wisp of sweetness. 

Pinot Blanc, 2023 (6 Mix Club)
Tabitha’s favorite! Estate Pinot Blanc vines were planted in 1997 at our Compton Family Farms Vineyard in Philomath, Oregon. This Southeast facing vineyard is lower elevation and benefits from the rich soil series of the Willamette Valley. The cooler micro-climate here allows us to pick our Pinot Blanc later in the season when the flavors are full and expressive. 

Alpine Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2022 NEW 93 Rating (all Clubs)
Our boldest Pinot Noir blends two dry-farmed vineyards in Alpine, Oregon: Woodhall III Vineyard C Block Pommard and Wadenswil, and Bovine Vineyard 667 Pinot Noir clones. Alpine Cuvée Pinot Noir is aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 30% new, before blending and bottling. Happy 50th Anniversary to Woodhall III Vineyard, planted in 1976! 

Bovine Pinot Noir, 2023 (2 Red, 6 Mix, 6 Red Clubs)
Matt Compton planted BoVine Vineyard with Pommard, Wadenswil and 667 clones of Pinot Noir back in 2008. The land was formerly cow pasture and we appreciate their contributions to building rich soil to grow excellent grapes.  Cheers to moo!

Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022 – 92 Rating  (6 Mix & 6 Red Clubs)
Organically grown Pinot Noir from vines planted in the mid-80s by our friends, the Croft family. Aged 18 months in 20% new French oak barrels. Critic Paul Gregutt describes this vintage as “a tasty, focused wine which should drink well through the rest of the decade and beyond”

2 Mix Club
Rose of Pinot Noir, 2024
Alpine Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2022 

2 Red Club
Alpine Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2022
Bovine Pinot Noir, 2023

6 Mix Club
Rose of Pinot Noir, 2024
Gewürztraminer, 2023
Pinot Blanc, 2023
Alpine Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2022
Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022
Bovine Pinot Noir, 2023

6 Red Club
Alpine Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2022 (x2)
Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022 (x2)
Bovine Pinot Noir, 2023 (x2)