By Donovan Fraser and Valerie O’Keef

What a great idea…one stop shopping and winery touring all in one!

Started in 2002 in Carlton, Oregon (population 1,600), The Carlton Winemakers Studio was the first “shared facility” built in Oregon. The brain-child of Eric Hamacher and Luisa Ponzi, and Kirsten and Ned Lumpkin, this facility offers many new and / or small producers, the opportunity to make and distribute their wines, while working and sharing in a cooperative environment.

Fermentation Room 

Here, winemakers can cut their teeth before taking the big bite into all that is the wine industry, or continue to hone their skills and expertise, as do many of the boutique-styled veterans, still maintaining exclusivity, but without the hassle and expenses of solo ownership.

Heidi Yates, tasting room manager 

Our day begins with a warm welcome on a cool and rainy March day with Heidi Yates, who oversees sales, marketing, and the tasting room at The Carlton Winemakers Studio.

Shared production area 

She describes The C.W.S. program to us, explaining how each winemaker pays rent to the facility, bring in their own fruit, sharing the equipment, and barreling their own wines, each labeled and sectioned off from the other, in this

sustainable and efficient, gravity flow facility.

Outside crush area 

The C.W.S. building itself was the first winery in the United States to be built with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. Even on such a rainy and cloudy day, we’re amazed at the amount of natural light that floods the room, as there are practically no lights on anywhere! Recycled bleacher seats are converted to doors, and the roof over the crush pad area is made from materials scrapped from a defunct Wal-Mart!

Jake the wine dog 

All of the wines (approx. 40) from all of the winemakers (approx. 10) can be purchased at the studio tasting room, although the tasting room menu will change weekly (you can log on to their website to see what’s currently being poured - www.winemakersstudio.com).

Tank room 

Collectively, The C.W.S. produces about 18,000 cases annually, and offers visitors an opportunity to taste and purchase many wines not always found elsewhere (like Bryce Vineyard Pinot Noir – about 375 cases were produced, or any one of 9 varieties from Andrew Rich with total production at about 6,500 cases). On average, The Carlton Winemakers Studio production tops out at approximately 18,000 cases in total, annually. The tasting room offers tasting options ranging from $5 - $12, and allows for tastes, flights, mix and match options, glass of wine or full bottle purchases, and can be enjoyed in the tasting room itself or in the outside patio area. The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Over all, The Carlton Winemakers Studio is a win – win experience.

Special events, like the Memorial Day Weekend Tasting Event, are held in the actual winery (not the tasting room) and a weekly featured winemaker’s dinner is offered every Wednesday evening during April through September. Current studio residents are:

Andrew Rich Wines

Boedecker Cellars

Bryce Vineyard

Carlton Studio Wines (made by co-owner/winemaker Eric Hamacher)

Dominio IV

Hamacher Wines

J Daan Wine Cellars

Lazy River Vineyard (also made by Eric Hamacher)

Resonance Vineyard

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard

Wahle Vineyards and Cellars

Now, as if this wasn’t easy or convenient enough to visit 10+ wine- makers in 1 stop, we’ve even found a great bed and breakfast inn for you (within walking distance of the winery) when you’re done for the day! Owned and operated by Heidi and Edward Yates, this beautiful 1915 home features 4 guestrooms and Edward’s gourmet cooking.

(Check out their website - www.thecarltoninn.com)

In case you couldn’t tell, we loved our visit to Carlton, Oregon, and the diversity and ever so cool atmosphere at The Carlton Winemakers Studio makes this is a super stop in any oenophile’s great wine adventure!

The Carlton Wine Studio

801 North Scott Street

Carlton, Oregon 97111

503-852-6100 / www.winemakersstudio.com