We grew up in the rural west surrounded by heady views of the mountains and the stark beauty of the desert. In 1959, my father moved to Washington state and our family started a farm on the sage covered desert. Many other families dreaming of land ownership shared our experience living in tents and basement homes and simple shelters as we attempted to tame the desert - very few achieved their dreams.

Lois, at the foot of Mt. Adams, grew up in a rustic cabin home without running water. She assisted her family in cattle ranching, wheat production, and her father breaking horses and mules.

Our influential years blossomed in a free, creative atmosphere surrounded by entrepreneurs and dreamers, living close to the earth with simple home grown foods, wild berries, fish and game. Both our journeys have given us a respect and connectivity to the soil, the land.

We have farmed in two different states raising flowers, vegetables, grains, forage, and livestock which has evolved into "viticulture", the raising of wine grapes on a bluff overlooking the Umatilla River; on our 3900 acre Historic Ranch in Echo, Oregon.

Our lives have given us many hats to wear, raising a large family, now with grandchildren. We have traveled the world together - usually not as tourists - trekking Costa Rica, visiting workers in rural Mexico & views from small planes, sailing & diving in Venezuela & exploring the Grand Savannah, visiting our friend in south Africa sharing his painful journey in the fight against apartheid, surfing False bay, always returning to the Alpine ski world working the Olympics & World Cup race events in the USA, Italy, Sweden & France, and at the 2010 Olympics in Whistler, BC. 

We have enjoyed wines in many countries each teaching us and freeing us from preconceived ideas of what wines in our region 'should be.' Our taste for adventure reflected in the novellas on our wine labels, telling the tales of our lives, the lives we have encountered, and drawing you into each moment through the aromas and flavors.

Our taste for adventure is reflected in the novellas on our wine labels. We wish to share our stories and wines, the work of our hands, a reflection of our lives.

Lloyd & Lois