Bass Lines and Grapevines

By Greg Norton Ron Berrett and Maggie Yuan were seeking a quieter place to raise their kids. Tired of the bustle of Los Angeles, the pair relocated to Oregon in 2009 and, two years later, purchased 20 acres in West Linn. Over time, a vineyard, winery and ballroom-sized hospitality space led to Festive Hill Winery’s opening last June. “We bought this property in 2011 but didn’t start planting vines until 2014,” Berrett recalls. Original plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were soon joined by Pinot Gris and Tempranillo. The most recent additions, Riesling and a small block of Gewürztraminer, increased the vineyard to 16 acres. The first Festive Hill vintage was 2017. A ROOM WITH A VIEW The property’s existing residence is tucked away behind a rise. Berrett remembers a day spent clearing the land of Himalayan blackberries, when he paused to admire the sunset from the top of the hill. “Why did they build the house over there?” he mused. &ld

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