Ruby Vineyard

Ruby Vineyard is a small vineyard and winery in the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon’s Willamette Valley region. It is owned by the Hendricks family and is located in the Laurelwood District AVA, just west of Portland.

The Hendricks family has deep roots in Oregon. In 1843, Steve Hendricks’ great-great-grandfather, Abijah Hendricks, arrived in Oregon on the first wagon train to brave the Oregon Trail. Abijah’s adventurist spirit lives on in Steve and his wife, Flora. Sharing a dream of owning a vineyard and making wine, they have explored every aspect of the winemaking process, from driving a tractor to pouring for guests in the tasting room.

The estate’s Pinot Noir vines were first planted in 1973 with cuttings from the Eyrie South Block. These are some of the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley. The vineyard is planted on a narrow band of Laurelwood soil, a rare example of wind-blown Loess deposited on the Northern slopes of the Chehalem Mountains over thousands of years.

The Laurelwood AVA was established in 2020 to highlight these rare soils. The vineyard is dry-farmed, no-till, and LIVE-certified. The family practices organic farming methods, indigenous fermentations, and gentle extraction to produce wines that showcase the unique terroir.

Since 2016, Ruby Vineyard has been under the direction of veteran winemaker Andrew Kirkland. Andrew grew up in Seattle, Washington. Working in gourmet kitchens in Seattle and New York City exposed him to fine food and wine, changing the course of his life. He spent a season in Beaujolais, making organic wine then gained knowledge and experience at other wineries, including two years making natural wine in Australia’s Hunter Valley.

The Hendricks are committed to the land, employing the most sustainable farming practices to ensure that the vineyard remains viable for the next generation.