The Almeda Fire...

The memory of September 8, 2020 is still as vivid as yesterday for those of us who call the Rogue Valley home. The Almeda Fire began as a small brush fire, but it exploded into one of the most destructive Oregon wildfires in our state's history. This was a different kind of fire.

On Labor day in 2020, Oregon saw the deadliest wildfire season in state history. At one point 80% of the school children in the area were homeless. Eleven lives were lost, skies turned orange, more than 4,000 homes burned and tens of thousands of Oregonians evacuated as multiple fires scorched more than a million acres.

Local authorities in addition to state and federal agencies were overwhelmed, so while they coordinated efforts to mobilize - a group of Rogue Valley food and beverage professionals activated to ensure no one in the community went hungry. After about 7,000 meals made and distributed together Rogue Food Unites was formed to sustainably address the changing needs of our Rogue Valley neighbors, and with it a sisterhood was born.

A family with a vineyard that had been left fallow trusted us to bring the vines back. Decades old, this beautiful yet wild vineyard that sat a top a steep hillside on a private property just outside of Jacksonville - captivated our hearts. For three vintages we correctively farmed the site before taking the fruit from the 2023 vintage to make three wines, our Big Bear Ridge series.

And we can't wait to share them with you.