Page 129 - Southern Oregon Magazine Spring 2018

McCleary’s wanted the parcel to provide a warm, southwest-facing In 2015, Jamie sold his transportation brokerage business and
setting. Katherine had left her paralegal career to begin a life crafting wines.
They attended classes at UC Davis, UCC and OSU extension services
After a two-year pursuit, they purchased six acres of a sun-filled where they received an education in viticulture. In addition to their
southwest-facing pear orchard in the Fern Valley. They later added nine education, they consulted with experts Randy Gold of Pacific Crest
acres of adjacent property to help complete the vision. The Rogue Vineyard and Greg Jones of Southern Oregon University, who helped
Valley—especially the Fern Valley area—provided the ideal terroir for guide them through the vineyard installation and varietal selection.
producing exceptional grapes. With a passion in their hearts and soil
beneath their hands, they laboriously cleared acres of land. They pulled The vision for Jamie and Katherine was to represent Southern Oregon
roots, implemented drip irrigation systems and enlisted sustainable well with beautiful handcrafted wines and uncompromising hospital-
farming practices. The first vines were planted in 2009. Soon, the first ity. The McClearys are quick to attribute JAXON’S success to former
grapes were harvested in what was to be a phenomenal year. winemaker Rob Folin for developing extraordinary wines from 2011

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