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chow | wine

Once known as “Topsides,” the estate was
built between 1926-1927 by Alfred St.
SILHOUETTE Vrain Carpenter and his wife, Helen Bundy

JUICY COUTURE Carpenter, with additions made through-
out their half-century of ownership. The
LA EYEWORKS Carpenters were a philanthropic super-duo
who helped promote human services, educa-
COACH tion, and the arts in the Rogue Valley. They
were instrumental in supporting and shaping
KATE SPADE many causes in the community. Alfred and
Helen were known for hosting social gath-
MAUI JIM erings to support local organizations. One
such soirée was held yearly for the Oregon
SMITH Shakespeare Festival actors in support of the
OAKLEY arts. As one local community leader noted,
“Almost every good thing you can think of in
this valley, they touched.”
Eye Exams by Dr. Garry Kappel, OD FCOVD For the next thirty-seven years, the prop-
erty was owned by Alaska’s last territorial
CONTACT LENSES | GLASSES | SUNGLASSES governor, and in 2017, Edward and Susan

530 Crater Lake Avenue Walk purchased the property. The estate was
Medford renamed Hummingbird Estate after their
541 774-3937 Illinois Hummingbird Farm. According to
www.lassmans.com General Manager, Kristina Alverez, her father
was “looking for more work,” and the prop-
erty had plenty of that to offer with deferred
maintenance and upgrades to the grounds.
Work began almost immediately by Alvarez
Construction and Krause Finish Works to
restore roofing, floors, masonry, iron, and
woodwork. Seventeen acres of vineyards were
planted and the first rosé of pinot noir estate
wine release was in the spring of 2020, with
a sparkling Chardonnay to come this summer.

The five-bedroom estate currently offers a
tasting room, bed and breakfast, and event
venue. The distinctive copper clad main
door opens into the foyer where the original
wood and tiled flooring, stained timber ceil-
ing beams, alcoves, steel sash windows, and
unique wrought iron fixtures depict a sense of
sophistication and history. Alverez states that
her favorite part of Hummingbird Estate is
the “beauty and peaceful quality of the prop-
erty,” and adds that “seeing guests enjoy the
THE property” is the real reward. The welcom-
ENTHUSIAST ing nature of the estate and staff ensures the
1OO comforts of the guests and certainly helps to
nurture the enjoyment of a visit.

The tasting room is now located in the for-
mer gentleman's smoking room. The dark
paneled walls, alcoves, and exquisite copper
faced fireplace once offered a retreat for men

114 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2020