Page 88 - SOUTHERN OREGON MAGAZINE FALL 2019

feature | the beauty issue
feature | women in wine

LENA VARNER, LEDGER DAVID CELLARS
PHOTO BY DAVID GIBB PHOTOGRAPHY

Their many awards are definitely a personal achievement, but also bring family vineyards and wineries, her children learn hard work, as well as
recognition to the region. She has served on the Southern Oregon Wine enjoying wholesome outdoor experiences.
Association board, as well as representing the industry at the regional
level and participating in state-level committees. RACHAEL MARTIN, RED LILY VINEYARDS

Ruth loves being part of producing a good bottle of wine, and is a proud Rachel Martin graduated in criminal law and worked as a counterfeit
advocate of Southern Oregon’s wine industry. goods investigator. Her career path changed, however, when she fol-
lowed a dream and apprenticed under a female winemaker. Her near-
LENA VARNER, LEDGER DAVID CELLARS decade in a winery involved hard work, learning and a deepening
passion, including working a harvest in Spain to understand their wines.
Lena Varner worked with her physician husband, David, and in the vine- The current property was first a cattle ranch, but Rachael wasn’t cut
yard until their first child, Ledger, was born during their first harvest. out for ranching—you can’t treat livestock as pets.
Family stepped in to help, and soon after Lena became full-time in the
vineyard. Red Lily’s female-driven staff (most there since the 2011 opening) is a
hardworking, tightknit group who also help facilitate the mom/home
To this day, Lena relies on the women in her family. She and her sister aspect of each other’s lives. Rachael’s kids likewise understand the value
co-managed the vineyard until her sister turned to the tasting room. of hard work from their agricultural upbringing. During school vaca-
Her mom worked in the vineyard, then did the tasting room flowers, tions, her son manages irrigation and helps with events, and her daugh-
and now babysits the families’ children. An aunt and niece who helped ter works in the vineyard.
harvest also worked in the tasting room and with events.
“It’s been a gift to do this,” Rachael says. “This” includes digging ditches,
Lena works with a consultant on the winery, runs the vineyard, manages washing dishes, pruning vines, making wine, and more. Tackling chal-
the tasting room and scheduling, and fills in as needed. And like many lenges outside her comfort zone and succeeding has helped her grow as
a person.

86 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | fall 2019