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chow | wine

Guests can also enjoy the exceptional wine-tasting experience
in the splendor of this outdoor property. Unique to Red Lily
Vineyard is the opportunity to sip Spanish-centric wines and
savor part of a wild and scenic Southern Oregon. From serene
patio spaces to the sandy beach at the river’s edge, the venue is
a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us as well as the gracious
bounty provided by the vineyards.

Co-owner and winemaker, Rachael Martin, is a native to Southern
Oregon where her family continues to live. She attended the University
of Nevada earning her degree in criminal law, while later working in
anti-counterfeiting investigations. Returning to Oregon in 2001, she

Wearing multiple hats while managing the winery and tasting room
have come with many challenges says Martin. There are so many facets
of the business, from the farming of the land to the management of the
tasting room. However, Martin states that over the years she has gained
a “better understanding of the rhythm” of the business and “has found
the flow” that has developed into a smooth business venture. With the
help and support of her family, Martin has made Red Lily Vineyard a
reality.

This destination spot offers all the makings for a romantic day of
nature, wine tasting, and relaxation. With plenty of choices to sit and
sip, there is also ample grass space for a picnic. To complement the dif-
ferent wines at Red Lily, the winery offers a “to-go” menu with a Lily
began exploring the concept of starting a winery. She soon embarked Girl Picnic made up of tapas and an antipasto platter.
on a winemaking education and apprenticed under many remarkable
winemakers, including the late Sarah Powell. During the summer months, Red Lily offers free Thursday music
nights with local bands playing and food trucks on site, while Saturday
In 2006, Martin and her partner purchased a 250-acre former cattle nights offer smaller, more intimate performances. The venue is avail-
ranch that had been homesteaded in the late 1800s. The site provided a able throughout the year for class reunions, corporate functions, cel-
consummate setting for a winery and tasting room with its landscape, ebration of life gatherings, and other indoor or outdoor events.
existing barn, and the Applegate River flowing through it. The valley
temperatures, similar to regions of Spain, would provide the complete While the plans for future endeavors at Red Lily estate include the pos-
marriage of the Spanish grapes to the land. sibility of developing more vineyards, they have also been considering
ideas to expand the tasting room. Red Lily Vineyard is a unique escape
Construction on the site began in 2010, and the building of the tast- from the stress of life by providing the soothing qualities of an outdoor
ing room and the winery began a year later. The former cattle ranch retreat with the added benefit of extraordinary wines.
was transformed into a striking venue, offering guests a sampling of
the valley’s magnificence. Seventeen of the 20 acres of vineyards were
planted above the valley floor. After years of perseverance, Martin’s Red Lily Vineyards
“reverence” of the property has been realized in the creation of excep- 11777 Highway 238, Jacksonville
tional Tempranillo wines. 541-846-6800
www.RedLilyVineyards.com
The winery currently produces about 3,000 cases of wine annually.
Two of the flagship wines crafted through Martin’s hard work are
the Red Lily Tempranillo and the Life of Riley. The Red Lily label is
named after a rare species of flower found in the Siskiyou Mountains,
which coincidentally is also her daughter’s name. The Tempranillo and
Cabernet blend Life of Riley is named after her son.

124 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | spring 2021