About

Established in 1979

Our Winemaker

Jonathan Oberlander epitomizes the new generation of Oregon winemakers — a combination of old-world winemaking traditions with a restless curiosity to discover new winemaking production and marketing techniques that will power the Oregon wine industry into the next century.

It was in college at San Diego State University that Jonathan first developed an appreciation for wine. After graduation, with a degree in Business, he began his career selling wines for Young's Market, a Fortune 500 company. After several visits to wineries in Napa and Sonoma, Jonathan fell in love with "the smell of the cellar." He found the sweet aroma of fine wine aging in oak barrels to be intoxicating (figuratevely speaking of course).

In 1994, in what some family members perceived as a lapse in good judgement, Jonathan quit his sales job and followed his girlfriend (now his wife) to UC Davis to pursue a Masters degree in Enology. Jonathan spent 2 years in Davis as a full time student while also managing a local restaurant/micro brewery. In 1996, Jonathan learned that California State University Fresno was about to open its own student winery, the only university in the country to hold such a distinction. The students not only grew the grapes but made and sold the wine. This was an opportunity not to be missed. The practical skills learned there proved to be invaluable.

In 1998, Jonathan was hired as Assistant Winemaker at Bernardus Vineyards in Monterey and by 2001 was named Associate Winemaker. Under the tutelage of Burgundian trained winemaker, Don Blackburn, Jonathan honed his skills with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and all the Bordeaux varietals. Insatiably curous, Jonathan also made many "experimental" wines using lesser known varietals. In his seven years at Bernardus, he worked with fruit from some of the most coveted vineyards in the state. He discovered that cool climate grape growing produced more aromatic, more flavorful, and more elegant wines. So, in 2004 when the opportunity to move to Oregon and join Silvan Ridge presented itself, Jonathan jumped at the chance. "I love the range of wines we are producing here," says jonathan. "It is not uncommon for us to make 10-15 different wines each vintage! it's like being a kid in a candy store."


Family Life

Beyond his profession, Jonathan is most dedicated to his role as father and husband. he says that being a parent has taught him a lot about winemaking. "Being a dad has taught me to be more patient with my kids and with the winemaking process in general. Kids develop at different rates and the same holds true for wine. And, just as you can't force children to do something they are not ready to do, you can't force the wines in a direction against their inclination. You must be gentle and nurturing. You must give them both the sustenance they require while avoiding excesses. I think of myself as more of a 'wine guide' than a winemaker. If you point them down the right path, more often than not the outcome is its own reward."

Like his approach to winemaking, Jonathan's approach to leisure is fairly simple. His hobbies include sailing, snowboarding, gardening, cooking and spending time with his wife and two young daughters.