Written by: John Rennick
With every good intention, and with no shortage of enthusiasm, our family purchased a farm situated between Jacksonville and Medford, and in the year 2018 we moved from Virginia and Minnesota to our picturesque, yet untamed 27-acre farmstead. Surrounded by vineyards in every direction, with acreage in the hundreds if not thousands, we were not the least bit daunted, because our farm already had 2 acres of mature vines. All we had to do was to plant some more vines, trim a few weeds, and watch the grapes sprout. Oh, and also build a tasting room. A perfect plan…even came up with a name – Dos Mariposas Vineyards and Lavender Farm – named as such for our two granddaughters, Amelia and Adeline – the two butterflies. (Sure enough, after all the labels were made, baby brother Finley came along, thus guaranteeing his own label down the road.)
All we lacked was any experience, whatsoever. Sure, we had grown gardens before, but FARMING was quite another matter. Opening a business was also going to be a new challenge, but why not give it a go?
So, we bought a tractor, acquired a bunch of clever attachments and started growing grapes. Along the way, we discovered that mother nature has whims – early and late frosts, hailstorms, windstorms, droughts and floods – just to name a few of the more notable events which grabbed our attention. Extreme heat and smoke became summer rituals, despite having no reference to such events in the Farmer’s Almanac.
Some species of birds – crows, starlings, grackles – are not your friends. They eat grapes, and they bring their friends. Hitchcock got it right.
We also learned patience as we navigated the myriad array of Federal, State and County regulations that had to be satisfied before a single drop of wine could be poured or a guest admitted to our guesthouse. Who would know, for example, the minimum number of trees required for a guesthouse? Why, the folks at the County, that’s who!
My wife, Judy, and I were lured into this venture with the promise of spending afternoons leisurely enjoying a glass of wine in the tasting room, while meeting and chatting with customers. A perfect way to retire and enjoy the golden years. Our son-in-law, Mark, would take over the chores of farming, and in his spare time he would build out the old barn into a tasting room. Our daughter, Terri, would manage the business, plant and cultivate an acre of lavender plants, and run a small guesthouse (“The Sleeping Butterfly”), all the while sharing the task of raising three small children. Little did we know that FARMING is a full-time business with frequent overtime hours!
Then, just as we were feeling somewhat confident with our decision to become farmers and to begin the buildout of the tasting room, we were beset with THE COVID, and suddenly things came to a halt for more than a year. On the positive side, however, Mark and Terri realized their goal of spending more time with their children (a primary reason for leaving corporate and academic careers) when the schools shuttered and everyone stayed home! When the pandemic eased, we resumed construction on the tasting room in February 2022. Everyone pitched in, hammers flying, and the project was completed by late summer.
We could not have accomplished this on our own. Through it all we have had the constant support and guidance of our farming neighbors and many friends who have loaned us equipment, shared their knowledge and experience, grabbed a hammer with our projects, and sat with us as we “weathered the storms.” We have been deeply impressed with the welcoming friendliness of everyone we have met in Jacksonville and Medford, and we have made many new friends.
And, of course, we have had expert help all along the way with wine making – from Linda Donovan at Pallet Wine and Chris Graves at Naumes. They have taken our grapes and fruit and created masterful wines and ciders. And we are ever so grateful to Jason Cole at Pacific Crest Vineyard Management for his expertise and good work.
Jacksonville and the surrounding area – now our home – is a community without equal!
The Dos Mariposas Tasting Room opened for business on October 16, 2022. We look forward to many years to come of serving the communities of Jacksonville and the Rogue Valley.
*With apologies to Stanley Kubrick
