Willamette Valley Wines Available for Tasting Wednesday through Sunday
June 13, 2019 – Carlton, Ore. – The newly-revitalized Abbey Road Farm has completed its next phase of upgrades. What was once the farm’s horse arena is now home to a rustically chic 860-square foot tasting room, now open Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The tasting room and all winemaking operations will be overseen by James Rahn, and includes wines for Abbey Road Farm, Stedt, James Rahn Wine Co., and Statera Cellars. Rather than sticking with a conventional set tasting menu, Rahn has devised a unique “choose your own adventure” approach, where visitors may choose from eight wines, selecting anything from 2- to 6-ounce pours, or an entire bottle. Rahn will be assisted by associate winemaker Luke Wylde and tasting room manager Jeff Mathews.
“Our goal is to offer one of the most memorable tourism get-aways in the Willamette Valley,” said Emily Everett, general manager at Abbey Road Farm. “No other property in the vicinity offers the unique silo-lodging experience, chef-prepared gourmet breakfasts, and now wine-tasting that is customized to each guest. We are thrilled that this next phase of renovation is complete, and that James’ vision for the winery is being realized.”
Complete with standing bar bedecked in turquoise siding reclaimed from the horse arena, the tasting room features comfortable velvet and leather upholstered sofas, and three sets of French doors that open on to an expansive patio overlooking the property. Visitors are welcome to lounge on the patio in one of the Adirondack chairs, or take the opportunity to picnic on site by purchasing sandwiches prepared by Red Hills Market. Guests may be enticed to wander the property and greet Abbey Road Farm’s permanent residents: donkeys, chickens, goats, ducks, llamas and alpacas. A variety of lawn games including horseshoes, cornhole, croquet and giant Jenga are available.
About James Rahn, winemaker
James’ first foray into winemaking came about in the spring of 2010 when Stephanie Izard was about to open Girl & the Goat and asked James to come on board as wine director and ended up partnering with Saviah Cellars in Walla Walla, Wash. to create the house blend for the restaurant.
It did not take long for James’ desire to make wine to take hold. After another year he found himself on the way to Portland to work at Ponzi Cellars where he studied under the close tutelage of Luisa Ponzi and her associate winemaker JP Pierce. In 2013 James purchased 500 pounds of Riesling from Brooks Vineyard to further his winemaking education, eventually starting James Rahn Wine Company. Since then James has focused on producing small lots of site-specific wines that include gamay, pinot noir, pinot meunier, pinot gris, riesling, trousseau, and grüner veltliner.
Joining Abbey Road Farm to create a new winery is a dream come true for James. He now oversees all winemaking operations as well as co-op and custom crush operations.
About Abbey Road Farm
Located at 10501 NE Abbey Road in Carlton, OR, Abbey Road Farm is a destination in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country offering five guest suites located in refurbished grain silos, and a three-bedroom guest ranch house, meeting and conference venue, a winery and tasting room and a working farm. To reserve a stay or for more information, please visit www.abbeyroadfarm.com or call (503) 687-3100. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @abbeyroadfarm.