Silvan Ridge Winery is proud to be Eugene, Oregon’s first bonded winery, with a heritage of hospitality that spans nearly four decades and three generations of female leadership. In the 1970s, back when the southern Willamette Valley was awash in grass and hops, but very few vines, Doyle Hinman, a Eugene weatherman and high school teacher believed Oregon was perfect for wine grapes. Banking on his theory, he planted two hectares of vines just outside Eugene. With no background in agriculture, he then commuted to the University of California Davis for viticulture courses so his venture could be optimized. He formally established Hinman Vineyards in 1979 and it soon became a top-selling winery.
In 1993, Hinman Vineyards was purchased by Carolyn Chambers, a prominent Eugene businesswoman. The Chambers family was recognized for their sizable contributions to the community from health care to the performing arts. The Chambers family continued Hinman's pioneering legacy, but rebranded the winery to reflect Carolyn’s maiden name “Silva,” a Latin word that translates as “forest” – aptly suited to describe the fringe of woodland embracing the estate.
Carolyn’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Chambers, harking from a background in finance, managed the winery’s daily operations starting in 1995. Liz narrowed the winery’s focus to higher quality releases, further strengthening its solid reputation. In just five short years, Elizabeth established Silvan Ridge as one of the foremost wineries in Oregon by limiting production to high quality wines reflective of the unique roots of Eugene and the Southern Willamette Valley. Today, Elizabeth’s daughter Julia acts as co-president alongside her husband, Andrew Stiltner. Under the guidance of winemaker Juan Pablo “JP” Valot, Silvan Ridge Winery offers wine enthusiasts a selection of diverse and food-friendly wines representing the very best of the Southern Willamette Valley, from fresh, classically styled Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, to warm-weather varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Tempranillo.
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