The Wine

In the spring of 2009, under the watchful eye of resident eagles, the first of our vines were planted among the gentle slopes of the southern ridge of the Chehalem Mountains. It is from this site, Eagles Watch Vineyard, that we have sourced the best blocks of our Pinot noir to craft this unique five-case lot. Savory in style with a rounded mouthfeel and fine length, the oak intensifies, and the wine’s excellent balance is complete with lingering, supple tannins. The Austin-Healey—both the sports car and this wine—was delicately crafted with the intention of making an impact.

The most important philosophy Celia and Ken Austin, cofounders of Rain Dance Vineyards, practice with their land and vineyards is preservation. Four different estate vineyards, on the southern ridge of the Chehalem Mountains, offer rolling views and terroir with a significant sense of place. Not only have they chosen to preserve these sites through careful viticulture, but through native tree restoration as well. You see, preserving and restoring play a very important role in the Austin family, and not only do they practice it in their businesses but in their hobbies as well. Celia and Ken have an unrivaled car collection and it all began with their first purchase, a 1964 ½ Mustang Convertible, which was the first model of the Mustang. Today the collection includes five Mustangs and several other rare and collectable cars. And just as they do in the vineyard, they do in the garage. Each car that becomes part of the collection has been through some form of restoration so that it can be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come.

The 1960 Austin-Healey was the second car Ken and Celia acquired in their collection. The car belonged to their brother-in-law but was literally in pieces in one of their barns. It needed to be fully restored to its former glory and that would take rebuilding it from the ground up. It was the perfect project for the Austins. Further, it was emblematic of what they have done with their estate vineyards and wines. Their story is truly about taking something special and transforming it into something exquisite, beautiful and classic to be shared with the community that they call home. The story of the Austin-Healey is about timeless preservation—just like planting vines, caring for the land and hand-crafting expressive, elegant and beautiful wines from the renowned Chehalem Mountains in the Willamette Valley.

Learn more about this lot during Preview Week (July 26–30) when winemaker Bryan Weil will present this wine during a virtual tasting session on July 26. Register here.

The Winery

Through stewardship, growth and celebration, Rain Dance reflects one family’s dedication and love for the land they have called home for seven generations. Located at the base of the Chehalem Mountains, immaculate farming, gentle winemaking and agricultural preservation have been our focus from the start. Today, Rain Dance is home to 120 acres of farmland including 73 under vine, wildlife corridors, preserved native trees and over 100 llamas who add a unique twist to our sustainability program. Owners Ken and Celia Austin are committed to growing and producing wines which honor the legacy of the family and the region.

Learn more about Rain Dance Vineyards
Follow: @raindancevineyards

All wine is sold FOB the location of the winery that produced the lot purchased. WVWA is not responsible for shipping wine. Shipping or delivery arrangements, expenses and insurance are the sole responsibility of the purchaser. Any shipment of wines out-of-state is the responsibility of the purchaser, who is solely responsible for compliance with the laws and regulations of said state.

The producing winery currently has distribution in the below listed countries and states. A list of distributors is available upon request.

USA: NE, OR