Custom wine service facility hits its stride near Newberg

Curious motorists traveling west of Newberg on Highway 240 recently may have wondered: “What is that gigantic building on the hill to the south of the road?”

Well, we’ll tell you — it’s Vinovate, and it's up and running on Worden Hill Road.

Vinovate is a winemaking service provider located at 13745 N.E. Worden Hill Road, featuring “state-of-the-art still and sparkling winemaking capabilities,” inside the building, including custom crush services from fruit to bottle for both still and sparkling wine, according to a press release.

The venture came about via the vision of a trio of individuals – Rob Townsend, Pam Turner and Scott Baldwin – as well as winemakers Bryan Weil and Kate Payne Brown, who also oversee winemaking activities at Ambar Estate, a sister company located nearby on Northeast Worden Hill Road.

“Vinovate was founded to satisfy the need for a modern Willamette Valley winery driven by top-tier winemakers and solely dedicated to custom crush wines of the highest quality,” the release stated, adding that the intent of the facility is to cater to the needs of winemakers seeking both full-service and partial winemaking solutions.

Vinovate is designed to approach winemaking from a scientific standpoint with services such as expert fruit sampling to determine maturity, which assists with precise picking decisions to ensure optimal quality.

“(The) state-of-the-art laboratory offers in-house analytical services, guaranteeing accurate and precise wine analysis. Vinovate's capabilities include the creation of base wines through meticulous fermentation and elevage processes, as well as in-house and mobile tirage services, which encompass tirage culture building, riddling, dosage trial creation, consultation, disgorgement and packaging,” the release stated.

The facility's opening was accompanied by the beginning of production from organically farmed vineyards slated to begin producing fruit in 2025. The Earth-friendly processes will include solar-powered operations, rainwater collection and “comprehensive waste management.”

“These efforts extend to the vineyard where regenerative organic practices and dry farming techniques are employed to enhance soil health and conserve water,” the release stated.

Visit vinovatewineservices.com for more information.