Granville Wine Co. is the life’s work of second-generation wine growers Ayla & Jackson Holstein
Granville Wine Co. grows and exclusively sources grapes from higher elevation sites in the Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills appellations. Jackson and Ayla source from vineyards that are farmed with organic or Biodynamic standards and choose to source from vines grown on volcanic soils. This concentration not only ensures grapes of the utmost quality, but also produces wines of purity with a profound sense of place.
The Holsteins are what Jackson likes to call dynamic growers; attached and inextricably connected to their fields throughout the entire process from vine to bottle. As vignerons, Jackson and Ayla are accustomed to basing day-to-day decisions on the will of Mother Nature, seeing themselves as farmers first. In his time as a vineyard manager for other esteemed producers, Jackson saw first hand how farming choices affect the vines, the land, and ultimately the wines created from the fruit. Many of these observations influenced the way he farms today; utilizing cover crops for aeration, early season vigor management, and tough work building vine resilience for increasingly common drought-like conditions. The Holsteins approach both vine growing and winemaking holistically, the only way it should be done.
Jackson Holstein
Most at home amongst the vines, Jackson is a vigneron through and through. In many ways, his whole life has led to the creation of Granville. Jackson manages every aspect of vineyard maintenance and winemaking, overseeing enology and vineyard operations while chasing his two toddlers through the undulating rows. Each winemaking decision is grounded in his intimate knowledge of every block of vines and the seasons he has seen them through.
Jackson is a second-generation winegrower and the first winemaker in his family. He was raised in the wilds and expanding vineyards of the Dundee Hills, his clothes frequently covered in the red Jory dust that made these hills famous. He spent weekends and mornings learning about viticulture from his father, a vineyard manager who worked with the region’s most notable sites. He would later join the team at Argyle as a cellar hand, where he fell in love with the meticulous process and the patience necessary to create traditional method sparkling wines, knowing one day he would make his own. While studying ecology in college, he began to understand the integral role vineyard stewardship had in the cellar and the resulting wines. After spending time in Australian and New Zealand cellars (alongside his partner Ayla), Jackson returned home to Oregon where he became a vineyard manager while they began making their dream into a reality.
As a vineyard manager, Jackson oversaw a wide variety of vineyard philosophies, techniques, and results. These experiences cemented his belief in organic farming and he honed in on the techniques he would one day implement on his family’s estate vineyard. Jackson is a stalwart of Old World winemaking, with an attention to detail and a unique focus on each vineyard rarely found in the New World.
Ayla Holstein
Ayla is the fuel that drives Granville forward. She leads business operations and hospitality with the keen eye, refined palate, and with the grace and steady hand that come from years of experience in vineyards, cellars and in wine hospitality.
A student of economics and ecology, Ayla worked harvests in Oregon, New Zealand, and Australia, gaining inspiration and experience in both vineyard work and winemaking in both hemispheres. At Granville, her position evolved as the company grew. Early on, Ayla and Jackson’s roles often overlapped as both worked tirelessly in the vineyard and in the cellar to create a few barrels of their own wine. As they moved forward, Ayla’s gift for hospitality and her sales knowledge from years as a wine buyer at the Dundee Bistro led her to naturally take over the business side of their endeavor.
Ayla’s leadership and unparalleled vision propelled Granville’s growth, and her time is now spent on business development, event planning, and hosting visitors at the farmhouse, though she still maintains a presence in the cellar, especially during harvest. Ayla’s creativity and sharp palate complement Jackson’s laser focus, and the husband-and-wife team treat winemaking as a collaborative process, tasting together, deciding on blends, and ensuring Granville's wines are the best possible reflection of their home. Ayla’s grace, humor, and tenacity are the driving forces behind Granville, as well as the qualities that make her such a wonderful mother to their two children.
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Vineyards
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