Grove Vineyard

The Story

I grew up in Newberg, Oregon — the heart of Willamette Valley wine country. Halem Heights is a return to those roots, literally. The estate vineyard sits in a remote area of the Chehalem Valley at the end of a winding gravel road, on a hillside nestled in a forest of Douglas Fir.

This isn't a hobby vineyard. It's an LLC with multiple members, structured as a real agricultural business and long-term asset. The brand is trademarked under Lucas Sommer Inc., and we've already produced and sold wine — including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay available through Vinoshipper.

The Winemaker

Jacques Tardy was born into a love of wine — the 8th generation of a Burgundian winemaking family from Nuits-Saint-Georges. After studying Viticulture and Enology at Lycée Viticole de Beaune, Jacques moved to California in 1982 and by 1990 had made his way to the Willamette Valley.

Jacques brings his Burgundian heritage and decades of experience to Halem Heights, carefully producing wines of elegance, balance, and intention using the estate vineyard and other prestigious vineyards in the Dundee Hills and other AVAs within the Willamette Valley. He previously served as head winemaker at Torii Mor, where his keen focus on structure and balance branded the winery as one of the top-ranked Pinot Noir producers in the United States.

The Vineyard

• Location — Chehalem Valley, Willamette Valley, Oregon. 750ft elevation with east-to-west rolling terrain
• Grapes — Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (Robert Young and Wente clones), European species grafted onto disease-resistant rootstock tailored for the region
• Size — ~22 acres under development for viticulture
• Terroir — The elevation, terrain, and surrounding Douglas Fir forest create a unique microclimate. The east-west exposure gives extended sun during the growing season
• Sourcing — Estate fruit plus sourcing from prestigious Dundee Hills vineyards and other Willamette Valley AVAs

The Wines

Wines available through Vinoshipper for direct-to-consumer shipping.

Farming Philosophy

All farming standards strive to be organic, biodynamic, and sustainable. No synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or GMOs. No soil treatment, irrigation, or fertilizer — only naturally occurring sulfur and lime to manage disease pressure.

All water management practices are certified Salmon Safe by the State of Oregon, meaning our land use protects Pacific salmon habitat and watershed health.

The approach is simple: let the land express itself. Low-intervention farming, hand-harvested fruit, and a commitment to sustainability that goes beyond marketing.

Current Progress

• Q1 2026 — Grading permit (GRAD-2505132) issued. 72" HDPE culvert (HS-20 rated) installed. Construction entrance completed.
• Land clearing — Evaluating excavator and forestry mulcher options for the remaining acreage. Comparing rental vs. purchase economics for ~22 acres.
• Road development — Timmerman Rd access being built out as an ongoing monthly project
• Vine health — Working with labs on leaf curl test results to assess existing vine stock
• Revenue — Alfalfa farmer lease active on portions of the property. Wine sales through Vinoshipper.

The Vision

Build a producing vineyard that generates both agricultural revenue and brand equity. Wine is one of the few products where the land itself becomes the brand. The Willamette Valley is world-class Pinot Noir territory — and this vineyard is positioned to be part of that story for decades.