Notable Contributors

 

Doyle Hinman

Hinman Vineyards Winery DW Hinman Cellars Five H Wines

Doyle Hinman, originally from Santa Rosa, CA, was a TV weatherman for KEZI in Eugene.  For 10 years he taught at Sheldon High School in Eugene.  In his off hours he worked at establishing his wine making and viticulture  skills.  As he puts it, in those early years “wine hit me like a ton of bricks.  I had to get into it.”

In 1968 he took a class from Richard Sommer, founder of Hillcrest Winery near Roseburg.  He continued his interest in wine by taking wine and viticulture classes at the University of California, Davis as well as graduating with a Masters of Science degree from the University of Oregon. Meanwhile in 1972 he planted five acres of grapes on his property near Eugene, using cuttings from Charles Coury and Dick Erath.

In 1976 at the invitation of Professor Helmut Becker from the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in Germany he attended winemaking and viticulture courses in the Rhine Valley region which emphasized Riesling. 

In 1978 he built a new winery near Eugene, which included a clock tower and amphitheater to host events. In 1979 he released his first vintages of Gewurtramier, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.

In 1979 he was elected president of the South Willamette Chapter of the Oregon Winegrowers Association.  Over the years he held a number of positions at the state level with the Oregon Wine Board.

In the 1980’s with the addition of partner David Smith Hinman expanded winery production to over 28,000 cases per year, which turned out to be their largest production and one of the largest wineries in Oregon at the time.

In 1992 Hinman Vineyards was sold to Carolyn Chambers with daughter Liz Chambers running the business.  Today it is known as Silvan Ridge Winery.

In 2005 the Hinman Family established “DW Hinman Cellars” and the “Five H” wine brand.  They also operate a successful private label and negociant business.
 

Fun Facts

Doyle Hinman built a new winery near Eugene, which included a clock tower and amphitheater to host events..