Notable Contributors

 

Porter Lombard

Oregon State University Professor & Grapevine Researcher

In 1963 Porter Lombard came to the Oregon State University Southern Oregon Research Station as a pomologist, working with the area’s successful pear industry.  At that time in 1963 there were approximately 100 wineries in California, a small number in Eastern Washington, and very few Oregon wineries making wine from varietal grapes.

In the course of his research, Lombard observed that the climate in Southern Oregon was similar to that of Yakima, Washington.  In between his pear research he started experimenting with wine grapes.  He planted his first wine grape research plot at Valley View Winery in 1972, the year the winery was established.  Over the years he conducted extensive trials at the research station with cuttings obtained from the Rhone Valley in France.

Years later Lombard was transferred to OSU’s main campus in Corvallis as part of a team advising Willamette Valley grape growers and wineries.  In March 2018 OSU’s Southern Oregon Research Center dedicated a large new research block naming it the “Lombard Block” in honor of his lifetime contribution to the industry.
 

Fun Facts

In the course of his research, Lombard observed that the climate in Southern Oregon was similar to that of Yakima, Washington.