Illahe

Illahe is a vineyard in the Mt Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA, owned by Lowell and Pauline Ford. Lowell began growing grapes in 1983 by planting an acre of Müller-Thurgau. The main vineyard was first planted in 2000 with 22 acres of Pinot Noir. Brad Ford is president, owner, winemaker and vineyard manager.

The LIVE-certified, Salmon Safe vineyard has 60 planted acres, including 52 acres of Pinot Noir. As part of Oregon’s Deep Roots Coalition, Illahe does not irrigate mature vines. Pruning and harvesting are done by hand, and horses deliver grapes to the three-level gravity-flow winery. Its wines include Bon Sauvage, Percheron and 1899 in the Historical Winemaking Series, all matured in barrel for 15 to 20 months. The 1899 Pinot Noir is pressed using an iron channel bar, chains and come-alongs.