Andrew Rich Wines

Andrew Rich produces wine in the state-of-the-art Carlton Winemakers Studio, the nation's first "green" cooperative winemaking facility. The studio, which is a partnership between Eric Hamacher, his wife, Luisa Ponzi of Ponzi Vineyards, and Ned and Kirsten Lumpkin of Lumpkin Construction in Seattle and Lazy River Vineyard in Yamhill, promises to be an archetype for Oregon's wine industry . The facility is home to several respected Oregon wine producers including: Hamacher Wines, Andrew Rich Wines, Bryce Vineyard, Domaine Meriwether, Dominio, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and Soter Vineyard. Each winery will operate independently, with separate cellars and staff, but all will benefit economically from sharing state-of-the-art equipment in the gravity-driven building designed to use natural light, passive solar heat and recycled materials. The Studio has registered with the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) for certification when completed, and will be the first LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified winery in the US, encompassing crush pad, fermentation room, laboratory, office, tasting room, case good storage area, bottling room, cellars etc. Hamacher researched the environmentally friendly facility for several years and said he knows of nothing like it in the world. He successfully lobbied the state Legislature a few years ago to pass legislation allowing multiple winery facilities. "There are cooperatives who generally get together to make economical wines," Hamacher said. "That's not what we have in mind here. The winemakers associated with this facility look for the highest quality. This is truly an artists' studio and it's all done with the environment in mind." – Description from mriskic    (hide)