Arterberry Maresh
Jim Maresh, one of the Willamette Valley’s first grape growers, died March 7th, 2021, but his legacy continues to live on at the Red Barn Tasting Room. First meeting in 1969, a friendship and viticultural colleague started with Dick Erath. Looking for a site, Erath came across Jims’ 27 acres in the Red Hills of Dundee and asked to build a greenhouse. The land became the second vineyard in Yamhill County. The other belonged to David and Diana Lett of Eyrie Vineyards.
Since then the vineyard has expanded to 140 acres and is currently the fifth oldest in Oregon. In 1980, Jim and Loie’s daughter, Martha, married Fred Arterberry, Jr. who was one of the first winemakers in Oregon to have a degree in Fermentation Science from the University of California at Davis. Fred Arterberry was one of the early pioneer winemakers the 1970’s and produced many highly acclaimed wines from the Maresh Vineyard. In 1983 Martha and Fred had a son, Jim Arterberry Maresh. His father’s winery label — Arterberry — closed upon Fred’s death in 1990. Beginning in 2005 Jim founded his own winery, Arterberry Maresh, and is the first in Oregon to represent a third generation in Oregon’s wine industry.
Living and farming in the Dundee Hills since 1969 has its perks, one of which are the long term relationships with some of the best wine grape farmers in the area. Their Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is a blend of Maresh Vineyard and other neighboring vineyards. The Rosé is Dundee Hills fruit as well. Rose petals and strawberry scents, berry, honey, citrus & apple flavors. Refreshing. Best known for Pinot Noirs but having a special place in their hearts for Chardonnay, Jim’s style is more Chablis than California. He makes a sophisticated, Chablis-style Chardonnay with tremendous complexity and nuanced flavors.
In 2018, Wine Advocate said: “…Jim Maresh is also crafting some beautiful Chardonnays, some of the most exciting Chardonnays I have tasted from Oregon. Jim attributes much of his success to his fruit, which comes from old vines planted by his family in the early 1970s and are entirely dry farmed”.
A legend amongst the Dundee community and a patriarch to the Geezer Meetings that included other winemaking retiree’s - Dick Erath, Gary Fuqua, Vivian Webber, Joh Davidson, Gerry Koschal and Jim McDaniel. Jim Maresh, now 37 years old, was touted as the “Best Young Oregon Winemaker” in an article from Avalon Wine. He knows the vineyards, the neighbors and the various seasons and vintages that challenge and reward each grape grower and winemaker. . His wines reflect that heritage and the experience of three generations of farming.
