Apona Vineyards Knocked My Socks Off

It’s November already, and we all know there’s a lot happening in Wine Country this month. Between Pre-Thanksgiving weekend and Thanksgiving weekend, there are all sorts of special tastings taking place. As for me, I’m seriously considering heading down south to the Eugene area. I’ve never spent a full day down there for wine, and I think it’s time.

Outside of Thanksgiving weekend plans, I’m attending one heck of a dinner at Stillwater in McMinnville. It’s a collaboration between Ambar Estate, Tabula Rasa Farms, Soter Vineyards, and The Ground. Chef Heidi Whitney-Schile is the mastermind behind bringing all the flavors of wine and food together. I still remember the Coq au Vin she made back in February—it was unforgettable. I can’t wait to see what magic she pulls out of her hat for this dinner. Last I heard, there are still tickets available. Will I see you there?

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I enjoy getting out into Wine Country to explore new places. It’s amazing to me how many wineries I still don’t know about. After six years of exploring, there’s always more to dive into, and I love it. I especially cherish these adventures when I’m t-boned by extraordinary surprise and delight! Today’s story is all about having my socks knocked off and wanting to go back for more.

It all started with a message from Aaron at Walnut Ridge asking if I was interested in an intro to a new winery named Apona Vineyards. Hands down, my answer is always, “I’m interested!” And by the way, have you visited Walnut Ridge? You’ve got to get them on your list. Aaron sent me and Afton (one of the founders) an email. I dragged my feet big time scheduling a visit, but I finally made it happen.

Just so you know, I was expecting a nice, humble, small-ish facility. When I pulled into the driveway and saw the place on August 1, I had to grab another pair of socks from the back seat because my first pair flew off my feet faster than the Road Runner going through the desert.

Before we move forward, let’s go back a little. The founders, Andrew and Afton, met at an Oregon football game at Autzen Stadium. During their first conversation, Andrew asked Afton if she liked wine tasting. Looks like the answer was yes.

Afton is from Oklahoma and grew up in Grants Pass, the home of Dutch Bros, where she worked for many years helping open different franchises across the Northwest. She’s had horses all her life, and they’re still a huge passion of hers.

Andrew has owned a roofing company for the past 30 years and always dreamed of having a vineyard. Today, his son is taking the reins at the roofing company while Andrew focuses on Apona to leave a legacy for his children.

Apona’s winemaker, Chris Graves, has quite the resume. After studying at UC Davis, he took an internship at Wente and was later hired full-time. He wanted to focus on making wine on a smaller scale and emphasize quality over quantity. His journey took him to the Rogue Valley, where he worked at a custom crush facility consulting for 20–30 different brands. During that time, he also taught at Southern Oregon University and Umpqua Community College for the Southern Oregon Wine Institute.

The land Andrew and Afton were living on was 60 acres. Their neighbor had an unfortunate accident with her horses and could no longer manage her property. Years earlier, Andrew had told her that if she ever wanted to sell her 40 acres, to let him know. After her accident, she approached Andrew to see if he was still interested. Without blinking an eye, he said yes.

Andrew’s dream of owning a vineyard was coming to life. Afton, wanting to learn more, enrolled in classes at the Southern Oregon Wine Institute, where Chris was teaching. During that time, Andrew and Afton decided to do more than grow grapes — they wanted to make wine, too. Chris was interested in moving north to become their winemaker, and the dream of a vineyard, wine, and legacy began taking shape.

The backstory on the name Apona is incredible. The song Once Upon a Dream by Lana Del Rey planted a seed for the couple. Afton and Andrew thought, yeah, we’re living our dream, and decided to create their own word. When they approached Chris with the name Apona, he was thrilled. His response: “Did you know the word Epona is the goddess protector of horses and fertility, the goddess of agriculture, and carries a cornucopia?” Who in the whole world of sports would have known?

After grabbing a fresh pair of socks from the back seat, I got out of the car and started walking around the facility to find someone. Chairs were being delivered, construction was happening. I ran into Chris and the assistant winemaker, Jeff Finch. We shook hands, started talking, and soon found Afton.

She had set up a table and chairs for us to sit at. I say “set up” because the whole building was still under construction. The bones were solidly in place, and you could envision a grand tasting room with framed-in walls for other spaces, but no drywall yet. As we got to know one another and shared backstories, we sipped on a Rosé of Sangiovese. Yes, you read that correctly! How often do you get Sangiovese in Oregon, much less a Rosé? I’ve got to say, I enjoyed it.

The other wine we had was a forced-carb Blanc de Noirs, which was also very tasty.

Another variety they have on site is Sauvignon Blanc. Chris is really excited about this because you don’t hear much about cool-climate Sauv Blanc. It doesn’t stop there with the varietals. They’ve also planted Pinot Blanc, Gamay, Pinot Meunier, Lagrein, Syrah, and of course Pinot Noir with five different clones. One of those clones is Dick Erath’s Clone 95, and that stood out to me big time because there isn’t much of it in the Valley. I had to clarify when they mentioned it — I interrupted and asked, “Do you mean Dick Erath’s Clone 95?” I’m not sure they realize how special that clone is.

After tasting the wines, we walked around a bit, and Afton told me their goal is to fill a gap in the area alongside King Estate. The vision includes a small kitchen for bites and pairings and even a speakeasy. A couple of weeks before my visit, I’d stopped by Lucid Wild, and I had to ask if Afton was aware of the new winery. I had to excuse myself real quick to change my socks again because she was aware. Why the wardrobe change? Because it’s amazing how fast word travels. Lucid Wild is making a splash all over. Some of Afton’s ideas for Apona are clearly inspired by what Lucid Wild is doing. The whole principle of rising tides raising all ships is holding true. Apona is looking to bring a lot of people into their tasting room, and that extra traffic will only help neighboring wineries like Walnut Ridge. It makes me happy as all get-out seeing everyone chasing their dreams and thriving.

When you drive up, the building you see is more than a tasting room — it’s also a working winery. Inside, Chris told me about their new press. During the 2024 harvest, they were hoping it would arrive in time; otherwise, they would have had to haul grapes to Medford. The day the press arrived, they unwrapped it, and the very next day it was put to use for harvest. Everything lined up perfectly for 2024.

With the tasting room still under construction in August, their plan is to open the outdoor deck area for summer. Let me tell you, the view is spectacular.

e walked the vineyard for a bit, then strolled to the horse barn (or stall — my apologies for not knowing the correct term). I tried to get a few good photos, but I wasn’t successful.
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Walking back to the tasting room, Andrew was up on a scissor lift working on the beams in the main room. We chatted briefly, and Afton told him about my excitement over Dick Erath’s Clone 95. His smile stretched ear to ear. Pride and happiness radiated from that smile, and I loved it.

Before leaving, I asked if it was possible to taste their Pinot made from Clone 95. Chris was thrilled to grab a thief and pull a barrel sample, and I have to say, this is a wine I’ll be checking in on once it’s bottled.

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When I got back to the car, I jotted down a bunch of notes because I hadn’t written a single thing while I was there. I’m so glad I did because it’s always the little details I forget months later. As I was leaving, Afton asked Chris if he was heading to Walnut Ridge later that night. It’s those connections I adore. And I adore the ever-loving heck out of Alisha and Aaron, too.

Here’s your homework for November. Thanksgiving is coming up sooner than I’d like, and it’s the perfect time to get out into Wine Country. Step outside your comfort zone. Take a trip down to the Eugene area and visit Apona, Walnut Ridge, and Antiquum. It will be a day you’ll never forget. When you stop by, tell Afton, Andrew, Alisha, Aaron, and Stephen that A.J. sent you.

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With Gratitude,

A.J.

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