Pinot Vista Vineyards is the realization of a dream and vision passed on to the Washburn family from owner Sherry Lewis after her partner, Paul, passed away summer of 2016. In appreciation of Rich Washburn rescuing the 2016 harvest and taking over the vineyard operations, soon her trust and confidence developed into her wish for Rich and his sons to continue the vineyard’s potential, and bring their legacy to fruition.
The estate is located in the western foothills near Salem in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Our rich, clay-like soil provides its nutrient-dense properties to a Pinot Noir vineyard that is accompanied by a hazelnut orchard. The premium location, slope, and overall heavenly terrior is one of the tried and true ingredients for our award-winning Pinot Noir recipe.
The Pinot Vista Tasting Lounge was first established in February of 2017, in the McMinnville Mercantile Building in Downtown McMinnville. Eventually, an additional intimate event venue will be open to the public on vineyard site. “The Lounge” is our comfy, classy, and country-themed wine bar that has become a sanctuary for many locals in McMinnville; and if you’re not from around the area, within just minutes of being in our tasting room, you’ll be feeling right at home. We offer a vast variety of wines from our brand, Pinot Vista Vineyards, as well as hand-picked wines from friends of ours in the wine industry.
We strive for excellence in all aspects of our lives and are determined to settle for nothing less. We are dedicated to the classic style of development and continual improvement of a truly amazing operation. At Pinot Vista Vineyards, we are committed to sustainable agricultural methodologies to ensure that the estate will continue as a viable living force, truly evergreen, being passed from generation to generation.
We hope you will join us on this journey and enjoy our wine along the way! Cheers!
-The Washburn Family
Meet “The Washburn Brothers”
Rich Washburn
Owner/President/Father
Rich, the father of the Washburn Brothers, is the reason why the Pinot Vista brand exists today. As the owner and president, Rich is the face of the tasting lounge in McMinnville and leads all sales and customer operations.
At the age of 23, Rich was co-owner of a gas station/convenience store with his father, Herb. Tom Huggins, Founder of Eola Hills Wine Cellars, became good friends with Rich during this time and reached out to him about seeking a career in the wine industry. After selling the store, Rich transitioned into the wine industry where he became the Event Director and a shareholder at Eola Hills Wine Cellars. His 15 years of passion and commitment to the company helped him work his way up the ranks to becoming Vice President, but the entreprenurial mindset of Rich led him to pursue a dream of operating a winery of his own. In February of 2017, Pinot Vista Vineyards was born.
Rich is heavily involved in all operations with the business, but is most commonly seen as a familiar face in the lounge. His love for the community of McMinnville is seen through the unique tasting experience he shares with customers. He strives to serve customers with a personal and relaxed perspective, and looks forward to building the brand of Pinot Vista Vineyards.
Cody Washburn
Vineyard Manager/Brother
Cody, the oldest brother in the Washburn family, manages the farming and landscaping operations that take place on the property.
Before beginning his winegrowing endeavors, Cody worked in the construction industry and attended Linn-Benton & Central Oregon Community Colleges where he studied Business Management. Cody returned home to the valley from Bend in 2018 to take on the opportunity of helping his father get Pinot Vista up and running. Upon his return, he would intern for two summers through the vineyard crew at Eola Hills Wine Cellars, while silmultaineously maintaining the estate of Pinot Vista.
On the rare occasion he’s not working on the farm, he can be found helping with events, bartending, aiding in online and social media marketing, and studying viticulture. With a love for working with his hands and a detail-oriented work ethic passed down from his grandfather, Cody aspires to continue the legacy of the family business, and create priceless and everlasting relationships along the way.
Tanner Washburn
Sales Executive/Farmhand/Brother
As the youngest brother in the Washburn family, Tanner oversees the sales and marketing side of the business.
After receiving his degree in finance from Oregon State University, Tanner worked as an insurance broker in the Greater Seattle area for three years. Now back in Oregon, Tanner has taken on a larger role with Pinot Vista and will be another familiar face in the Tasting Lounge. With his sales background, Tanner makes his impact at Pinot Vista through general sales and marketing oversight, serving customers at the lounge and events, and vineyard maintenance during peak seasons.
Tanner looks forward to growing and serving our unique wines to the wonderful community of McMinnville, as well as growing the Pinot VIsta brand to its full potential.