• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Contact us
  • Wine of the Week newsletter
  • Wine submission guidelines
Great Northwest Wine

Great Northwest Wine

News, reviews and info about the wines of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho

  • Home
  • Subscribe to GNWW The Magazine
  • Explore
    • Wine news
    • Grapes and viticulture
    • Washington wine
    • Oregon wine
    • Idaho wine
    • British Columbia wine
    • Product reviews
    • Recipes
    • Wine Adventures
    • Podcast
  • Reviews
    • Latest wine reviews
    • Wine of the Week
    • Best Buys
    • Washington wines
    • Oregon wines
    • Idaho wines
    • British Columbia wines
  • Events calendar
    • Submit an event
  • Competitions
    • Cascadia International Wine Competition
    • Idaho Wine & Cider Competition
    • “The Invite” – Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition
    • Platinum Awards
    • Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition
    • Washington State Wine Competition
  • About us
    • Awards and honors
    • Advertising on Great Northwest Wine
    • Wine submission guidelines
  • e-edition

Panther Creek Cellars begins new chapter in Oregon wine

June 13, 2014 by Eric Degerman 1 Comment

Panther Creek Cellars opens its new tasting room in Dundee, Ore., and celebrates its first wines made by Tony Rynders.
Panther Creek Cellars opens its new tasting room in Dundee, Ore., and celebrates its first wines made by Tony Rynders. (Photo courtesy of Panther Creek Cellars)

DUNDEE, Ore. — Panther Creek Cellars, one of Oregon’s most well-known brands, begins a new era Saturday when it opens the doors to its new tasting room in Dundee along bustling Highway 99.

A historic touch of the grand opening will be in the form of barrel samples of the 2013 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir — a collaborative effort between Panther Creek’s consulting winemaker Tony Rynders and the iconic Ken Wright, who moved from California in 1986 to launch Panther Creek in downtown McMinnville.

“I am glad that Ken was open to the idea of collaborating on a wine for Panther Creek, a winery he started over 25 years ago,” Rynders said in a news release. “He is growing Pinot Noir grapes from the historic Carter Vineyard, one of the original vineyards, while I am making the wine. We have been friends and colleagues for many years, and an opportunity to further our relationship is very rewarding. This endeavor captures the spirit of the Oregon wine industry.”

Rynders’ career in Oregon has been closely tied to both Dundee and Wright. Rynders spent two years as the assistant winemaker at nearby Argyle prior to spending three years making red wine in Prosser, Wash., for Hogue Cellars.

In 1998, Rynders returned to the Dundee Hills, succeeding Wright as winemaker for Domaine Serene, one of the Northwest’s cult producers. In the next decade, Rynders posted a long string of critically acclaimed wines for Ken and Grace Evenstad before the University of Wisconsin grad launched his own winery consulting business.

Saturday also marks another important step in the Pacific Northwest for Bacchus Capital Management, which recently has made significant investments in not only Panther Creek but also in Joe Dobbes’ Wine By Joe brand in Dundee and DeLille Cellars in Woodinville, Wash.

“At Bacchus, we’re proud to support our wineries’ growth opportunities,” said Bacchus Capital co-founder Peter Kaufman. “That includes recruiting top talent, enhancing facilities and making great wine long term.”

Panther Creek tasting room adds to Dundee wine traffic

Panther Creek Cellars celebrates the grand opening of its new tasting room Saturday in Dundee, Ore.
Panther Creek Cellars celebrates the grand opening of its new tasting room Saturday in Dundee, Ore. (Photo courtesy of Panther Creek Cellars)

Bacchus appears intent on innovation while its burnishes the history behind its three Northwest brands, which helps explain the concept behind the Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir.

“Tony and Ken have a history of collaboration,” said Sam Bronfman, Bacchus Capital co-founder and managing partner. “We are eager to further that relationship and to continue the tradition of Panther Creek’s outstanding wines.”

Wines from Panther Creek have helped elevate the reputation of vineyards such as Freedom Hill, Shea and Temperance Hill. On Saturday, Panther Creek will sell futures as well as offer looks at the 2012 Lazy River Pinot Noir (100 cases) and the 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir (125 cases). Rynders’ 2013 French Creek Chardonnay and library wines going back to 1990 also will be available.

Many of the older vintages would have been made by Michael Stevenson with the help of St. Innocent’s Mark Vlossak. In 2013, Bacchus purchased the 7,500-case brand from the children of the late Carolyn Chambers, the Eugene businesswoman who took over Panther Creek in 2005.

Chambers bought the winery — and the former power plant building downtown — from Iowa attorney Ron Kaplan. He acquired Panther Creek from Wright in 1994, which spurred the creation of Ken Wright Cellars in downtown Carlton.

“Our magnums were last made in 2008,” said Panther Creek Cellars President Quinton Jay. “This grand opening event is a wonderful opportunity to experience Panther Creek Cellars – its history, its present and its amazing future.”

In addition to his association with Panther Creek, Rynders also is growing his Tendril Wine Cellars brand and works on wines for Bomb Wines in Tillamook, Napa Valley’s Cornerstone Cellars program in the Willamette Valley, Saffron Fields in Yamhill, the boutique Sitar program for Dr. Madaiah Revana and the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir wines for Swiftwater Cellars in Roslyn, Wash.

Filed Under: News, Oregon wine Tagged With: featured, ticker

About Eric Degerman

Eric is the President and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of daily newspaper experience and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest magazine with Andy Perdue and served as its managing editor for a decade. He is a frequent wine judge at international wine competitions throughout North America and orchestrates 10 Northwest competitions each year.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Wine of the Week

Indian Creek Winery 2022 Dry Rosé of Syrah, Snake River Valley $20

August 25, 2023

Latest Wine Reviews

Wilridge Vineyard, Winery & Distillery 2019 Estate Biodynamic Red Dessert Wine, Naches Heights $25

Iris Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $24.99

Arenness Cellars 2019 Les Collines Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $44

Ashlyn Wines 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $20

Revelation by Goose Ridge 2022 Rosé, Goose Gap, $18

Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2020 Touriga Naçional Reserve Red Wine, Red Mountain $55

Montinore Estate 2021 Reserve Müller-Thurgau, Tualatin Hills, $35

Wine Cruises & Safaris

National Geographic partners with Food & Wine magazine for 2024 wine cruise series on Columbia, Snake rivers

Cruising the Rhine and Moselle with Wit Cellars

Footer

Grapes

VineLines Dispatch gallery: ‘I go where they grow’ as 2023 harvest begins

My long, strange trip with Viognier

British Columbia wine industry prepares for widespread replanting

May’s heat pushes much of Northwest wine country ahead of hot 2015 vintage

Unique approach to ice wine leads to win for Nederend, Koenig Vineyards

Food

Match Maker: King Estate Winery rising stars combine for elevated restaurant experience

Match Maker recipe: Corn Agnolotti with Chanterelle Mushroom, Roasted Corn, Black Truffle and Citrus Brown Butter

Match Maker recipe: Beef Ribeye with Uni Butter, Pacific Dulse and Lobster Glace

Match Maker: Thiessen puts his brand on WW with Walla Walla Steak Co.

Match Maker recipe: Chocolate Crémeux Tart with Cocoa Nibs and Hazelnuts

History

Washington wine leaders back HistoryLunch in Seattle

Love at first sip, thanks to Wente Vineyards

Merit, heritage surround helpful Meritage concept

L’Ecole N° 41 Winery develops lesson plan in history for Walla Walla

A historical tasting of L’Ecole N° 41 Winery’s first 40 years at the Schoolhouse library

© 2023 Great NW Wine. All Rights Reserved.