About Us
Masters of Place(s)
Golden Cluster was born in 2013 by longtime Portland resident, Jeff Vejr (aka The Winesman). Specializing in a few of the forgotten grapes from the original Charles Coury Vineyard (1966) as well as many of the new grapes that have been planted in Oregon, Mr. Vejr has set out to always remind people of the potential greatness of Oregon wines. It may not be Pinot Noir after all. Golden Cluster is also home to wine brands: Ordeaux, Syrahcha, On Wine Hill, Vinous Obscura, Müller?, ∆ (Dionystic) and more….
Having previously helped to launch Portland’s “pop-up” scene with Chef’s Will Preich & Joel Stocks at Holdfast Dining, Mr. Vejr has a long been developing small, intimate, service-oriented restaurants and bars. He is known for his ease in describing wines, places and the people behind them. His authenticity is one of the main reasons why he has development a loyal following in the Portland market and beyond.
Photo Credit: Laura Domela
Jeff V.
Golden Cluster, et al
John & Ksenija House
Ovum Wines & Clos Scorpio
Established in 2011 by Ksenija and John House, Ovum was founded in hopes of producing Oregon white wines that are honest reflections of time and place. Our low intervention production method is a commitment to letting the vintage and vineyard shine, not the vintner. Fruit comes first - our top priority is finding farmers that share our beliefs, and then getting out of the way so their hard work can be tasted.
Native ferments, no subtractions or additions, except for SO2, extended lees contact 8-9 months, for textural complexity. All of this is done in neutral barrels of acacia and oak, as well as cement egg and Austrian cask. Ovum is solely committed to the production of white wines, mainly Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat.
At Ovum, each wine is produced the same way - if the wine smells and tastes different, it has everything to do with terroir, and little to do with the winemaker. Our hope is that through our attention to detail and honest technique, we can produce old fashioned wines in the modern world.
Drinking an OVUM wine should be like listening to AM Radio, in Stereo.
Photo Credit: Ashton Worthington
“Wine is a journey. There are limitless destinations to explore. We would love to share our travels with you.”
— Ownership