EIEIO Wines

A small winery in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA run by proprietor and winemaker Jay McDonald, described on his own site as a one-plus-man operation supported by a cadre of volunteers. McDonald arrived in Oregon by way of business management and finance, bought a historic building in downtown Carlton in 1994, and worked through wine distribution, marketing, and retail before producing his first commercial wine in 1998. EIEIO operated out of leased facilities from 2003 to 2014 — beginning at Bergström Winery, in one of the state’s first separately bonded alternating proprietorships — before McDonald purchased this site outside Carlton in 2006 and moved into his own winery in 2017.

The wines are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with an occasional Rosé of Pinot Noir and White Pinot that sell out quickly. Winemaking uses open vat fermentation, extended cold soaks, and indigenous yeast, with intervention limited to picking, sorting, fermentation length, aging, and blending. Both single-vineyard bottlings and blends are produced, along with one-off wines released only through the mailing list.

Tastings are by appointment and seat up to six people in a cottage at the top of the hill, with six wines poured in six separate glasses for side-by-side comparison. Charcuterie and food are included. Guests are welcome to walk the property’s trails and take in the Yamhill-Carlton views from platforms on the site. Visits run anywhere from one to three hours.