Why i make wine
Every winery needs an Origin Story: interesting, colorful, truthful if absolutely necessary. So here goes.
In the early 1990’s I was a brand-new associate with a law firm in Detroit. I stumbled on a book called The Game of Wine, an overview of the wine regions of the world. I was hooked!
For the next 25 years I dreamed of becoming a winemaker. Meanwhile: career, children, mortgages—not to mention metro Detroit’s less-than-ideal grape growing climate—all intervened.
Fast forward to 2016. My Love and I had moved to Southern Oregon and after a quarter of a century practicing law I was ready to do something different. My initial idea—an Over 50 Professional Dodgeball League—didn’t work out.
Then it hit me: here I was, living in Wine Country.
After earning a degree in vines and wines and working harvests in Southern Oregon and Spain, I was ready. North Bar Cellars was born in 2017.
Now quick! Bring me a beaker of wine so that I may wet my mind and say something clever!
Kevin Breck
Chief Wine Taster
what we make
North Bar Cellars specializes in small-batch southern Oregon wines.
Located in southern Oregon, the Rogue Valley American Viticultural Area is home to 29 wine grape varieties grown at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 feet.
The valley is 70 miles wide by 60 miles long, encompassing three river valleys and three mountain ranges. This wide range of topography creates a multitude of different micro-climates, each with their own unique terroir. (French for “my dirt is better than your dirt.”)
Each year I select one ton (two barrels) of the best fruit I can find that expresses the place where it is grown. My goal: to make the best wine possible with the least amount of intervention.
I am committed to the sustainability of the vineyards that grow the grapes for my wines and the winery where I produce them. Since 2019, I have sourced my grapes from the organically farmed Steelhead Run Vineyard. Barrel 42, where I make North Bar Cellars’ wine, is organically managed. And in a small effort to reduce my winemaking carbon footprint, I have chosen lighter weight bottles and beginning with the 2020 vintage eliminated foil capsules.
2020 SYRAH
Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon
PRICE: $32
Que? Syrah!
Syrah originated in the Rhone region of France. In Southern Oregon Syrah benefits from long hot days and cool nights, which allows the grapes to fully ripen without losing the acidity crucial for crafting a well-balanced wine. Our 2020 Syrah comes from 22-year-old vines planted along the banks of the Applegate River.
Remember: whatever will be, will be.
TASTING NOTES:
Co-fermented with a dash of Viognier, this Syrah is medium bodied with aromas of blueberry, blackberry, green peppercorns and tobacco. Sweet tannins provide a lingering finish.
Wine Dork Stats:
VINEYARD: Steelhead Run
HARVESTED: September 30, 2020
CLONES: Hermitage, 877, 470; Viognier
BRIX: 24.4
pH: 3.44
TA: 6.7
ALC: 13.6.%
AGING: 20 months in 92-gallon neutral oak
CASES PRODUCED: 37
2017 Tempranillo
Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon
PRICE: $32
Here at North Bar Cellars, we love Tempranillo and we drink a lot of it. In fact, we love it so much that we decided to make it ourselves. To support our habit, we bring you our 2017 Tempranillo from the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. The grapes were grown in the Rogue Valley, where long, hot days and cool nights provide the ideal terroir for growing beautiful Tempranillo.
TASTING NOTES:
This wine opens with intoxicating aromas of black cherry, plum, cedar, white pepper, anise and leather. The palate is full and round, with hints of dark stone fruit, cocoa nibs and sinewy tannins. It concludes with an extended, spicy finish.
Pair with roasted meats and hearty dishes.
Wine Dork Stats:
VINEYARD: Castellano (90%) and Coventina Vineyards (10%)
HARVESTED: September 16, 2017
BRIX: 25.1
pH: 3.59
TA: 6.5 g/L
ALC: 13.9%
AGING: 22 months in 50% new French oak barrels; 24 months in bottle
CASES PRODUCED: 60
AWARDS:
GOLD MEDAL, 2022 Oregon Wine Competition
SILVER MEDAL, 2022 Sunset International Wine Competition
GOLD MEDAL, 2021 San Francisco Herald Wine Competition
GOLD MEDAL, 2021 McMinnville Wine Classic
SILVER MEDAL, 2021 Texsom International Wine Awards
2018 Tempranillo
Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon
PRICE: $32
The 2018 vintage returns to the Castellano Vineyard in the Applegate Valley.
Castellano’s Tempranillo vines are low producing (about 1 ton/acre) with small berries, resulting in bold, concentrated flavors. Harvest came 2 weeks later than the previous year, which gave the fruit added hang time to develop.
TASTING NOTES:
On the nose, this full-bodied wine opens with black cherry, cedar, forest floor, warm spices, nutmeg, and vanilla. Supple tannins and a lingering finish complete the experience.
Wine Dork Stats:
VINEYARD: Castellano Vineyard
HARVESTED: September 30, 2018
CLONE: 1
BRIX: 26
pH: 3.77
TA: 5.6 g/L
ALC: 14.4%
AGING: 22 months in French oak barrels; 24 months in bottle
CASES PRODUCED: 50
AWARDS:
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL, 2022 Oregon Wine Competition SILVER MEDAL, 2022 Texsom International Wine Awards BRONZE MEDAL, 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2019 TEMPRANILLO
Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon
PRICE: $32
The 2019 vintage represents the third step in our ongoing exploration of this classic Spanish varietal. The fruit comes from the Steelhead Run vineyard located on the banks of the Applegate River. Long, hot days and cool nights provide the ideal terroir for growing beautiful Tempranillo.
Tasting Notes:
This medium-bodied wine offers blue stone fruits, leather, warm spices, vanilla, moderate tannins, and a long lingering finish. Compared to the previous two vintages, the 2019 throws a slightly softer punch. Think Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Joe Louis!
Wine Dork Stats:
VINEYARD: Steelhead Run
HARVESTED: October 3, 2019
CLONES: 1, 2, Duero
BRIX: 23.8
pH: 3.49
TA: 6.2 g/L
ALC: 14.0%
AGING: 22 months in French oak barrels; 24 months in bottle
CASES PRODUCED: 50
AWARDS:
GOLD MEDAL, 2023 Oregon Wine Competition
2021 Tempranillo
Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon
PRICE: $32
The 2021 vintage continues our ongoing exploration of this classic Spanish varietal.
The fruit comes from the Steelhead Run vineyard located on the banks of the Applegate River. These 20 year old vines are happy vines, producing exceedingly large, beautiful clusters. (See cluster on the left in photo below. Not to be confused with winemaker on the right.)
TASTING NOTES:
Made from a blend of 3 clones, this classic Tempranillo opens with black cherry, black pepper, cedar and clove, with a medium body, juicy acidity, medium plus tannins and a luscious, lingering finish.
Wine Dork Stats:
VINEYARD: Steelhead Run
HARVESTED: September 27, 2021
CLONE: 1, 2, Duero
BRIX: 23.7
pH: 3.88
TA: 5.1 g/L
ALC: 14.1%
AGING: 22 months in French oak barrels; 12 months in bottle
CASES PRODUCED: 61
THE label
North Bar Cellars’ name and label are an homage to two northern Michigan landmarks, neither of which have anything to do with wine: North Bar Lake and Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.
North Bar Lake is a small inland lake separated from Lake Michigan by a sandbar. Periodically the water rises high enough that it breaks through the sandbar and rushes into Lake Michigan
Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes are glacially formed sand dunes that plunge down 400 feet from the top to the Lake Michigan shore.
An intrepid wine drinker standing at the top of the dunes will see the demarcation line where the golden sand meets the azure water. This image provides the inspiration for the label.
want wine?
volume discounts:
6-11 bottles, 10% off
12 or more bottles, 15% off
Oregon residents
Reach out to Kevin directly. We ship everywhere in Oregon. Free delivery in and around Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass.
NOT IN OREGON?
See below for states where we ship. Order through VinoShipper below.
BUY 2020 SYRAH $32
BUY 2017 TEMPRANILLO $32
BUY 2018 TEMPRANILLO $32
BUY 2019 TEMPRANILLO $32
BUY 2021 TEMPRANILLO $32
WE SHIP TO THE FOLLOWING STATES:
AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MI, MD, ME, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
FIND NORTH BAR CELLARS WINE LOCALLY AT:
Bottle shops:
The Wine Lounge at Jacksonville Inn
Margo's Wine Shop
Local Vines
Cartwright's Market (Medford)
Restaurants:
Cocorico
Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine