When Kevin Bibler retired from engineering in 2020, he began looking for something he could do that would still utilize his ability to build things and work with his hands but would also get him out from behind a desk.
“And we were looking to be closer to family,” Kevin’s wife, Heather Anderson-Bibler, added.
So, when the couple learned there was a vineyard for sale in nearby Aumsville, they decided to give winemaking a shot.
“We bought the property in January 2023,” Kevin said.
They jumped in with both feet – Kevin taking viticulture classes from the OSU Extension Service and Heather enrolling in the Wine Studies and Wine Making program at Chemeketa Community College.
“I did tell [Kevin] when he was looking at the space I would not do any of the farming,” Heather recalled.
“However, I have helped out because I’m learning all these things in my classes…”
And one of the biggest influences Heather’s courses have had on their farming thus far is the switch they are making to organic growing practices.
“This is the first year [the grapes] will be organic and then we’ll be switching to biodynamic,” Heather said. “I took all the organic and biodynamic [classes] at Chemeketa, and it sounded intriguing. At the very least we’ll have healthier soil, and that’s what we’re going for here, taking care of this place, because the better the land is the better the grapes do and the better the wine will taste.”
So far, the reception of the wines at heaVin Estate – a name coined by combining Heather and Kevin – has been incredibly positive.
“Opening weekend, we had a lot of friends and family and neighbors,” Heather said, recalling the launch of the tasting room on May 16. “It’s been really nice to meet folks in the area… We’d really like to immerse ourselves in the community.”
Also planned over the next five years is the expansion of the grape varietals grown in the vineyard and the addition of a winery facility where the couple plans to process their own grapes and make their own wine.
“Right now, we have a custom crush agreement with a facility down the street,” Kevin said. “But our dream is for the grapes to never leave the property.”
Currently bottling around 550 cases a year – a mixture of Cuvée Blanc, Tempranillo, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir and a red blend – Kevin and Heather are not necessarily looking to increase the amount of wine they make but rather to make each year’s vintage better than the last and ensure the community feels welcome visiting the winery for a taste.
“We’d like to have more people know about us,” Heather said. “Because it’s a relaxed setting for people to come and chill… and it’s such a nice drive.”
Tasting Room at heaVin Estate Vineyard and Wines
6854 Shaw Hwy. SE, Aumsville
Mid-May through Mid-September: open Friday through Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m.
October through December: open by reservation
January through April: closed
Reservations: 503-560-2954
