Kathken Vineyards

Kathken Vineyards is a secluded 40-acre vineyard in the Eola Hills, 7 miles west of Salem. The site is situated at 700 to 900 feet elevation with a south west exposure. 34 acres are planted to various clones of Pinot Noir, predominantly Pommard and Wädenswil and 6 acres to Pinot Gris. All vines are on a Geneva Double Curtain trellis.

The owners, Ken and Kathy Slusser, are also the managers and working staff of the vineyard as well as the Bella Vista tasting room.

Ken Slusser was the owner and contractor for K&K Development, Inc., a company that built and sold custom homes in Northern California and Kauai. In November 1995, the Slussers bought a 51-acre vineyard near Salem and moved to the Eola-Amity Hills. Existing plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Chardonnay were grafted over to Pinot Noir from 1996 to 1999. From 1997 to 2000, an additional 16 acres, primarily Pinot Noir, was planted.

After selling grapes for seven years to multiple well-known wineries, Ken took winemaking classes and began releasing wine under the Kathken Vineyards label in 2000 (Pinot Gris) and 2001 (Pinot Noir). The winery now produces nine different wines.

The winery tasting room is closed during winter and open by appointment April to September. The winery is open Thanksgiving and Memorial Day weekends.