By Fred Delkin

 Joe Dobbes, Jr. declares himself at a point of having “long held dreams” in the business of wine coming true.  “After 17 years of working in this business for wineries large and small, from private mom and pop outfits to publicly owned companies in Germany, France and Oregon…my goals and entrepreneurial aspirations are being realized,” he states in his announcement of the founding of Wines by Joe. 

This enterprise follows Dobbes’ 6+ years as winemaker and supervisor at Willamette Valley Vineyards outside Salem.  While serving Willamette Valley’s interests, Joe became intrigued with the developing vineyard opportunities in the Rogue region in southwest Oregon, which has a warm, dry climate in comparison to the Willamette Valley to the north.  He vinified the initial bottlings of the Griffin Creek label created by Willamette Valley, opening with Merlot.  Climatically, the Rogue region resembles France’s Rhone Valley, an ideal home for Syrah (red) and Vigonier (white) vine plantings.  These vines are providing 2002 vintage bottlings under the new Dobbes Family Estate label to be released this July.  This label also graces a 2001 “Skipper’s Cuvee” (named after Joe’s young daughter) Pinot Noir from southern Oregon grapes grown at 2,000 feet elevation, and also available in July.

Paschal winery also gets Dobbes’ stewardship

This past September, Joe took over as managing director and winemaker for the established Paschal Winery, northeast of Ashland, just 2 miles off Interstate 5.  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Bordeaux blends predominate in current Paschal releases, but Dobbes also touts limited quantities of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Syrah under the Paschal label.   This spring, Dolcetto, Barbera and Sangiovese red Italian varietals were planted.  Joe has enlisted his sister Renee as Paschal Estate Manager and states “fortunately, she has forgiven me for all the obligatory big brother abuse I imposed upon her when we were growing up.”  

Paschal is in a pear orchard-covered valley beneath the Siskiyou mountains.  The winery has a tasting room deck overlooking the valley and its mountain backdrop.  The Paschal property includes a three-bedroom older home now available for guest rental.  “Just imagine relaxing on the patio with a bottle of our fine wine while enjoying a 180 degree view of some of the most beautiful scenery you’ve experienced,” enthuses Renee.  She also stresses the nearby appeals of Ashland’s Shakespearean theatre programs and classic fine dining establishments. 

The Paschal tasting room is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.  It has a Talent address, is just a hop from Interstate 5 exit 21.  Paschal wines have a website at www.paschalwinery.com, where wines may be purchased online.  

Yet another ‘Joe project’ is Villa San Maurice Pinot Grigio, from Oregon Pinot Gris grapes, juiced here and shipped to Napa, California for vinification under Dobbes’ direction.  This is selling for $9.99 per bottle and, according to Joe, offers a fuller fruitiness than any Italian namesake.     

Your correspondent is a very convinced fan of Joe’s winemaking talents, having spent an afternoon barrel tasting with him at Willamette Valley.  He is among the true elite class of Oregon vintners.  It’s in his genes, as the son of Joe Dobbes, owner and winemaker of Marquam Hill Vineyards, planted in 1983 northeast of Salem.  Young Joe honed his vinous talent in Europe before returning to Oregon’s developing wine industry. Now, at the tender age of 42, he has acquired a very full plate of wine projects.  Wine by Joe bids to place southern Oregon firmly upon the world wine map.

© 2003 Oregon Magazine