South Stage Cellars—Rogue Valley Wine Pioneers Since 1989
I n 1989, Don Moore, a Pasadena, California physician, was dreaming about retirement on a small farm—and quite by accident, found one. Don and Traute Moore were vacationing on the Klamath River when their car was broken into, forcing them to change plans and drive to Ashland to get the window repaired. While there, they discovered the lovely orchards and small farms of the region. A realtor introduced them to a 15-acre vineyard called Quail Run.
Knowing nothing about growing grapes but loving the area, they decided to purchase the property, becoming among the early pioneers in the industry. As their little vineyard thrived, the Moores bought or leased other properties around the Rogue Valley with diverse elevations and soils. Don Moore, a dedicated plant lover, experimented with new grape varieties, and through trial and error found that the Rogue Valley could successfully grow an amazing array of grapes from around the world. Traute worked with the crews and marketed their grapes to wineries in the Willamette Valley. Twenty years later, the Moores were farming 350 acres of grapes.