You might think Paul O’Brien winery is named after a winemaker or the owner of the winery, but in fact, Paul O’Brien is two people.
The winery is a result of twenty years-long friendship between two winemakers: Dyson Paul DeMara and Scott O’Brien Kelley. They met while working at Robert Mondavi Winery in the Napa Valley, and for 20 years, they have traveled the world’s wine regions learning the old-world traditions and sharing new world techniques.
We discovered this Umpqua Valley’s first urban winery soon after they came together in 2013.
A lot has changed since then, but they are still located in downtown Roseburg, Oregon’s historic Hansen Chevrolet building.
Paul O’Brien Winery
Scott Kelley Story
Scott Kelley began his career at Edgewood Estate in the Napa Valley. In 1999, he joined Robert Mondavi as an Assistant Winemaker at La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi and became the Director of Winemaking in 2001. Before moving to Oregon and starting Paul O’Brien winery, he worked as Director of Winemaking and General Manager for Estancia Estates in Monterey County, California.
In 2003 his winemaking role expanded to include representing Robert Mondavi’s interests in Italy while working withLuce, Lucente and Ornellaia wineries and in Australia on a joint venture with Rosemount Estates.
Dyson DeMara Story
We met Dyson DeMara at his Hillcrest Winery more than a few times when we were wine swinging in Umpqua Valley of Oregon. He continually impressed us not just with his wine but also with his knowledge about wine and winemaking practices worldwide.
His career in the wine industry started more than three decades ago. Just as Scott Dyson filled many roles in the wine industry worldwide and still makes wine in Spain, France, and Germany when he’s not at home in Oregon
Vineyards
Paul O’Brien Winery partnered with eight different growers who dry-farm on hillside vineyards throughout the Umpqua Valley to source grapes. This approach allows us to ensure that we are selecting vineyard sites that are perfectly matched to a particular variety.
Tasting Paul O’Brian Wine
Usually, Paul O’Brien offers half a dozen wines on their flight. This time was no exception.
We tasted:
- 2020 Fume Blanc
- 2016 Pinot Noir Bradley Vineyard
- 2017 Dolcetto Rogue Valley
- 2017 Tempranillo
- 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2014 La Dame red Bordeaux blend
WineSwinging Favorites
We liked 2017 Dolcetto for its uniquely Oregon character. Dolcetto grape comes from the Piedmont region of Italy. The terroir and unique growing conditions result in low-tannic, deep-colored wines with fruit-forward character complemented by sensible acidity.
Paul O’Brien sourced its Dolcetto from the hilly Southern Oregon vineyards with cool nighttime temperatures that help Dolcetto ripen more gradually.
While Paul O’Briens Dolcetto cannot be mistaken for Piedmont wine, we loved its blueberry lead nose and palate and its smoked plums aroma. We got a bottle because it’s different from Italian Dolcetto, and we look forward to tasting it side-by-side with Piedmont Dolcetto from our cellar.
2017 Tempranillo was made from grapes sourced from dry-farmed hillside vineyards in the western hills of Umpqua AVA. It was aged for two years in French 20% new oak barrels and a little over a year in bottle before its release, following the Grand Riserva guidelines of Rioja in Spain.
Tempranillo seduced us with blueberry, Morello cherry, aromatic cigar aroma, and the full-bodied palate with substantial yet integrated tannin and flavors of ripe plum, cherry, vanilla, and light smoke.
Aftertaste
We have been following the progress of Oregon wineries since 2007, and they keep getting better every time we taste their wines.
While Willamette Valley of Northern Oregon in the suburbs of Portland is becoming more like Napa, Southern Oregon Umpqua, and Rogue Valley wineries less formal. They are also more diverse and tend to be less expensive.
Southern Oregon wineries are still looking for their identity, and results may vary from winery to winery. But one thing is for sure, you can always count on the high quality of Paul O’Brien wines, and that’s why we try to taste their wines while wine swinging in Southern Oregon.
Share your thoughts if you tried Paul O’Brien or other wines from this region. And keep following us for more professional non-sponsored reviews of wines and wineries of Oregon, Washington, and beyond.
