Winemaking Staff

Eric Lemelson
Owner & Winemaker

Eric Lemelson found his "calling" as a Pinot noir producer after a series of serendipitous events that began with his decision to move to Oregon from the East in 1979 to attend Portland's Reed College. Oldest son of noted independent inventor Jerome Lemelson (1923-1997), Eric has always followed in the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of his family.

Even before graduating from Reed in 1981, Eric realized that Oregon was his true home. His career path following graduation began with politics: an internship for an Oregon Congressman led to positions on several state and national political campaigns and in the State Legislature. Later he played guitar in a rock and roll band, then attended law school at Lewis and Clark, where he studied environmental law. He received his J.D. in 1992 and ran a research center on water law for several years after graduation.

While in law school, Eric bought a farm in the hills on the eastern edge of Oregon wine country, following a longtime dream of living in the country. A longtime fan of Oregon wine, Eric began to notice the exceptional quality of Oregon Pinot noir produced in the 1990s. Intrigued, he contacted several producers to learn about viticulture. He discovered that his farm's southeast slopes and volcanic soils were well-suited for winegrapes. In 1995, he planted two acres of Pinot noir and Pinot gris at the farm, later named Chestnut Hill.

Anthony King
Winemaker

Anthony comes to us from Acacia Winery, a major Pinot noir and Chardonnay producer from Carneros, in the cool-climate region of the Napa Valley. In addition to working as winemaker, Anthony also managed all of Acacia's orgainc vineyards. Anthony received his Masters Degree in Viticulture and Enology from the nation’s premier school in the field, the University of California at Davis. Prior to working as Winemaker at Acacia, Anthony was Assistant Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. A Texas native, Anthony and his wife Kara have two children and live in McMinnville.

Jim Esper
Assistant Winemaker

Jim Esper and his wife Laura moved to Oregon in early 2003, drawn by Willamette Valley's landscape and lifestyle. Their adventure together began after departing Worcester, Massachusetts for an extended honeymoon in Piedmont, Italy in 2002. A year later the Espers returned to the US seeking a community that would remind them of some of their favorite places in Europe. Jim joined Lemelson Vineyards in March 2003, after working in the cellar for Hamacher Wines in Carlton. He has six years experience in wine imports and distribution, and is an avid yoga practitioner.