Dusky Goose the realization of the dream of John and Linda Carter to produce a small amount of wine that epitomizes the best the Dundee Hills terroir can produce. Made exclusively from Dundee Hills AVA fruit, the wine epitomizes all that the area is known for.
Dusky Goose's Rambouillet Vineyard
Dusky Goose's own Rambouillet Vineyard is surrounded by the famous Arcus, Maresh, Bergstrom, Weber, Ana, Le Pavillon, and Winderlea Vineyards in the Dundee Hills. The Rambouillet Vineyard's first vintage was 2004, and the grapes make up the backbone of Dusky Goose Dunde Hills Pinot noir. The first Rambouillet Vineyard designate, the 2006 vintage,was released in December 2008.
Winemaker Lynn Penner Ash describes the wines of the Rambouillet Vineyard: "there is an incredible dried cherry quality that is unique to that area," she says. "The fruit smells like dried cherry tea, and then moves into a ripe red pear mouth feel. The fruit has a creamy textural feel when it is ready to pick, and in the winery it produces a very focused red fruited wine that is incredibly rich and sweet."
"People put the (Dusky Goose) wine in their mouth and they say 'Oh my God!' Somehow this site produces wines with an incredibly sweet and rich mid mouth feel. It has a high yum factor," exclaims Penner-Ash, "I don't know how else to describe it!
Dusky Goose's Owners
The Carters
Dusky Goose is the dream's fulfillment of John and Linda Carter, Oregon natives. John was born and raised in Pendleton, one of a third-generation family of wheat and cattle ranchers. After Stanford University and Harvard Law School, he spent a career in the San Francisco Bay Area, first as a partner in a large San Francisco law firm, then with the engineering and construction firm Bechtel. He retired from Bechtel in 2002, and returned to Oregon. Dusky Goose is his first venture into the wine industry.
Linda Carter was also born and raised in Pendleton. Her family goes even further back to the early days of Oregon agriculture, and remains actively involved today as well in the Pendleton area. Linda graduated from Juilliard School of Music in New York City, and received a masters degree from the University of Michigan. Linda also performed in New York with the Jose Limon Dance Company, and other notable modern dance groups. She later headed the dance department at Scripps College in Claremont, California until after she and John were married in 1977, and she relocated to the San Francisco area.
The Lundgrens
Tamara Lundgren has been interested and involved in Dusky Goose as East Coast ambassadors for the brand almost from the start. Tamara is a graduate of Wellesley College and Northwestern School of Law, and has a distinguished background in international finance and investment banking. She is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer at Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. in Portland, Oregon. She and her husband John, who is Chairman and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker, live in Connecticut. Both Tamara and John have had exceptional international careers, giving them a broad perspective on the quality of wines around the world, and the standards they wish to achieve at Dusky Goose.