GET TO KNOW DOLORES.
KATE & GRIFF & TOM & WILL
The Payne-Browns are the family behind Dolores Wines. Kate and Griffin have been making wines for more than 30 years collectively. Both originally from Salt Lake City, they met in Portland and moved to Australia to study and make wine. In 2007, they moved back to McMinnville and made the Willamette Valley their home.
Kate and Griffin’s firstborn, Tommy, arrived in 2013 followed by William in 2016. The two boys joined cats Derek and Doug and between the four of them, there is never a dull day in this household.
DOLORES
This story and this wine are inspired by Kate’s mother, Charlene Payne, born of immigrants from the Philippines and Hungary. She was an adventurer, who spent time in Spain in the early 70s, and whose nickname whilst there was "Dolores" because of her last name, "Payne". The name Dolores derives from '“dolor” meaning "pain" in Spanish, and became a term of endearment for her throughout her travels.
Every bottle of Dolores wine represents a unique journey that unknowingly started 50 years ago and is a reflection of our family’s adventurous spirit and dedication to crafting exceptional wines. Dolores is a reminder of the family’s roots and the importance of honoring those who came before us.
Dolores wines are for those who dare to explore beyond their boundaries and create a world that is uniquely their own.
THE WINES
Our focus is on small lot, small production wines that we love to drink. Our inaugural releases include a Methode Champenoise Sparkling Pinot Gouges and Willamette Valley Pinot noir.
While Pinot Gouges isn’t widely known, it is a reputable member of the Pinot noir family and it hails originally from Nuit-St-George and Domaine Henri Gouge, the inspiration behind the name of this infrequently found white grape.
“I don’t think sparkling wine should just be for celebration, I think it should be the daily sip.”
- Kate Payne Brown, Dolores Owner + Winemaker