Paying it forward

After a decade of making wine in the garage, Scott and Annie Shull started Raptor Ridge back in 1995. They make great wine, but their influence extends far beyond the bottle.

One of my favorite things about the Oregon wine community is the collaboration. Winemakers here feel very little sense of competition with each other – they believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. (Or maybe it’s just a mutual disdain for our neighbor to the south.) Whether it’s sharing a piece of equipment when one breaks down, sharing glass with a neighbor when they’ve run out right in the middle of bottling, or mentoring young winemakers, the Oregon wine community is unique in its collaborative attitude.

During my travels in the Willamette Valley, I’ve heard Scott’s name mentioned again and again as a friend, a mentor, and the guiding presence behind dozens of winemakers. Two Cellar 503 partners, Leah Jørgensen Cellars and Atticus Wines, credit Scott’s guiding influence in their career to their growing popularity and still produce their wine at Raptor Ridge under Scott’s watchful eye.