Bjornson Vineyard is bringing in its grape harvest outside Salem, even as Oregon's wine industry weathers its worst slump in years.
"There's no other place that I'd rather be growing grapes," co-owner Mark Bjornson told KOIN in a segment that aired Oct. 15.
The 28-acre vineyard sits in the Eola-Amity Hills, a federally recognized wine-growing area between Salem and Amity. Cool Pacific air funnels through the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Coast Range, thickening grape skins, slowing sugar buildup and preserving acidity, according to a SommSelect guide to the Willamette Valley.
Bjornson put it plainly. The ocean breezes "cool us down" every night and "preserves the acidity in the wine," he said.
The vineyard, at 3635 Bethel Heights Road NW, was first planted in 2006, according to the Eola-Amity Hills AVA vineyard registry. Mark and his wife, Pattie Bjornson, purchased the 107-acre farm after moving from the Twin Cities to Oregon in 2005. Mark and Pattie both studied viticulture and winemaking at Chemeketa Community College before clearing and planting the vineyard, according to the winery's website.
Mark retired in 2022 from a career in health care management and now runs vineyard operations full time. The winery produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Rosé and Auxerrois. It also grows Gouais Blanc, which the winery says is the only planting of that variety in the Western Hemisphere. The vineyard is certified Salmon-Safe and sustainable through L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture and Enology).
That harvest arrives during a rough stretch for Oregon wine. The state's grape production fell 25% in 2025, according to the 2025 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Census. Wine sales dropped 16% over the same period. Oregon Public Broadcasting first reported those figures, as cited by Vinetur. In 2025, 110 vineyards and wineries closed statewide.
The causes are multiple: trade disruption, shifting consumer habits, oversupply and higher operating costs, Vinetur reported. Exports of Oregon wine to Canada fell 83% after Canadian liquor boards pulled U.S. wines from shelves in response to tariffs, according to OPB's reporting.
The Eola-Amity Hills AVA has more than 2,850 acres of vineyards and over 30 commercial wineries, according to the AVA's history page. The region was officially designated in 2006, the same year Bjornson planted his first vines.
Bjornson Vineyard's tasting room is open daily, with hours varying by day, according to its website. New wine releases are launching in fall 2026 as the winery's club goes live.
