The Story of BOOM-BOOM Red

A story that always makes me smile is the origin of Boom-Boom Red.  It was the end of an unusually cool summer in 2010, and our viticulture classmate and friend, Jeff Havlin announced that he had registered for the year-long Winemaking Class (at Chemeketa Wine Studies Center) because there would be a lot to learn due to the cool season.  As he put it, “THIS will be the year of the winemaker.”  (In truth, 2011 was an even cooler year – but that is a topic of another blog.)

I thought about this for a couple of weeks.  I wanted to do it too, but our life had finally gotten back on track after an extremely tumultuous year in 2009.  Mark was traveling about 70% for his day-job, and we still had three kids living at home and no extra drivers for football practice, play practice, piano lessons, and missing the bus, which someone did, almost daily.

I really wanted to take the Enology course, because it was rumored that the renowned instructor, Dr. Barney Watson, was planning on retiring soon, and I agreed with Jeff, that this would be a good year to learn how to make great wine in spite of Mother Nature.  Finally, I decided to go for it, I never really was a “June Cleaver type” anyway.

When class finally began in late September, the migrating birds had descended on the Willamette Valley in Biblical proportions.  2010 had been a perfect storm:  an early freeze in the Yukon drove the birds to migrate earlier than normal, and the cool season in the Willamette Valley stunted the wild blackberry fruit-set, leaving the ravenous birds nothing to eat but wine grapes.

At the time, we had seven acres of vineyard planted (Kristjan’s block), and we used two propane cannons to scare away the birds.  I don’t know exactly how they work, but basically you attach a barbeque-sized propane tank to the bird cannon, and adjust a dial to regulate how often they explode, making a loud BANG that mimics a shotgun blast.  In recent years, we haven’t even bothered to set up the bird cannons because the birds haven’t been a problem, but 2010 was the year of the birds!  You couldn’t buy any at the Vineyard Supply Store, so I was delighted to find three for sale on Craig’s List.  I placed two of my new/used cannons in the vineyard, so that all four corners were protected, and set up the third near the barn, not really a grape-eating-hot-spot, but I wanted to fully utilize all my bird-scaring resources!

That night at class I talked to our friend Jeff Havlin.  His vineyard (in the newly appointed Van Duzer Corridor AVA, thanks in large part to Jeff’s six-plus-year effort) was right under the flight path of the voracious flying grape eaters.  I told him he could have our extra cannon – he should stop by after class and pick it up.

When I got home, the sun had set, but it was still light out.  I realized that all five cannons were still blasting away, so I jumped in the ATV and sped around the perimeter of the vineyard turning off all the cannons for the night.  Jeff was loading the fifth cannon into his Nissan pickup. (I was envious of the great deal he got on that little truck.  Newish tires, low miles – and a topper, all for like a grand.)  He hesitated before he closed the gate, “Do you think I should unhook the propane tank?” he asked.  “Naw…, you turned it off right?” I replied.  Jeff, nodded, shrugged, shut the gate and drove off.  I saw his tail lights disappear down the driveway.

The next day we got a call from Jeff.  “You know…,” he said, “those cannons are good for three BOOMS after you turn them off!”  He continued, “And they’re really LOUD in the back of a pickup.  My ears have been ringing all day!”

Later that fall we picked Gamay Noir from the Chemeketa Vineyard.  We christened it BOOM-BOOM Red, in honor of Jeff.

Circling back to our current crisis of Biblical proportions – the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Do you have any extra Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, respirators that you could donate to our health care workers?  Can you get groceries or run an errand for an elderly neighbor?  Many times little acts of charity go a long way in building life-long friendships.  Enjoy the Journey!

A Little Ray of Sunshine from Bjornson Vineyard

Many of you have heard the “Look me up when you want to get married” story (if not click here) but basically it explains that we have been striving toward this goal of vineyard and winery since we met at the University of Minnesota in 1984.  Naturally, there were bouts of doubt along the way.  One such episode came in July 1996.  We spent a week in Oregon searching for vineyard land.  We visited a family-run winery and confided with the owner that we were interested in buying property, planting a vineyard, and perhaps someday building a winery.  The owner scolded us, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU’RE SAYING?  DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD THAT IS?  DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT COSTS?  DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA???” 

I was concerned for two reasons:  1) if someone in the wine industry was telling us we shouldn’t do this – maybe we should listen, 2) and probably more importantly (if I’m honest), how would we save face?  Mark had already started telling our friends in Minnesota that we were going to start a vineyard in Oregon someday.  Who ever wants to admit they were wrong?  

The next day we found our way to visit Mary Olson, owner of Airlie Winery on Dunn Forest Road near Monmouth, Oregon.  Several people had told us we needed to visit Mary Olson because like us, Mary was from the Midwest, had no prior experience in the wine business, but moved to Oregon and was making it work!  It wasn’t easy finding Mary’s place, but I’m sure glad we did because it changed our lives forever. 

We got there late, after the Tasting Room had closed for the day, which was disappointing given the circuitous route we took to get there.  Remember there were no smart phones or google maps in 1996.  The paper map we had of Oregon Wineries was imprecise (to say the least), our minivan ran out of gas (on Wallace Road, just a stone’s throw from where we ultimately planted our own vineyard), and we had to find a Burger King to feed our 20-month-old son, who was surviving on Whoppers at the time (true story, although one Whopper would last him several days – and yes, he ate the entire burger himself)!  We got out of the minivan to stretch our legs, and to try and find a more direct route back to Portland, where we were staying.  All of a sudden, Mary steps out of the Tasting Room, sees us standing at the end of her driveway, and waves us in.

Mary Olson Airlie Winery

As we drove up the driveway, we were in awe of Airlie’s bucolic setting.  Surrounded by mountains and gigantic Douglas firs, rolling vineyards, a huge pond with a dock, patio and umbrellas – Airlie Vineyard is a little rustic, but to us, absolute perfection.  Mary greeted us with her infectious smile and let the kids run around outside while we went inside to taste wine.  When she found out that we were from Minnesota she opened up even more wine, eager to share her passion and new profession with fellow Gophers!  

We must have spent a couple hours (or more, time just flew by – it was a magical experience) talking and getting to know Mary when we finally shared our secret dream of following in her footsteps.  I was still convinced this was a ridiculous fantasy after receiving the biting reality check the day before.  Mary paused for a moment, took a deep breath, leaned in, looked me straight in the eyes, patted my hand,  and repeated, “YOU can do this, YOU CAN do this, YOU CAN DO THIS!”

Click!  That was it.  I decided to listen to Mary and DO THIS!  THANK YOU MARY OLSON – we all need someone to believe in us and be a cheerleader now and then. 

And now I turn to our current situation.  Here’s our new mantra:  WE can do this, WE CAN do this, WE CAN DO THIS – TAKE CARE!  Stay safe, and try help others in need. 

– A little ray of sunshine from Bjornson Vineyard.