The original grapes at Irvine & Roberts Vineyards (1614 Emigrant Creek Road) were planted in 2007, and the Tasting Room opened in 2017. Since then it has become a popular destination for wine lovers, and some of their wine release parties were major events.
Change, however, was in the air, and in the spring of 2025, a new chapter began at Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, with a group of passionate Southern Oregon residents coming together to form the Ashland Vintners Collective, ensuring this beloved estate remained locally stewarded. Among the new ownership are familiar faces including Doug & Dionne Irvine, Brian Gruber and Scott & Patti Hillier—alongside dedicated community leaders—all united by a love for this land and a commitment to its future.
“Customers can expect a world class wine and culinary experience in one of the most beautiful settings you can find in Southern Oregon,” Dionne said. “We aim to provide memorable hospitality in an approachable environment that feels like an extension of our homes. We want our guests and members to feel like this is their place that they can bring friends and family and always count on a wonderful day amid 47 acres of planted grapevines, a tasting room and winery. All of our wines are made solely from the vines on the estate. We offer wine tasting experiences, culinary explorations with house-made pairings, tours, and special events for our guests and wine club members. Additionally, we make our spaces available for private events.”
Doug and Dionne spent parts of their youth living in Southern Oregon and after living in Southern California for several years, Oregon called them back home in 1997 to raise their daughters. They have a real estate development company that they continue to enjoy, as well as their roles at the winery.
Brian Gruber had an 11-year career with the U.S. Air Force, followed by the pursuit of his Masters of Public Policy at Harvard University. After grad school, while doing a banking stint in Virginia, Brian realized his heart’s calling was a grower and maker, so he packed his family up and moved to Ashland in 2007.
Scott & Patti Hillier both graduated from Phoenix High School and SOU. Scott recently finished a 38-year career at Lithia Motors, serving many roles in his time there, and finishing as Regional President of Operations. Patti had a career at US Bank followed by creating a learning center at New Hope Christian School. Scott and Patti recently “retired” from their positions and started their restaurant Partake in Grants Pass. Their love for wine and food extends into both of these new ventures.
“As you can see, the wine industry wasn’t where anyone started, but we were all pulled in by the magnetic draw of creating beautiful wines,” Dionne said. “Farming is a challenging industry, not for the faint of heart, so there are probably characteristics that are shared by all—willing to take risks and excited to try. But primarily it’s the excitement of creating something beautiful and unique every year which is the pull that gets you through.”
Wine Enthusiast magazine recently selected Irvine & Roberts’ sparkling wine as a top 100 wine in the world, and USA Today selected the tasting room the #7 tasting room in the nation.
“We continue to craft estate-grown still wines that honor the Rogue Valley’s unique potential, while our sparkling wine program carries the vineyard’s story forward,” Dionne said. “Together, they form a complete expression of place—still wines as the proof of our origins, and sparkling wines as the natural evolution of our high-elevation estate. For us, sparkling wine is not a trend or a side project. It is the next chapter of a story that began with intention, patience, and a singular vineyard poised to reveal its greatest potential over time.”
And you can’t beat the location. “We have always believed what makes Irvine & Roberts unique is the site, positioned at the convergence of the Cascade and Siskiyou Mountain ranges, and perched at 2,100 feet in elevation,” Dionne said. “Really, it all starts here at this special place that makes everything else possible. We are humbled by what this place brings to us each year, from the beautiful fruit the ground provides to the wonderful community that comes here to connect. That is what makes it so special. We feel blessed to be the keepers of this land so it can continue to provide connection in so many ways.”
For more information, the phone number is 541-482-9383. You can also see them at irvinerobertsvineyards.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
