The Call
Published February 25, 2025
Written by Joel
It was summer of 2003. I was in my office in Davis, California, staring hard at my computer screen. The phone rang. It was Laurie, calling from Oregon. She had gone up to Salem with the kids to see her folks. As usual, I would fly up later for a shorter stay. Laurie had spent the morning with a realtor in Yamhill County. “I just saw a piece of property. It’s really pretty, but it’s way bigger and way more expensive than we have been talking about. 80 acres,” she said. “Do you want to see it when you come up on Thursday?” I answered, “Sure,” only half listening.
We had been looking at rural property in the Willamette Valley, Oregon for a few years. Nothing serious, just a fun diversion for the two of us during our annual visits there. Laurie’s folks would hang out with our four kids and we would sneak out for a ‘date’ and fantasize about moving away from it all someday. The kids knew what we were doing, and they actually seemed OK with the concept of moving ‘someday.’ But we didn’t bring them on these little excursions. No need to subject them to an emotional roller-coaster. Besides, we didn’t need additional opinions while we searched for the perfect place: A few acres, a hilltop view, a south-facing slope to build a solar house, not too far from a town, and (oh, yeah), affordable.
The Willamette Valley is where Laurie grew up, and she loves this area. I admit it has its charms. But I grew up in Sonoma County wine country, with rolling hills dotted with majestic oaks, adorned in golden, dried grasses waving under blue summer skies. That was my vision of Eden. So I wasn’t super disappointed that we hadn’t found property in Oregon that ‘clicked’ with either of us. There had been a forested property on a north sloping hill where we would never have direct sunshine. There was the five-acre Christmas tree farm with an odd house. We never had to seriously consider giving up our comfortable life in the friendly, safe town of Davis.
Three days later, Laurie and I were riding with Dave the Realtor in his White Chevy Suburban, heading off to see the ‘way too big, way more money’ property. After a ten-minute drive through pretty farmland and up the wooded hills of Willis Road, we stopped at a black metal gate. As we waited for the gate to open (all by itself – pretty cool) I started noticing things that bothered me. The gate was sturdy and utilitarian except for some decorative metal dogwood flowers. A bit frilly for a rural property? My mental ‘we don’t see ourselves here’ list got its first entry. But that was good. It meant we didn’t have to move. There was white vinyl fencing next to the frilly gate. Not my favorite look either. In front of the vinyl fencing was a tall sign. The top of the sign said ‘PAL Ranch.’ Below that, in large black and white letters: ‘People, Animals, Love.’ The line below that, in equally large letters: ‘Bulls, Heifers, Semen.’ I guess I should pay more attention during phone calls with Laurie.
The gate finished opening and we proceeded up a gently sloping road. Tires crunched softly on gravel. As we rounded a curve, the view expanded. Rolling hills rose to our right and left, adorned with golden-dry grasses waving under a blue summer sky. And scattered majestically on the slopes were the biggest oak trees I had ever seen.
Two days later, we had a picnic on top of the hill under the most spectacular oak. All six of us.
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What a great send! Mazal tov!
This is your UC Davis grad who, with his wife and our 10 friends from the Philadelphia, PA region, had the pleasure of meeting you at your vineyard and tasting some of your really great wines. We all signed up for your wine club, no surprise.
We continue to wish you all the best and look forward to placing more orders of JL Kiff!!
Elliot Holin
Amazing story y’all have… amazing it’s been 25 years… can’t wait to connect again soon!
So glad you took that drive to see that property!!❤️
Love reading this! I think Dale and I are overdue for a visit to JL Kiff Winery… Hoping all is well with all of you. Sarah
Congratulations Joel and Laurie on your 20 year “anniversary” for J.L. Kiff Vineyard. It’s always a pleasure to get your email updates. Love your social media videos, oh, and your wine too! We enjoy hanging out with you both at wine events (even cooking and cleaning!) and looking forward to another this spring! Thank you for all the support you give to the McMinnville and Carlton communities!
Congratulations Joel and Laurie on 20 years anniversary for the winery. You create a delightful product that so many enjoy! Keep on goin’….take care, Lisa Purkerson
Happy Anniversary Year! What an awesome journey.
Cheers to many more anniversaries!
Tex, Jacque & Evan
Fun story. I can’t wait for the rest. I assume the sign about “Bulls, Heifers and Semen is no longer there.
I remember when you acquired those first vines and I wondered what you were up to…
We rave about your wine to our wine friends, and love to tell the story of our private tour, meeting with you, and left feeling like family:). We will be club members for life! Looking forward to the next shipment!
Carroll & Gretchen Shipman
Wine Club Member 523
Congratulations on 20 years of vines! I’m glad you drove past the gate.
I love this story!!! Such great visual imagery!! I also never knew that PAL was “People, Animals, Love” but I never saw the other line beneath it either 🤣🤣🤣🤣
We visited your winery and have a picture of the two of you with us when we became the 150th members of your wine club. We have enjoyed your wines with many memorable meals!
Congratulations on your 20th anniversary! We came for a visit in April of 2021 and so enjoyed your wine. We signed up for the wine club and became member 230! We look forward to coming back for a visit soon!
Jeff and Amy Johnston
Finally got around to reading this! So glad you found that perfect place here in McMinnville. We have treasured your friendship (and your wine) over the years!