2017 Belle Fiore, Numinos

Belle Fiore Winery: A Gem in Ashland

Ed and Karen Kerwin fulfilled the ultimate wine lover’s dream when they purchased the land for Belle Fiore in 2000. They had no grape growing or winemaking experience prior to that; they were simply very passionate about the wine community.

Ed and Karen both have interesting professional and academic backgrounds. Working for NASA – yes, the NASA – was Ed’s first job out of college. As a trained clinical research scientist, physician, and allergy & asthma specialist, Ed might have had one of the most interesting pre-winery owner jobs we’ve come across. But there were other dreams on Ed’s professional horizon, and he left NASA after two years and embarked on a career in medicine. 

For her part, Karen is a lifelong academic, who speaks four languages, has a degree in Biochemistry, and a Masters in Genetic Counseling. The couple’s erudition and love of classic European culture, architecture, and wine becomes clear when you visit Belle Fiore or you examine one of the labels on the bottle, many of which include wine-related quotes from thinkers like DH Lawrence. 

The Property & The Grapes

Prior to the Kerwin’s purchase of what would later become Belle Fiore Winery, the land had alternatively been a cattle ranch and a family farm. While grapes had never been planted on the 55-acre property, its rolling hills, open fields, and naturally occurring ponds made it the perfect site for grape production.

The Kerwins wanted to make wine from a robust selection of grapes and didn’t want to be limited by traditional varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. With this in mind, they planted 31 acres of vineyards to a diverse selection of grapes, including on the red front: Barbera, Tempranillo, Teraldago, Syrah, and their favorite Bordeaux varieties. For the white grapes, they chose Pinot Blanc, Verdejo, and Caprettone, an Italian white from Campania. 

From these French, Spanish, and Italian varieties, winemaker Rob Follin creates blends, like the Numinos, but also single-variety bottlings of Teraldago, Caprettone, Pinot Blanc, and Syrah, just to name a few. 

The eclectic strategy of planting 15 varieties appears to be paying off for Belle Fiore. The winery has received over 50 awards, currently produces 8,000 cases of wine a year, and is one of the most popular places for wine tasting in Ashland, Oregon.

Visiting Belle Fiore Winery

Ashland, Oregon, is one of our favorite West Coast wine regions, and its laid-back vibe reminds us of the low-key but high-quality tasting room experiences we’ve had in Anderson Valley. 

What’s interesting about Belle Fiore is the winery lives up to the relaxed, hospitable Ashland atmosphere, but the owners, Ed and Karen Kershwin, have also cultivated a very “Napa-like” experience without the Napa prices. How exactly did they do this? For one, wine-tasting reservations are not required at Belle Fiore. You can walk in for a tasting at the Pavillion or the Patio for between $19 to $39 per person. 

If you’re craving something a little more intimate, an elevated, private tasting in the estate’s Instagram-worthy chateau is a reasonable $65 for non-members and $49 for members. Compare that with Napa’s “experience-driven” tasting rooms that hover near $100 per person, and the value of visiting Oregon wine country becomes clear.