HillCrest Winery and Distillery

What HillCrest Winery and Distillery does

HillCrest Winery and Distillery is a private, family-owned estate winery operating from a single 240 Vineyard Lane property in Roseburg, Oregon (Umpqua Valley). Founded in 1959 by Richard Sommer — recognized as the Father of Oregon Wine and the first to plant Vitis vinifera vines post-Prohibition in Oregon in 1961 — it is Oregon's oldest estate winery and the documented birthplace of Oregon Pinot Noir. The DeMara family acquired the estate in 2003 and now operates it across three generations (Dyson and Susan DeMara with children Hanna and Tucker, who joined in 2023). Headcount is 1–10 and total land farmed is 260+ acres, of which approximately 40 acres are estate vineyards across three distinct hillside sites.

Production is intentionally small-lot and estate-only, using dry-farmed hillside viticulture, concrete fermentation tanks, and extended aging in large European Slavonian oak botti. HillCrest was the first Oregon winery to plant Teroldego and Schioppettino. All estate wines are made exclusively from estate-grown fruit, with many bottlings available only at the winery. Revenue is generated entirely through direct-to-consumer channels: the daily-open estate tasting room offering a $15 classic tasting and a $95 winemaker-led "From Grape to Glass" tour; the Cellar 44 subscription wine club with five tiers delivering 2–6 bottles five times per year (Sept, Nov, Jan, March, May); and the hillcrestvineyard.shop e-commerce storefront selling estate wines, curated international wines, and merchandise. The company carries no institutional investment, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed debt or equity funding rounds.

The customer base consists of individual wine enthusiasts, tourists, and wine collectors seeking authentic Oregon heritage wines and library vintages. The business is differentiated by its irreplicable historical pedigree (Oregon State Historical Marker, House Resolution, 2014 invitation as sole US participant at the 900th birthday of the world's oldest winery, Weingut Stift Klosterneuburg) and by Slow Wine recognition — the only Umpqua Valley winery so designated for both wine quality and regenerative farming practices.

Name

HillCrest Winery and Distillery

Legal name

HillCrest Winery and Distillery

Website

https://hillcrestvineyard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HillCrest Winery and Distillery is a private, family-owned estate winery in Roseburg, Oregon — Oregon's oldest estate winery and birthplace of Oregon Pinot Noir — producing small-lot estate wines and selling directly to consumers via its tasting room, Cellar 44 wine club, and e-commerce shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Estate Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Vineyard Establishment & Development (Site Prep, Trellising, Planting) (AFAGAJAA), Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB)

Keywords

• Estate winery
• Wine production
• Wine tasting
• Wine club
• Vineyard management

Headquarters

HQ city

Roseburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tasting Room Sales: Direct wine sales through the estate tasting room, offering guided tastings and premium tour experiences. No reservation required for classic tasting.
2. Wine Club Membership (Cellar 44): Recurring membership program with five annual shipments featuring exclusive wines available only at the winery, new releases, and library vintages. Includes complimentary tastings and priority allocation.
3. E-commerce / Online Shop: Direct online sales of wines, wineware, and international selections through hillcrestvineyard.shop

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HillCrest Winery and Distillery is Oregon's oldest estate winery (founded 1959) and birthplace of Oregon Pinot Noir, producing small-lot estate-grown wines in the Umpqua Valley from approximately 40 acres of dry-farmed hillside vineyards using concrete fermentation tanks and extended aging in large European botti. The winery sells its wines direct-to-consumer through an estate tasting room in Roseburg, Oregon, an online shop at hillcrestvineyard.shop, and the Cellar 44 wine club subscription program with five annual shipments.

Product overview

HillCrest Vineyard is Oregon's oldest estate winery and birthplace of Pinot Noir, offering a portfolio of estate-grown wines and experiential offerings. The core product portfolio includes Oregon wines (Umpqua Valley reds and whites) and international wines, with wine-related merchandise available. Tasting experiences include the Classic Tasting (5-8 wines, $15) and the From Grape to Glass tour ($95). The Cellar 44 Wine Club offers five subscription tiers delivering 2-6 bottles of estate and international wines five times yearly, with exclusive access to limited-production and library wines, complemented by personal video wine notes from the winemaker.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oregon Wines (Umpqua Valley) Estate-grown wines crafted from hillside vineyards in the Umpqua Valley, Oregon, featuring dry-farmed fruit, concrete fermentors, and extended aging in large European botti. Includes Pinot Noir and other varietals synonymous with Oregon wine, made exclusively from estate-grown fruit.
• International Wines Curated selection of internationally crafted wines representing distinctive, often little-known wines from remarkable regions around the world, chosen for character, authenticity, and sense of place.
• Classic Tasting Guided tasting of 5-8 wines in the historic estate tasting room bar, priced at $15 per person with one tasting fee waived per two bottle purchase. No reservation required; designed for visitors seeking an educational, story-driven tasting rooted in Oregon wine history.
• From Grape to Glass Tour and Tasting In-depth, approximately two-hour tour and tasting experience led by a HillCrest winemaker exploring the path of the grape, the impact of stemware, classic tasting techniques, and traditional winemaking styles. Priced at $95 per person for 2-10 participants; reservation required by phone.
• Cellar 44 Wine Club Subscription wine club with five tiers (2, 4, or 6 bottles per shipment) delivering estate Umpqua Valley reds, whites, and curated international wines five times yearly (Sept, Nov, Jan, March, May). Members receive priority allocation of library wines, complimentary tastings for four at pickup, 15% off cases, and personal video wine notes from owner/winemaker Dyson DeMara.
• Wine Ware Wine-related merchandise and accessories available for purchase online to complement the wine drinking experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only Umpqua Valley winery recognized by Slow Wine international organization
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Weingut Stift KlosterneuburgflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014HillCrest was invited to celebrate the 900th birthday of Weingut Stift Klosterneuburg, the oldest winery in the world. Dyson, Susan, and their daughter Hanna DeMara represented HillCrest alongside the oldest wineries from Germany, Italy, France, and South Africa. HillCrest was the only participating winery from the United States, reflecting the family's deep connection to the enduring art, history, and tradition of wine.
• Slow Wine (International Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlow Wine is an international organization that recognizes wineries for both the quality of their wines and their care for nature. HillCrest is the only winery in the Umpqua Valley with this recognition, reflecting their regenerative farming approach and commitment to responsible viticulture.
• Patricia Green (Wine Industry Professional)minorOthersPatricia Green, who would go on to become a prominent figure in Oregon wine, passed through the doors at Hillcrest Vineyard early in her career, learning from Richard Sommer (Father of Oregon Wine).
• Ponzi Family (Wine Industry Professionals)minorOthersThe Ponzi family, who would continue developing Oregon wine, passed through Hillcrest Vineyard early in their career, learning from Richard Sommer.
• Richard SommercoreOthersRichard Sommer, known as the Father of Oregon Wine, planted the first Vitis vinifera vines post-Prohibition in Oregon in 1961. Dyson DeMara worked with Sommer for several years before purchasing HillCrest in 2003, continuing Sommer's pioneering legacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Adelsheim Vineyard: Pioneering Oregon estate winery founded in the same era, with comparable estate-grown Pinot Noir, tasting room, and wine club offerings.
• Sokol Blosser Winery: Oregon estate winery with comparable DTC focus, including tasting room, wine club, and sustainability story. Similar size class and direct-to-consumer distribution model.
• Beaux Frères: Premium Oregon Pinot Noir producer with estate vineyard and small-lot, allocation-based mailing list/wine club analogous to HillCrest's Cellar 44.
• Eyrie Vineyards: Another pioneering Oregon estate winery founded in the same era as HillCrest and a fellow Pinot Noir originator. Operates a similar small-production, estate-grown DTC model with tasting room and library programs.
• Patricia Green Cellars: Oregon Pinot Noir specialist with an industry lineage traceable to Richard Sommer at HillCrest (Patricia Green trained at the estate). Similar small-lot, allocation-style direct sales.
• Ponzi Vineyards: Family-owned Oregon winery explicitly connected to HillCrest through Richard Sommer (Ponzi family trained at HillCrest early in their career). Comparable estate-grown Pinot Noir DTC model.
• REX HILL Vineyards: Oregon estate winery with Pinot Noir focus, on-site tasting room, and wine club—closely aligned small-production DTC model in the same Willamette/Umpqua ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Domaine Drouhin Oregon: Burgundy-backed Oregon Pinot Noir producer with estate winery, tasting room, and DTC focus—competing for similar premium Oregon Pinot Noir consumers with deeper capital and brand.
• King Estate Winery: Larger Oregon estate winery operating in the same broader Pinot Noir and DTC space, with broader product portfolio and significantly larger scale than HillCrest.

Others

• Stift Klosterneuburg: Austria's oldest winery and HillCrest's most prominent international partner; comparable estate-based, multi-generational producer with deep historical brand equity and a tasting/experience offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HillcrestVineyard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hillcrest-vineyard

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HillCrest Winery and Distillery