Big Table Farm

Big Table Farms - Fans of the sophisticated wines of Helen Turley and Sine Qua Non take note: tiny independent (“Indie”) Big Table Farm is an Oregon winery you want to know.

Big Table Farm is Brian Marcy and Clare Carver’s gutsy move to Oregon from their longtime home in Napa Valley. This young couple sold their property in Napa to purchase land for a farm and vineyard in the Willamette Valley.

Big Table Farm winemaker Brian Marcy “learned by doing” with winemakers at several of the most esteemed wineries in California including Turley Wine Cellars and Neyers Vineyards. Brian’s multi-year relationship with Helen Turley and Associates influenced his winemaking style: with Syrah, it is big, full bodied, yet retaining layered fruit and mineral flavors. He made wine for several of Helen Turley’s projects, including Blankiet Estate and Marcassin. He and Clare founded Big Table Farm in 2005, making the 2006 Big Table Farm Syrah their first wine.

The Big Table Syrah 06 is made from grapes offered to the winery from Sine Qua Non’s block at the very top of the White Hawk Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. The grapes were trucked to Amity, Oregon, and processed in a winery shared with Maggie Harrison, winemaker and co-owner of Antica Terra Winery.

Big Table Farm co-owner Clare Carver is a farmer, and Big Table is very much a working farm. She raises free-range chickens, pigs, and beef for local sale. The “Big Table” name was inspired by the long table at their house, site of many feasts using the farm’s produce and meats.

Big Table Farm’s first Oregon wines were made in 2007. A Laughing Pig Rose 07 was released last year, and more Oregon wines will be released in 2009.