Lonnie Wright, owner of The Pines 1852, has been working The Pines vineyard since reviving the century old vine zinfandel in 1982. In 1986, Wright received a phone call from then home-winemaker Peter Rosback.

Lonnie Wright Biography
Meet the Team

Rosback was looking for some grapes to use for his basement wine operation. Wright agreed to sell the old vine zinfandel to Rosback, thus beginning their business relationship.

Wright continued expanding The Pines Estate Vineyard over the years by planting a new block of zinfandel in 1987, merlot in 1991 and 1993 and syrah in 1994.

In 1994, Rosback outgrew his basement and started his own winery, Sineann in Newberg, Ore. Wright sold the old vine zinfandel, younger zinfandel and merlot to be produced under the Sineann label.

In 2001, Wright decided that his grapes were too good to sell to everyone else; he wanted to keep some for himself. Wright approached Rosback to be the winemaker for his new label. After a handshake agreement “The Pines 1852” was born.

Century Old Vineyard

The Pines Vineyard’s Old Vine Zinfandel was first planted in The Dalles, OR by an Italian stone mason in the late 1800s. Louis Comini made his home in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, bringing with him grape vines from his homeland in Genoa, Italy.

The century Old Vine Zinfandel make The Pines one of the oldest vineyards in the Northwest.

The Pines 1852 Documentary

Some friends of ours made an incredible documentary about The Pines and our Old Vine Zinfandel for the NW Documentary Fest. I think they really captured our passion for the grape!