Looks like I coulda done a yearlong series on Minnesotans in Wine Country. After a recent article on the topic, I got an earful from my former boss … no, actually, I got a very nice note from a member of the Cowles family, which until 10 years ago owned the Star Tribune.

Seems that Page Knudsen Cowles is managing director of one of Oregon’s top vineyards. When she’s not at her St. Paul home, Cowles is likely to be found at the Knudsen Vineyards in Dundee, Ore., which supplies all the grapes used in four different wines by Argyle, one of the state’s top producers.

The Knudsens have been growing grapes on the property since 1970. Cal Knudsen, Page’s dad, later formed a partnership with a fellow pioneer in the Oregon wine industry, Dick Erath. Cal is still involved with the vineyard but had handed over operation duties to Page and her brothers.

They grow chardonnay and pinot noir, much of which over the years has gone into sparkling wine. Knudsen grapes are used in making two sparklers, Argyle Blanc de Blancs Julia Lee’s Block (named in memory of Page’s mother) and Knudsen Vineyards Brut. Other grapes go into Argyle Spirit House pinot noir and chardonnay. Page said all the wines are sold here, although the chardonnay won’t be released until this fall.

The Knudsen property is just over the hill from another of Oregon’s top wineries: Domaine Serene, owned by Minnesota’s own Ken and Grace Evenstad.

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