Draper Valley Vineyard a juicy matter for Curtices
Al Curtice with juice processing equipment. (Photo by Scott Jorgensen)
What began as a health problem eventually became a new beginning for Draper Valley Vineyard owners Al & Sandy Curtice, of Selma.
The couple was living in California’s Napa Valley, where he was an electrical contractor and she worked at St. Helena Hospital, when Al was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease in 2001.
That ailment had caused Al to experience dizziness, vertigo and nausea. After talking to a specialist, he learned that improvements in his diet and lifestyle could help recover the hearing he had lost.
“It made me start thinking about what I could do,” he said.
The couple purchased property at 1751 Draper Valley Road in Selma in August 2002. During spring 2004, Al remodeled the house on the property, which was built in the early 1900s, then brought Sandy and their infant son, Nelson, up to Oregon.
The 48-acre property was already a vineyard, but needed some work. “It was in disrepair,” said Al. “It had been neglected for five to eight years.”
So the Curtices brought in a “couple of tons of grapes,” he said, and began planting them.
Now, the vineyard grows a total of four grape varieties -- Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. But these grapes will not end up in wine glasses. Rather, they will go to make nonalcoholic juice.
While Draper Valley Vineyard follows many of the same processes as the average vineyard, it uses sterile filtration instead of pasteurizing.
“This way, we get to keep the fresh goodness of the grapes,” said Al. “Our process is what really sets us apart.”
Part of what simplifies the process is the fact that since they won’t be used for alcohol, the grapes do not have to ferment. It also allows Draper Valley Vineyard to develop its own special niche.
“It’s an all natural product that’s good for you,” Al said. “It’s a classy beverage that the entire family can enjoy.”
Draper Valley Vineyard’s juice has been selling commercially for the past eight months, and is carried at Taylor’s Country Store in Cave Junction, Gooseberries in Grants Pass, and Harry & David in Medford among other locations.
With the fall season rapidly approaching, the Curtices are anticipating their busiest time of the year. Aside from harvesting the grapes, they have to process and bottle the final product.
“There’s no time to sit and wait,” said Al. “It has to be done all at once.”
He added that the business may add a testing room next year, depending on how business goes during the next few months.
He also might expand the vineyard beyond its current 18 acres, and would like to try mixing blends of grape juice with other fruit flavors, like pears or peaches.
For more information on Draper Valley Vineyard, phone 597-4737 or visit drapervalleyvineyard.com.
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