In the late 1980s Steve and Carol Girard, seduced by the Pinot Noir grape, left Napa Valley to pioneer the remote southern Willamette Valley. They found their perfect estate, a 145-acrean expansive sheep farm that was free from chemicals or prior plantings. They knew this land was capable of growing silky, elegant and complex Pinot Noir. Today, Benton-Lane continues to farm its now-legendary estate using a blend of organic, biodynamic and sustainable practices.