Bear Creek Winery of Oregon was established in 1997 when the Eichmann Family purchased what was formerly known as Siskiyou Vineyards. The name Siskiyou Vineyards comes from the vineyard location in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains. The existing Vineyard and Winery date back to beginning days of the Oregon Wine-Industry. The Vineyard was established in 1971 and planted with mainly Pinot Noir as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewürztraminer. The age of the wines make the vineyard one of the older plantings in Oregon. At near 1700’ it is also one of the higher elevations for a vineyard in Oregon.

  Today’s winery Building was built in 1984 before then the wine was made in the basement of the previous owners Chuck and Susi David. In 1998 we added 1 acre of a newer clone of Pinot Noir and named that block Gabriella’s Vineyard after our oldest daughter, she actively helped plant and nurture the young vines to maturity and the first harvest took place in 2002. In 1999 we added 1.5 acres of Pinot Blanc after my wife and I went to a tasting of different Pinot Blanc’s from Europe and fell in Love with the Varietal. In the year 2000 about one acre of vineyard was planted right below the winery, as an experimental block with several varieties and trellises.

A total of 12 acres are being farmed by the small family operation. Currently we purchase grapes from a small three-acre vineyard named Edgevale Vineyard that is located just outside Medford. Total wine production is up to 2500 cases annually.

Wines are produced under two different labels one is the Bear Creek Label that is reserved for small hand crafted lot’s with sometimes only 50cases produced, and then the Siskiyou Vineyards Label for Wines at great Values for $15 or less.

Tasting room is open to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day daily from 12noon to 5PM and after that by appointment only.

Annual event is Thanksgiving Open House on the weekend after Thanksgiving Fri, Sat & Sun.

Ownership is Rene Eichmann Pres. & Winemaker, wife Lorie does all the office work and runs the tasting room, youngest son Rene Ernst helps in the Vineyard and Winery whenever he can. Gabriella and Andreas are off to college.

We are located in the very southwestern corner of the Rogue Valley Appellation. Location is 6 miles from Cave Junction on Hwy 46 Caves Hwy (Highway to the Oregon Caves National Monument) Cave Junction is located about 30 miles southwest on Redwood Hwy 199 from I 5 at Grants Pass or about 1 hour northeast on Redwood Hwy 199 from Crescent City CA.