Troon VineyardThe World's Only Demeter & ROC Gold Certified Winery
From Napa refugee to Oregon pioneer—Craig Camp and the Whites have created the world's only winery with both Demeter Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Gold Certification in the Siskiyou Mountains.
From Dick Troon's 1972 plantings to Craig Camp's revolution—Southern French varieties in the Oregon Siskiyous.
The story begins in 1972 when Southern Oregon pioneer Dick Troon planted the first vines in what would become the Applegate Valley AVA. His early wines like "Druid Fluid" drew a loyal local following, but the focus was on typical California varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon that struggled to ripen in this cool, marginal climate. The area remained a quiet backwater, far from Portland's Willamette Valley glamour [^207^][^212^].
Everything changed in 2016 when Craig Camp arrived. A veteran wine professional with three decades in Italy, Napa, and the Willamette Valley, Craig had grown disillusioned with Napa's escalating prices ($21,000/ton for Cabernet!). He discovered Troon, fell in love with the Siskiyou Mountain views, and convinced Texas physicians Dr. Bryan and Denise White to purchase the property in 2017. The Whites were "mesmerized by the raw beauty" and shared Craig's vision for responsible agriculture [^208^][^212^].
Today, Troon Vineyard is the world's only Demeter Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Gold Certified winery—one of just four farms globally to achieve ROC Gold status. Craig's work earned him Wine Enthusiast's Environmental Advocate of the Year 2025 nomination. The 100-acre estate includes vineyards, cider apples, vegetable gardens, hay fields, re-wilded honeybees, sheep, and chickens. They even offer guest houses and EV charging stations powered by Pacific Power [^202^][^207^][^208^].
"Farm like the world depends on it"—regenerative biodynamics, no-till, native yeasts, and the Southern French connection.
Troon's approach combines Demeter Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Gold standards—going beyond sustainability to actively improve soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Craig describes it as "organic tells you what you can't do; biodynamics gives you the structure to create; regenerative requires you to prove you're making things better" [^208^].
In the vineyard, they practice no-till farming—no tilling under vines or between rows—to maintain moisture and preserve soil microbiology. Cover crops include over 20 different plants seeded with no-till equipment. Biodynamic preparations are made on-site using valerian, dandelions, yarrow, chamomile, stinging nettle, and oak bark from the farm itself. Sheep, chickens, and wildlife contribute to the ecosystem. The goal is zero off-farm inputs [^208^].
In the winery, minimalism reigns: native yeasts only, no additives (sugar, acid, enzymes), no new oak barrels (neutral oak only), no filtration or fining. The wines ferment to natural dryness—Craig notes their bigger reds hit about 13.5% alcohol, rosés around 11.5%. As Craig says, "We let the grapes tell us where they want to go" [^208^][^227^].
Regenerative Organic
No-Till Farming
Native Yeasts
Kubli Bench, Siskiyou Mountains—granite, river sediment, and the too-cool climate for Cabernet.
Elevation
The Kubli Bench sits at 1,400 feet elevation in the Siskiyou Mountains. The valley floor here is higher than much of Oregon wine country. Shorter days near harvest slow sugar accumulation while maintaining acidity—ideal for moderate-alcohol wines but too cool for late-ripening Cabernet [^207^][^212^].
Unique Soils
Ocean sediment, river sediment, and decomposed granite—the Siskiyou Mountains were islands jammed into the coast by tectonic movement. Soils resemble Alsace, Beaujolais, and Sardegna more than Willamette Valley volcanic soils. The granite naturally softens tannins, making even robust Tannat approachable [^212^][^227^].
Varieties
Climate resembles the Languedoc—too warm for Pinot Noir, too short-season for Cabernet Sauvignon. Perfect for Southern French varieties: Vermentino, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tannat, Malbec, Grenache. As Craig says, "Making these varieties is like coming full circle" from his importing days in the 1980s [^207^][^212^].
From Pét tanNat to Cuvée Pyrénées—Southern French varieties with Oregon soul.
Pét tanNat
A clever name for a unique wine—100% Tannat made as Blanc de Noirs pét-nat. Pressed Tannat (hence white wine from red grapes), bottle-fermented in the ultra-brut style (driest of the dry). Sweet lemon curd aromas, candied orange peels, lifted palate with piquant citrus and wet clay pot notes. A distinctive take on pét-nat from the world's tannic grape [^211^][^216^][^241^].
Cuvée Pyrénées
53% Tannat, 47% Malbec co-fermented (formerly called M&T Reserve). A virtual trip to the mountainous border between France and Spain. Rich with black fruits—berry, cherry, cassis. Sharp streak of dark complexity. The Tannat provides structure and leathery tannins while Malbec softens the edges. Best with grilled steaks and vegetables. "One of the few Tannats that doesn't require food" [^211^][^223^][^227^].
Kubli Bench Amber / Ascendant Amber
Orange/amber wine from estate grapes. The 2023 Ascendant Amber is 46% Vermentino, 29% Viognier, 25% Grenache Blanc, grown and harvested specifically for skin-fermentation. Also versions with Riesling. Fermented and aged in clay amphorae on skins for months. Orange blossoms, honeycomb, dried flowers, flinty stony minerality. Deep, waxy texture with gorgeous acidity [^211^][^217^][^224^].
Druid's White / Côtes du Kubli Blanc
White Rhône-style blends: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino, Viognier in various combinations. The Druid's White typically includes 35% Grenache Blanc, 35% Marsanne, 25% Vermentino, 5% Roussanne. Fleshy, rich aromatics of honey and beeswax, but Vermentino lifts with fresh maritime character. Tropical fruits (guava, mango) balanced by zingy tartness. 90+ points from Decanter [^201^][^211^].
Estate Vermentino
100% Vermentino from Kubli Bench. Fresh citrus flavors with noticeable saline/mineral component—like the Mediterranean coast in a glass. The variety shines in Applegate Valley's granite soils and Pacific breezes. A signature wine for Troon and a variety rarely seen in Oregon. 92 Points Decanter [^201^][^227^].
Estate Tannat
100% Tannat from southwest France (Madiran), known as a tannic beast. But Troon's version is different: whole-cluster fermentation and granite soils naturally soften the tannins. Still robust with great depth and complexity, but approachable. Red and black berry fruit, earthy, savory. Will age beautifully for years [^211^][^227^].
Estate Syrah
Syrah from Kubli Bench, whole-cluster fermented. The cooler climate and shorter growing season create a more restrained, elegant style than warm-climate Shiraz—more Northern Rhône than Australia. Pepper, olive, dark fruit with the structure to age. Available as both standard and whole-cluster versions [^211^][^212^].
Kubli Bench Rosé
Made from younger vines grown specifically for rosé, picked early for freshness. Light, bright, perfect for summer sipping on Troon's picnic grounds. Shows the crisp acidity that defines Applegate Valley wines. Picked early to preserve acidity and freshness [^211^][^236^].
Glou Glou
A distinctive "blanc de noir" in a nouveau style. Is it a dark rosé or a light red? That's up to you! Released as a spring wine when "the first blush of spring blooms over the Applegate Valley." Fresh, fruity, meant for immediate enjoyment. Shows Troon's playful side [^218^].
Négrette
Oregon's first Négrette—a rare variety from southwest France (Fronton region). Troon is pioneering this obscure grape in America. Light, fruity, with distinctive pepper and spice notes. Another example of Craig's mission to bring Southern French varieties to Oregon [^218^].
The Gold Standard of Regenerative Wine
Troon Vineyard represents the future of sustainable viticulture—not just organic, not just biodynamic, but regenerative. As the world's only Demeter Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Gold Certified winery, they prove that world-class wine can heal the planet. Craig Camp's recognition as Wine Enthusiast Environmental Advocate of the Year 2025 validates what they've built: a 100-acre ecosystem where sheep graze between vines, bees pollinate cover crops, and carbon is sequestered in living soil [^202^][^207^][^208^].
By focusing on Southern French varieties suited to Applegate Valley's marginal climate—instead of forcing Cabernet or Pinot Noir—Troon creates wines of unique personality: Tannat that doesn't need steak, orange wines from amphorae, pét-nats from unlikely grapes. As Craig notes, "If you just want to make commercial grade beverages, this isn't the model." Troon is for wine lovers who care about what's in the bottle and how it got there [^212^][^227^].
- World's only Demeter + ROC Gold
- One of 4 ROC Gold farms globally
- Founded 1972 (Dick Troon)
- Owned by Dr. Bryan & Denise White
- Craig Camp, GM since 2016
- 100 acres Siskiyou Mountains
- No-till farming
- 20+ cover crop species
- Biodynamic preparations on-site
- Native yeasts only
- No additives, no new oak
- Sheep, chickens, bees, cider apples
- Southern French varieties
- Kubli Bench (1,400ft)
- Granite & river sediment soils
- Two tasting rooms (Applegate + Carlton)
- EV charging station
- Wine Enthusiast Award 2025