Our Story
Karta Wines has been a family vision almost 15 years in the making.
It began shortly after the Meyerhofer family purchased an existing farm property in the heart of the newly established Ribbon Ridge AVA. The area’s amazing wine reputation and gorgeous landscape did not disappoint. Peter and his wife, Darci, discovered a new love for the area’s Pinot Noir. So much so that in 2014 they planted a three-acre vineyard of Pinot Noir, and then two years later acquired an additional 8 acre parcel.
Since the beginning, Peter and Darci dreamed of someday having a wine that their family could enjoy and share with others. This dream finally came to fruition with the introduction of Karta Wines and the release of an initial 96-case 2018 vintage of Pinot noir. We have since gone on to release another 5 vintages (and counting!) since this first release. The name Karta is a combination of our children’s names, Karsten and Greta. Welcome to Karta Wines!
At Karta Wines, we only produce a small amount of wine each year, making the sources of our fruit of the utmost importance. We are fortunate to work with some of our region’s best vineyards and have cultivated relationships with the land, the grapes and the people who tend them. These relationships are the foundation of Karta Wines.
While Karta Wines may be a boutique operation, our size is synonymous with focus and a sustained commitment to quality. Peter and Darci Meyerhofer, collaborating with winemaker Paden West, are united by a straightforward mission: crafting world class wines with world class grapes. Our wines are typically in barrel and then bottle for a minimum of four years before release to the public. We pride ourselves in making age worthy wines that will evolve and continue to improve over extended cellaring, yet still very much approachable upon release. We trust that you will enjoy our wine, we welcome your comments, and we thank you for your interest in Karta Wines. Cheers!
“Karta Wines may be small, but it is focused”
Winemaker Paden West
Paden West fell in love with music at an early age and began studying, composing, and performing it. Growing up in Oregon’s Willamette Valley gave Paden the opportunity to perform in various venues including wineries, so he learned about wine and its lifestyle firsthand. Performing in tasting rooms led to serving, which led to cellar work and harvest. Between songwriting, music lessons, and terms at schools such as the Berklee College of Music, Paden relaxed by interning at local wineries, working harvest, and in the cellar with some of the best winemakers in the area including Stoller and Penner-Ash. At 17, after releasing an album and being admitted to Berklee, Paden faced a choice: music or winemaking. He chose winemaking.
Fully focused on winemaking, Paden worked part-time in cellars, vineyards, and tasting rooms while pursuing an associate degree in winemaking and viticulture. After degree completion, he was hired by Roth Winery in Sonoma, giving him the opportunity to work with different varietals and winemaking techniques. But Willamette Valley called him back home. Paden joined De Ponte Winery, honing his winemaking skills and palate under the tutelage of talented Burgundy winemaker Isabelle Dutartre. In 2016, Paden accepted an assistant winemaker position working for highly acclaimed winemaker Isabelle Meunier of Lavinea Wines at the Carlton Winemakers’ Studio managed by Anthony King – now both mentors. After 6 years with Isabelle at the Studio, Paden Left to go be the winemaker for California famed business man/winemaker Ehren Jordan at Failla Oregon.
Working with fruit from some of the finest vineyards in the Valley and cutting his teeth under some of Oregons’s finest winemakers, Paden is instrumental in crafting some of the Willamette Valley’s most coveted and awarded Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.
He may (or may not) talk shop at home as his wife, Jessica West, is the associate winemaker at Harper Voit and winemaker for Approachment wines in Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Be Part of Our Story
Join us for tasting in downtown Sherwood beginning in 2024!
