About Us & Ribbon Ridge Estate Vineyard
What does the name mean?
Out of Necessity comes from the fact that Merritt lived overseas in Oman and Saudia Arabia for the first 15 years of his life. As it was illegal to purchase alcohol, his family learned to ferment their own wines- rudimentary but a good start. Later, the dream became to produce the best wine possible. If you are deciding on which wine to select and don't know where to start, choose Out of Necessity and you're sure to be pleased.
The term covers more than the wine; it encompasses our values to do what's right and necessary to make it work. How did we live on the farm without a house? Well, we lived in a small 23' trailer for six years. How do we produce grapes with the best flavors and nuances of the terroir? We farm organically and we manage the site ourselves - out of necessity to meet our highest standards. And the wine? Years of experience, luck, and the necessary grit to make the dream come true.
Merritt
"It's not about me. It's about the wine and the farm."
It might sound odd, but Merritt Kain is one of the only winemakers in the valley who does not want to be featured on his own website. Too bad, his wife and other wise advisers disagreed and penned his details on his modest behalf.
Yes, the wine does speak for itself - it is layered, complex, and beautiful. Much like the person, the wines are a reflection of the hard work, experience, and instinct that Merritt brings to his winemaking and farming.
Having chased the sun from Napa to New Zealand, to Oregon, and back a few times - Merritt has over 20 vintages to his name. He has worked with great winemakers including Maggie Harrison, Anna Matzinger-Davies, and Harry Peterson-Nedry. Prior to planting his own vineyard, Merritt worked at the French Laundry in Yountville and was the chef at Capricorn in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
He is an avid fan of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and spends too much time second-guessing his choice to live away from the beach.
Camille
With a background in international economic development and cultural heritage preservations, Camille thought that she was going to live in Sub-Saharan Africa or the basement of the Smithsonian for most of her life. Turns out that marrying a winemaker is equally adventurous.
Camille started her Oregon wine journey in the winery of Patricia Green Cellars, where Patty and Jim decided that her 6' tall stature would be helpful with their method of "pigéage".
Between handplanting the estate vineyard with Merritt and the cellar work, she steadily grew more confident in her wine lingo and knowledge. Eventually, she moved into hospitality and sales, and she has been the general manager at Eminent Domaine (conveniently located across the street) since 2016.
Camille thinks it's quite possible that she accidentally ended up owning a vineyard because she watched French Kiss one too many times. (It's a classic. Highly recommend it.)