Troon Vineyard

An Oregon Winegrowing Heritage Vineyard

50th Anniversary 2022

Troon Vineyard has over 50 years of history in Southern Oregon; the original vines were planted in 1972 by Dick and Virginia Troon and for several years they sold the grapes to local wineries.  Deciding the real solution to the business was creating his own wines Dick converted his barn to a winery.  Many stories and legends have been told about Dick Troon whose eccentricities and charisma worked well for a displaced Scotsman.  For deep in his heart his Scottish heritage was the way in which he lived.  Troon Vineyard was originally a cattle grazing property and after a number of years and after finding out that wine grapes produced much greater income per acre he set about getting educated about grapes and wine.  He planted, experimented, cursed, re-planted and eventually came to a conclusion that the grapes grown on Troon Vineyard were the best in the world.  Dick Troon loved the beautiful Applegate Valley, the people and his winery.  He often said Troon Vineyard was the center of the universe and to him it was. 

By Maggie Bowman

I would love to share the history of Troon Vineyard with you… As it all began with my mother, Virginia… A.k.a. Jinx!

In 1963 , When I was five, my family moved from Pomona to the Applegate Valley. My mother had purchased 80 acres including the little farm down on the corner where Kubli meets North Applegate! We lived there for one year while building our new home where the Vineyard is now.

My parents were divorced in 1967… And my mother and Dick Troon were married in 1968.

Dick Troon would not allow my mother to put his name on any legal documents! Not her mortgage, not the property…Nothing! We heard him say… “I love you Jinx, not your money!” Dick was an engineer for the county road department, but soon realized that our property needed his undivided attention!

He was not a cattle rancher…but, often let the neighbors put some of their cows on our property for grazing. He did see potential the land. My folks first investigated growing olives!! But finally settled on grapes because the conditions were perfect! It was a team effort from the very beginning! Dick Troon did not create this vineyard by himself… It would not have happened without Virginia Troon. She owned the land. We began planting the vineyards in 1972

Unfortunately, my mother died in 1989, while they were vacationing in Scotland. As it turned out… My mother left him 50% of the property and 50% to the four of her children. A few years later he offered to buy our half… And since he was doing all the work, and paying all the taxes… We agreed and gave him our blessings!

And the rest is history… my mom was there in the beginning. And they were quite a team! They also created a wonderful wild fowl Art business…Troon & Troon…where a Dick carved ducks and birds (even carousel animals) at my mother painted them!

The winery started seeing some amazing success… And it really took off! By the time He was ready to retire and sell… He was getting all of the credit for the wine/winery. It’s no ones fault… Jinx just wasn’t around to see the fruits of her labor and visions for the property.

As we approach the 50 year anniversary of Troon Vineyards…Please find a way to honor and celebrate my mother’s contributions and efforts… As well as Dick Troon’s.