The name J.K. Carriere is a contraction of Jim Prosser’s two grandfathers’ names. The wasp that features prominently on the label has, due to severe allergy, twice nearly killed him. In 1999, on the heels of cellar work for eight classic Pinot Noir producers (OR, NZ, AUS, FR) and still working for two, Jim boot-strapped his operation and started making wine as J.K. Carriere Wines in Newberg, Oregon.
For its first ten years the winery operated from a true 100-year-old barn, which allowed both the business and reputation to flourish. In November 2007, Jim purchased 40 acres of grape-growing land on the southeast flank of Parrett Mountain, in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. In 2009 the first vineyard blocks were planted, a new winery building was completed, and J.K. Carriere settled into its new home in the hills.
IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE, THAN TO GROW UP.
My name is Jim Prosser and I started this beautiful mess. It continues to save me from all that growing up I had done in the past. Twenty years in wine, sixteen with my own winery, in due course I became we, and we purposefully craft just 4,000 cases of acid-centered Pinot Noir, some bubbles and a little chardonnay, from our winery on a mountain in Oregon. We are, in fact, what we want to be.
— Jim Prosser, owner/winemaker