Tucked away in the sun-drenched hills near The Dalles, Oregon, along the tranquil curves of Mill Creek Road, lies The Pines Estate—a place steeped in history, romance, and the kind of enduring beauty that can only come with time. This is not just a vineyard. It is a living monument to perseverance, heritage, and the artistry of winemaking. It is where Oregon’s Columbia Gorge wine story truly begins.

At the heart of The Pines is Lonnie Wright, a visionary, family man, farmer, and—by many accounts—the founding father of the Columbia Gorge wine industry. His vision took root in the early 1980s when he first laid eyes on the land’s potential. What began as a modest endeavor with a few ancient, gnarled vines has grown into a celebrated estate that helped redefine an entire wine-growing region.

The soul of the estate is its Old Vine Zinfandel, a block of vines believed to be planted as early as 1900 by Louis Comini, an Italian stonemason and wine lover. Comini, who lived in downtown The Dalles, convinced early landowner Theodore Mesplie, a homesteader and brother to one of the region's first Catholic priests, to allow him to plant vines on the hillside. Comini never owned the land—but his vines thrived, surviving Prohibition, freezes, and neglect, eventually falling into wild disrepair.

Then came Lonnie Wright.

In 1981, Lonnie began restoring the forgotten vineyard, driven by a deep respect for the old vines and a dream of revitalizing the land. By 1987, after years of sweat and soil under his nails, Lonnie secured a long-term lease on the property from its then-owner, a Salt Lake City man who had no interest in winemaking. That lease allowed Lonnie to expand the vineyard, plant new blocks, and slowly breathe new life into the estate. Fifteen years later, he bought the land outright—ensuring that The Pines would remain under the care of someone who truly understood its worth.

Today, the estate boasts heritage Zinfandel planted from cuttings of those original vines, robust Syrah as well as elegant Merlot. Each vine tells a story. Some trunks are double-trained, heavy and thick with age and resilience, shaped by decades of growth and adaptation. Others were started anew after a devastating 2014 freeze that Lonnie weathered with the determination only a true steward of the land can muster.

The original structures from the old Pines Dairy, dating back to 1926, still grace the property. Their Swiss-inspired hip roofs stand as a reminder of the estate’s layered past. The former milkhouse, now Lonnie’s wine storage room, remains naturally cool year-round thanks to thick adobe walls—proof that old buildings, like old vines, still serve with quiet grace.

The history of the estate weaves together the lives of remarkable characters: Comini, the fiery Italian who asked to finish a fistfight in court after offering to pay both men’s fines; Mespley, the Catholic homesteader with deep family ties to Oregon’s early settlement; and Lonnie, whose global journey—from desert farms in Libya to a pioneering role with Chateau Ste. Michelle—ultimately led him home to this vineyard in The Dalles.

Visitors to The Pines often say the place feels enchanted. Perhaps it’s the way the sun spills across the vines, or the whispers of the past that seem to echo through the valley. Maybe it’s the wine itself—powerful, expressive, crafted from fruit that has survived a century.

Lonnie Wright didn’t just restore a vineyard—he rekindled a legacy while raising a family on this enchanted place. In doing so, he helped awaken the Columbia Gorge wine region to its full potential. The Pines Estate is not just a piece of land. It is a rare and sacred place, where history grows on the vine and the future is poured into every glass.

This is your chance to own a chapter of that story. To stand on the shoulders of visionaries and caretakers. To walk through vines planted by hand, restored with passion, and nurtured with wisdom. The Pines Estate is more than real estate—it is Oregon wine country’s origin story. And it is waiting for its next steward.

The Pines Estate features a highly efficient, multi-source irrigation system designed to support diverse agricultural operations, including vineyards, orchards, hayfields, and landscaping.

Primary Water Source

At the heart of the system is a high-capacity artesian well producing approximately 300 gallons per minute. A 75-horsepower high-pressure turbine pump distributes water to several surrounding properties via a shared pipeline. The system services four main users:

• Tennison Orchard (50% well share)

• Ben Synon’s Cherry Orchard

• Wind Horse Vineyard (formerly co-owned by the seller)

• The Pines Estate itself

Water rights are well-established and tied to the property titles. The shared main line operates at up to 200 psi, enabling water delivery to elevated fields across the estate.

Smart Infrastructure

• Three-phase power and a slow-start electric panel maintain optimal pump performance.

• Automatic pressure regulation and fail-safes ensure consistent and reliable operation.

• Underground pipelines minimize exposure and maintenance.

• Underground power lines beyond Mill Creek.

Free-Flow Utilization

The property benefits from a free-flow portion of the artesian well, which runs without electricity. This is used to irrigate lawns and supply the Pines Vineyard, routed through a secondary 10-horsepower pump system.

Backup Water Systems

• An original artesian well still functions and can be activated in winter if needed.

• A spring-fed gravity system provides domestic water to two homes, the wine barn, and auxiliary buildings.

Supplemental Water Source

A creek-fed irrigation setup, powered by a separate 10-horsepower pump, services the east hayfield (approx. 16–17 acres). Power usage for this system is shared with a leased neighboring cattle operation.

Additional Notes

• All vineyard blocks are drip irrigated with filtration.

• Easements are in place for access and maintenance of the shared infrastructure.

• Power systems are metered separately for accurate cost sharing.

This robust, well-maintained system supports both agricultural productivity and residential convenience, offering turnkey irrigation capability with low operational stress.