Harry initially applied degrees in Chemistry and English from the University of North Carolina to a career in high-tech manufacturing. His interest in wine began innocently enough as a hobby, but developed into a serious passion—deeply rooted when he planted his 37-acre Ridgecrest Vineyards in 1980. Ridgecrest was not only the first of Harry’s vineyards, but was also the first vineyard development in Oregon’s newly designated Ribbon Ridge AVA. Ultimately, what began as a hobby led to a radical change in career paths.

In 1990, Harry founded Chehalem, and his hands-on approach to winemaking began. Within five years, he had expanded the winery’s estate holdings to include partnerships in Corral Creek Vineyards (adjacent to the winery) and Stoller Vineyards in the southern Dundee Hills, developed by his Chehalem partners, Bill and Cathy Stoller.