November 14, 2006 (Update)
I’m in the Dallas airport awaiting the flight to Paris, and have just learned the unbearably sad news of the passing of fellow Oregon winemaker Bryce Bagnall (of his own Bryce Vineyards, and formerly Witness Tree). We first learned of Bryce’s diagnosis of ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease – in early 2003. To see his rapid decline over these past three years has just made me feel deeply sad and helpless. We have lost a tremendous human being.
Bryce and his wife Marcia were the very first wine people we met when we moved here to Oregon in early 2001. From the moment we met I knew that Bryce was one of those special, rare individuals who had an amazing capacity to bring sunshine and joy to every person and every situation that crossed hsi path. His spirit was genuine and indominable. Bryce probably never knew it, but he was an absolute hero to me. He had lived in Burgundy, worked for the late, legendaryDennis Mortet, and had returned to Oregon to plant his own 4 acre vineyard in a magic spot on Ribbon Ridge. He was living the dream, and his upbeat and positive approach to everything was an inspiration to me on a regular basis. Martha and I had a saying whenever we got crabby or stressed – “What Would Bryce Do?” – our cue to get back on the bright side of things and to quit allowing the negativity to creep in.
The cruelest fate of all time was for such a wonderful, loving man to be cut down by one of nature’s nastiest tricks. He was a talented vigneron, to be sure. His wines and his vineyard will be his legacy, along with his lovely and talented daughter Jordan, and the immense love he spread to all who knew him. His wife Marcia is also a hero – she has been the strongest rock imagineable over these difficult years, and will undoubtedly carry on in the grand Bryce tradition with great wines and a lot of love for all. My deepest sympathies to Marcia and Jordan and the entire family. May you rest in peace, mon ami…
