David Russell Lett, Winemaker
Known as Papa Pinot around the Northwest, pioneering Oregon winemaker David Lett was the first to plant the pinot grape in the Willamette Valley over 40 years ago. With that act, he started a legacy that has transformed the region into a worldwide respected winemaking area. We can all hope to leave such a legacy. Lett passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2008 at his home in Dundee, Oregon at the age of 69.
Lett founded the Eyrie Vineyards in Dundee, becoming the pioneer of pinot noir wines in the northwest and acquiring the nickname, “Papa Pinot.” He earned a degree in viticulture and enology from the University of California, Davis and came to Oregon to plant his cuttings and prove that pinot grapes could be grown in the state’s valleys.
David’s family is asking that in lieu of flowers, mourners are encouraged to give to 1000 Friends of Oregon, Lett’s favorite land-use advocacy organization, or Families United, a local non-profit that supports assisted living for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Read David Lett’s Oregonian Obituary.
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