THE PEOPLE BEHIND CARLTON CELLARS
Bill Hanson, CWE
Bill moved to Oregon in 1980, when there were only 35 wineries in the state. By 2022, that number had grown to over 1,100 producers, with most producing fewer than 5,000 cases. Bill began his wine career in 1983 in the cellar at Hidden Springs Winery, then became Assistant Winemaker at Parducci in California three years later. After more than two years in Ukiah, he transitioned into wine distribution in Florida for eight years before returning to Oregon in 1994, when the state had around 100 wineries.
In 2007, Bill took on the role of National Sales Manager and Assistant Winemaker at Panther Creek Cellars, the same year he established his own Libra Vineyard. During this time, he became friends with his neighbor Dave Grooters, who had recently completed Carlton Cellars and was about to release wine from his estate vineyard planted in 2003. Bill soon moved the production of his Libra and Pisces wines to Carlton Cellars.
Following Dave’s retirement and a three-year hiatus, he handed the reins of Carlton Cellars over to Bill for the 2022 vintage. Bill also continues his full-time work in National Sales, representing the Stoller Wine Group since 2013.
Patrick Taylor, from Cana’s Feast winery in Carlton, has been working with Bill's Libra Vineyard Estate fruit since 2014 and is the winemaker for Carlton Cellars and Libra Wines
Patrick Taylor, Winemaker
Patrick Taylor, a descendant of a Prohibition-era winemaker and Italian immigrant, discovered his passion for winemaking after a diverse career path that included years in the restaurant industry, a foray into home-brewing, and an academic detour into history. In 1991, drawn by Portland, Oregon's vibrant agricultural and creative culture, he set out to pursue his love of fermentation.
After earning a BS (1999) and MS (2002) in cool climate viticulture and oenology at Oregon State University, Patrick honed his craft with winemaking stints in Australia and the Willamette Valley. His mentorship under Gino Cuneo introduced him to the art of crafting wines from Italian grape varieties, sparking a deep connection to Italy's winemaking traditions.
Patrick’s decade-long passion project, Hammer & Tongs Vermouths, gained national acclaim, earning features in The Wall Street Journal, Sunset Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. In 2015, he was invited to share his insights on Barbera with the Consorzio Barbera d’Asti as part of a distinguished panel of American wine producers and writers.
Since 2004, Patrick has served as the winemaker at Cana’s Feast Winery, collaborating with esteemed growers across the Pacific Northwest to craft wines that marry heritage and terroir. Inspired by the wines of Italy and France, particularly Northern Italy’s Piemonte region, Patrick's work reflects his reverence for these world-renowned food and wine traditions.