The joke begins when a wine-loving gastroenterologist, a West Coast Swing-dancing MD and a Black German Shepard meet up in a Southern Oregon vineyard. Wait—that’s no joke! It’s part of the Peter William Vineyard story.

Chances are, if you live in Southern Oregon, you know of Dr. Peter Adesman, gastroenterologist, or his wife, Dr. Robin Miller, an integrative medical doctor. Vegas, the couple’s four-legged companion is ever-present in the vineyard, at wine tastings and at Robin’s office.

 Peter William Vineyard—Dr. Adesman’s pride and joy—is one of the newest wine brands taking the Southern Oregon market by storm. The vineyard is situated on 10+ acres at Peter and Robin’s East Medford home. Here, he’s growing Syrah, Malbec, Tempranillo and Grenache for Peter William wines.

Working with a select group of local winemaking consultants, Peter vibrates with excitement that his wines are already winning awards, including prestigious San Francisco Chronicle medals. However, he points out that the wines are still evolving. According to Peter, “Right now, I have two Syrahs and two Tempranillos made by different winemakers. They are very different, and each has its own following. Eventually, we’ll zero in on making the Peter William wines in a ‘house’ style that I enjoy most. In the end, I want to love every wine I make.”

So how did a gastroenterologist from Brooklyn become a wine lover—turned wine collector—turned wine producer? While Peter jokes that “barely a tree grows in Brooklyn,” Peter’s career path took him to Northwestern University for undergrad studies and University of Illinois for medical school—locations not exactly known for their wines. So, at that time, he and his fellow students were exploring wines from Europe— “whatever was on sale,” he smiles.

Back in Brooklyn for a visit after graduation, “Thanksgiving 1975 is where my wine journey truly began. My uncle, an avid wine collector, introduced me to a 1970 Chateau Figeac. The wine was exceptional and had me at the first taste. After that experience, I developed a deep appreciation and started collecting wine on a budget.”

From there, a Portland residency introduced him to wines from California and Washington. (There wasn’t much happening in Oregon at that time, he recalls.) A natural educator and raconteur, Peter started organizing wine tastings—first in Portland where he was in training and then in New York where he started his medical career. BTW—the group he started in New York is still going strong.

“When we moved to the Rogue Valley in 1991, the wine tastings continued, often at the Jacksonville Inn,” Peter recalls. “Along with the tastings, my collecting accelerated and my passion for wine deepened. I still didn’t drink local wines—not even some that are now my favorites—and certainly didn’t think about growing grapes. The Oregon wine scene just wasn’t dialed in yet. It’s taken Southern Oregon time to figure out what grapes grow best here—in just the same way the California wine industry developed. It has been a gradual evolution, and I remember that early wineries like Abacela, Weisinger and Valley View were big influences in the region, just realizing their potential in the late ’90s.”

The increasing quality of Southern Oregon wines inspired Peter to start his own label. “As an avid wine collector and educator since the 1970s, it’s always been a dream to produce my own wines,” Peter muses. “I decided to venture into the wine business by planting a vineyard. I started with a few vines in our backyard. Then, Robin and I moved to a property where we could plant a 10-acre vineyard on the hillside below our home overlooking the Rogue Valley. The vineyards have beautiful rocky soil with excellent drainage. Our first commercial harvest was for the 2016 vintage.”

Peter notes, “With my consulting winemakers, we are producing wines that express the terroir of our hillside vineyard. We grow Syrah, Grenache, Tempranillo and Malbec. We source some other grapes from the best local vineyards. We make both varietal wines and traditional blends for our Peter William Wines.” And while Peter William does not have a dedicated tasting room, you will find the wines at retail and restaurants throughout Southern Oregon.

Running a wine business is time, labor, and cash intensive. Fortunately, Peter has surrounded himself with experts at growing grapes and making wine. Yet, even with his busy gastroenterology practice, Peter prioritizes time to work in the vineyard. “In spring and summer, I’m out there at least one day a week. It’s very Zen-like. Meditative and relaxing.”

You’ll also find Peter pouring at many wine tastings throughout the Valley. “Peter William Vineyards is a dream come true and I love sharing my wines with family, friends and visitors to Southern Oregon. I hope you will look for me at local wine tastings—check out my Facebook page for dates and locations—and find me at wine shops and restaurants,” Peter says enthusiastically.

Learn more at peterwilliamvineyard.com.

Photo of Dr. Peter Adesman and Dr. Robin Miller by Steven Addington Photography.

©Southern Oregon Wine Scene – from the Summer 2019 issue