About Joe

Yes, there really is a Joe! Joe Dobbes is the man behind your bottle of Wine By Joe. As the sole owner and winemaker of Wine By Joe, LLC, Joe is a busy guy. As he says, "Passion fuels endless energy." Joe has been making wine in Oregon for over twenty years and his passion increases with each vintage.

Driven to excellence in his art, Joe Dobbes is the consummate winemaker. Raised in a small town in the north Willamette Valley and educated in Ashland, Joe is a true Oregonian and is dedicated to Oregon wines. Yet his calling began outside Oregon, in Germany and France, where Joe spent 2 1⁄2 years learning the art and science of winemaking. He apprenticed at Wiengut Erbhof Tesch, in the German Nahe region and at Domaine G. Roumier and Domaine Comtes Lafon in the Burgundy region, France, with winemasters Christophe Roumier and Dominque Lafon.

Stateside, Joe rooted his career as assistant winemaker at Elk Cove Vineyards (1987 – 1988) and as winemaker at Eola Hills Cellars (1989 – 1991). Joe’s entrepreneurial spirit blossomed when he revamped select Hinman Vineyard’s wines into the new Silvan Ridge Reserve label (1991 – 1995). Joe then became Willamette Valley Vineyard’s winemaker and vice president of production, and simultaneously winemaker for the Griffin Creek and Tualatin Estate labels (1996 – 2002). Yet Joe’s many accomplishments did not satisfy his drive.

In 2003, Joe’s passion drove him to create his own consulting and custom crushing company. He created Wine By Joe, LLC, where Joe now consults for as many as twenty wineries. Joe has since harvested the hard-won fruits of his own labor and continues to do so. In 2003, Joe created his dream: Dobbes Family Estate. This line of elegant yet powerful wines from Oregon’s premier vineyards carries the crest of Joe’s extensive winemaking experience. Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris; and Rogue Valley Syrah and Viogner are some of the best in Oregon under the Dobbes Family Estate label.

Wine By Joe, the family of three Pinots, hit your tables in August 2004. This fun package of serious wine begs to be poured on your everyday table with lots of great company. Joe gives back, as well. A portion of Wine By Joe proceeds are donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Northwest.