The story

The Burton Bittman label is inspired by two strong women who created two strong families.
Their perseverance and independent spirits are foundational to the Burton Bittman vision.

Kay Leone Burton standing in her wedding outfit with a coupe — Kay leone Burton

Kay was an ambitious teenager; the editor of the newspaper and the yearbook at Franklin High School. It was her dream to go to college and become a journalist one day, but that wasn’t in the cards for Kay. Like many women of her era, she was discouraged from pursuing education past high school in favor of a more traditional role as wife and mother.
Instead of college, Kay applied her ambition and tenacity in other ways. She had three children (including Lee Miller), which she raised with fierce devotion through good times and hard times. In her 40’s, she became a business owner herself as the proprietress of a Sears Catalog Store in Welches near Mount Hood.
Retirement settled Kay and Walter (grandpa) in sunny eastern Oregon. As a grandma, Kay was the matriarch of her extended family. She and Grandpa would make the trek to Dundee every year to support Kathy and Lee during harvest. Kay drove kids to school and activities and made all the meals. Walter hauled grapes all over the Willamette Valley till dark.
In so many ways, Kay Leone Burton laid the literal groundwork for Burton Bittman Wines.

Mary Ann Bittman standing in her kitchen with a cigarette — Mary ann Bittman

Mary’s life started in a convent in Eastern Canada. The daughter of immigrants from Hungary, she didn’t have the brightest beginnings. She trained as a nurse and moved to the U.S. where she met Donald Koball (grandpa). They married, had three children (including Kathy Miller), and planted an olive orchard in Corning, California.
Mary Bittman moved through the world with grace, precision, and generosity. She performed her work in the hospital ER with compassion, frequently stripping out of her uniform in the garage to avoid bringing lice and other evidence of her day into the house. Once, a Mexican migrant family broke down near town. The family had no money, no food. So, Mary helped. She gave the mother the shoes off of her feet because the woman needed them.
In her off-hours, Mary played the organ, kept her floors famously spotless, and went to Mass on Sundays. She laughed when her middle son grew weed in the window boxes (oregano he claimed), and she preferred a long bath over a shower at the end of the day.
Burton Bittman Wines was conceived in the spirit of Mary – humble, graceful, generous, complicated, and grounded.

Our Vision

Burton Bittman Wines was born and raised in the Dundee Hills AVA. We are family-owned and family-run, but we’re different. Conscious of the needs of our local community and our global community, we conduct our business with a view towards the long term - not five years, or ten, but 100 and more. Like the domains of Burgundy, we want our family to be able to sustainably grow grapes, make wine, and savor life in this same place where we are now.

With that in mind, our winery looks a little different from most. We don’t have a physical winery dedicated to the production of just our wines and we don’t have a tasting room. What we do have is great wines at human-sized prices and innovative new ways to help you experience them alongside the community that makes them possible.

FAQs

Do you have a winery?

Yes and no. Burton Bittman Wines is a virtual winery. We borrow space to make our wines alongside other winemakers at R.Stuart & Co. in McMinnville, Oregon. This allows us to both be a part of the larger community, collaborate with other winemakers, and keep our operational costs low, which means our wines can stay at a tasty price point for you!

Do you have a tasting room?

We do not have a tasting room. It’s an unusual choice for sure, but by not having a tasting room, our overhead stays manageable, which means you get more tasty wine for your dollar. Don’t worry, you can still experience our wines at our pop-up tastings and we’re working on ways to bring the tasting experience to you wherever you are. Check out our Experience page for details on where we will pop up next!

Why can’t we come and visit you?

Sometimes you can! Our vineyards are working farms and we’re usually on the tractor. We’re crafting future events that will turn our vineyard rows into proper locations for you to experience our wines. In the meantime, we are experimenting with ways to bring an authentic Dundee Hills experience to you where you are and reduce all our carbon footprints in the process.