the duo
hey, there!
We’re Jessica and Paden West, a winemaking couple that has over 20 years combined experience in the Oregon wine industry.
We’ve been crafting top-tier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for ages, but let’s face it—sometimes you’ve gotta shake things up. So, we’re adding a touch of “fun” to our serious winemaker vibes.
Approachment is our excuse to unleash our creative and experimental side together as winemakers but also as partners and best friends. We are excited to make energetic, creative, thought provoking, and approachable wines in limited production.
Here are the bite-sized versions…
Jessica got her start in wine shops and tasting rooms, where she mastered the fine art of talking about tannins without scaring people off.
In 2013, she traded the sales floor for the cellar, interning at Bethel Heights Vineyard under Winemaker Ben Casteel and viticulture expert Mimi Casteel. It didn’t take long for her to realize she was more into crushing grapes than sales goals.
To make it official, she enrolled in the NW Wine Studies program, earned a degree in Winemaking, and started turning her passion into something you can pour into a glass.
Paden grew up in the Willamette Valley and began his path in wine just as Jessica did- by working in wine shops and tasting rooms.
In 2010, Paden was offered an internship at Penner-Ash, managed by Winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash and Assistant Winemaker Brian Irvine. After finding his fire for the winemaking side of the business, Paden also enrolled in the NW Wine Studies program…
Where his lab partner turned out to be Jessica.
Once Paden and Jessica were newly married and outfitted with their Oenology and Viticulture degrees, the two moved to McMinnville to be in the heart of Oregon’s wine country.
Once Paden and Jessica were newly married and outfitted with their Oenology and Viticulture degrees, the two moved to McMinnville to be in the heart of Oregon’s wine country.
Current & future
Current & future
Jessica
Today, nearly a decade later, Jessica is the co-Winemaker at Harper Voit, crafting many of the Valley’s high-end wines together on behalf of Harper Voit, Eminent Domaine, Five Fourteen Vineyards, Moffett Vineyards, & many more.
Paden
After graduating, Paden was offered an Assistant Winemaker position for highly acclaimed winemaker Isabelle Muenier of LAVINEA at the Carlton Winemaker’s Studio, managed by Anthony King - now both mentors. After 6 years, Paden accepted the Winemaker position at Failla Oregon, working with Ehren Jordan. Now Paden is head Winemaker at Benza Vineyards, crafting Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sparkling wines in the Laurelwood District, AVA.
The Duo
With Jessica and Paden achieving their respective winemaker positions, Paden strongly feels:
“You don’t get to a position you love, unless you do it with the person you love”.
Approachment is now the continuation of each career path combined into a joint expression of Jessica and Paden’s combined talents, skill sets, palates, and creative outbursts.
They may or may not occasionally get into a heated disagreement when it comes to blending…
What does the future hold? Well…. we’ll just have to find out together.
