Terry McIntyre’s love of wine started in his early twenties and deepened when a trip through Oregon in the mid-1970s sparked a lasting connection to the region. He and his wife, Carol, bought their home in Carlton in 1994, and after Terry retired from a career in construction management in 2001, he went straight to work in local cellars. Over the next eight years, he apprenticed with experienced winemakers, starting as a cellar hand and ultimately becoming a winemaker himself, shaping a hands-on, artistic style guided by practical wisdom and time-honored techniques.

While Terry was learning the craft, Carol opened her law practice in nearby McMinnville, and their Carlton property was home first to fallow deer and then to cows—quietly enriching the soil that would one day support their vines. The turning point came when Terry, helping build a local winery, had the chance to save 550 Tempranillo vines headed for the compost pile. He cleared a field at home, prepared the site, and planted those rescued vines, laying the groundwork for their estate vineyard and future winery.

As the young vines established themselves, Terry and Carol began building their label with purchased fruit from Spofford Station in the Walla Walla AVA, crafting Merlot and Syrah while they waited for their own harvest. Their first official release under the Stone Griffon label was the 2008 Merlot, followed by the 2012 Carol Jean Estate Reserve Pinot Noir and the 2012 Tempranillo as the debut estate wines. Each wine was met with enthusiastic reviews, confirming that the vision taking shape in Carlton had real staying power.

The name Stone Griffon comes from the tasting room’s beloved “mascot,” a cement griffon statue discovered on a hunting trip to South Dakota. Carol recognized the mythical creature from the seal of her alma mater, Reed College in Portland, and brought it home. Years later, during a “Name the Baby” party celebrating the upcoming release of the 2012 Carol Jean, a friend spotted the statue and helped inspire the Stone Griffon name—a story Terry delights in sharing with guests.

Adding an even more personal touch, the griffon on every label comes from a drawing Carol created in high school. Together, Terry and Carol have woven their history, passions, and sense of place into the winery, creating an experience where each bottle reflects not just a vineyard, but a family story..