Scott Elder and wife Stephanie LaMonica’s venture into making wine began in 2008, to commemorate the birth of their son. It was their first harvest from the vineyard they planted in Spring 2006, less than six months after locating “the perfect” ground in 2005. Theirs was the first in that area of Oregon’s Columbia Valley AVA surrounded by acres of wheat land, just outside The Dalles. It had always been a dream of Scott’s, to have a vineyard and make wine, and with their child in tow, off they went.
Scott and Stephanie always knew they wanted their wines to be memorable, well-made, and unique. Their vineyard and grape-growing knowledge provided them with expertise in selecting grapes that could deliver on their goal of individuality. Back in the day, with their boutique label, their singular, fine wines were showcased in some of New York City’s Michelin-starred restaurants—Blue Hill NYC, Annisa, Dovetail— as well as at a James Beard New York City Columbia Valley Terroir dinner that centered on the flavors their wines brought to the table. It came as no suprise, when their wines won a few medals at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. But they were less interested in ribbon chasing, more in making wines that simply stood out from the crowd.
Along the way there have been ups and downs, as is normal in farming and the wine industry. And then, the pandemic hit. It was during that time they realized, why not do more to aid and inspire others in the care of each other and their environment, and use their wine to do it? Stephanie’s numerous volunteer hours writing grants to help improve a local park; creating and coordinating an annual community environmental education program with the local elementary school; as weed puller, planter and mulcher extraordinaire in the fire damaged Columbia River Gorge; as well as a land steward for endangered western pond turtle habitat had a lot to do with this realization: to make a greater, consistent effort to help others, our landscapes, and all that call Mother Earth home. And with that, The Aura Fund was born. Winnie, their little sweet cupcake of a rescue dog, agreed with this decision. Their son, now a teenager, has yet to comment.
