Folly of Man, A Bold New Voice in Oregon Wine, Debuts Inaugural 2023 Vintage
The highly-anticipated estate wine project from esteemed winemakers Tracy and Aaron Kendall launches today
Amity, Ore. (April 3, 2025) — Folly of Man, the highly anticipated estate wine project from acclaimed winemakers Tracy and Aaron Kendall, is proud to announce its official launch and the inaugural release of four limited-production wines from the 2023 vintage. Comprising less than 300 cases together, Folly of Man’s four inaugural wines from the Willamette Valley—two Pinot Noirs and two Chardonnays—were crafted from the couple’s meticulously farmed estate vineyard and two additional sites handpicked by the Kendalls for quality and resonance.
With deep roots in Oregon’s wine industry, the Kendalls bring decades of experience to Folly of Man, having honed their craft at some of the most respected wineries in the Willamette Valley and beyond. Tracy spent three years as an enologist at Adelsheim Vineyard, and the next ten years as Associate Winemaker at Burgundy-Oregon winery Nicolas-Jay, where she collaborated with winemaker Jean-Nicolas Méo of Domaine Méo-Camuzet and produced ten consecutive vintages of deeply respected Burgundian-style wines.
Also an Adelsheim Vineyard alumnus, Aaron is perhaps best known for his work alongside visionary winemaker Mike Etzel at Beaux Frères Vineyards & Winery, where his talents flourished—Beaux Frères saw multiple Pinot Noir releases listed among the world’s top 100 wines in leading publications during Aaron’s tenure.
“We’ve always said to each other that the best expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have yet to be made,” says Aaron. “And yet, it’s folly to try to tame nature’s wild forces into a human vision,” adds Tracy. “Folly of Man is about embracing the unpredictable nature of winegrowing and the dedication it takes to capture something truly special.”
The Kendall’s estate vineyard, a 48-acre site near Salem with 16 acres of vines farmed using regenerative, organic, and biodynamic practices, sits in the windswept saddle of the Van Duzer Corridor, where cooling Pacific breezes and complex volcanic and marine sedimentary soils create ideal conditions for expressive, terroir-driven wines.
With vines planted in 1997, the Folly of Man estate has a combination of classic and lesser-known Pinot Noir clones—like the intriguing Swan clone, a California heritage variety named for Russian River Valley visionary Joseph Swan and known for its tiny, dime-sized berries and striking blue-purple skins.
The unplanted sections of the estate remain untouched, home to an old-growth Oregon white oak savanna, open forest, and a butterfly sanctuary, all reminders of the Kendalls’ commitment to preserving the area’s biodiversity and natural beauty.
Folly of Man’s 2023 vintage wines reflect the Kendalls’ signature winemaking approach: thoughtful, restrained, and resonant of their careful vineyard choices.
The 2023 Folly of Man Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay bottlings lead the inaugural release alongside two single-vineyards, a Pinot Noir from Momtazi Vineyard and Chardonnay sourced from Pearlstead and de Lancellotti vineyards.
Available in extremely limited allocations, the inaugural wines will see select distribution to top restaurants across the U.S. after first being offered to the winery’s direct customer allocation list, which begins accepting new members today at follyofman.com.
Folly of Man will also introduce an exclusive, appointment-only hospitality experience in 2025, inviting guests to visit the estate, walk the vineyards, and engage directly with the winemakers.
For more information on Folly of Man’s launch and to join the allocation list, visit www.follyofman.com.
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Top Photo of Aaron and Tracy Kendall at Folly of Man Vineyard; photo credit: Easton Richmond.
