One of Oregon’s first wineries, Adelsheim Vineyard was founded in 1971 by David and Ginny Adelsheim. Five decades later, it continues to be one of the region’s most respected wineries and beloved producers of world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Adelsheim wine is complex, elegant, and an authentic expression of Oregon, the Willamette Valley, and the richly diverse soils of the Chehalem Mountains.
Alumbra Cellars is a special family-owned business. A vineyard and winery operated and owned by Mexican-Americans who are first-generation children of immigrants. Co-owned by siblings Leo and Elena Rodriguez. Their father, Baudelio planted the vineyard in 2005. He immigrated to the United States in the 1970s from Durango, Mexico. Like many immigrants, in search of a better life. He met their mother in Oregon. They married and decided to raise their family in Yamhill County. In 1996, the Rodriguez family were able to purchase a piece of property in Dayton, Oregon. Soon, the family farm was converted to grapes in 2005. Elena then took over the vineyard in 2014 and has since created Alumbra, a company dedicated to sustainable farming, a brand that celebrates the Latino culture of the family and vineyard stewards who embody the soul of Alumbra.
Their adventure with Pinot Noir began in a Parisian café with a great meal and an ethereal bottle of red Burgundy. At the turn of the century, they found an old cherry orchard sitting atop of what they believe is the last best place to grow Pinot Noir. Today, Amalie Robert Estate is 52,000 vines covering 36 acres stitched into the sedimentary soils just outside of Dallas, Oregon. They sustainably farm their vineyard and only use Estate grown fruit for Amalie Robert Estate wines.
Their multi-level, gravity-flow winery comprises 1,200 tons of concrete, mostly underground. Their Pinot Noirs are fermented with whole clusters, indigenous yeast and are barrel aged and blended for complexity and age worthiness. Amalie Robert is Dena’s middle name, “Amalie” (AIM-a-lee) and Ernie’s, “Robert.” We’re the “A-team”.
Amaterra Wines is a gravity flow winery with estate vineyards focused on traditionally crafted and terroir driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The wines are enjoyed in a stunning Northwest contemporary winery, just minutes from Portland, Oregon, with breathtaking views of the Willamette Valley. The guest experience is a composition of both food and wine featuring a highly-rated chef-driven menu – which we passionately believe is the best way to enjoy wine! The estate vineyards were planted in 2014, with the first vintage being 2017. In addition to the estate vineyard site, Amaterra now source grapes from nine different sub-AVAs across the Willamette Valley. This intentional range of vineyard sites includes a variety of elevations, aspects, soil types, and clonal mixes. The winemaking program enables guests to experience a broad range of site-driven, single-vineyard Pinot Noir wines during their tasting experience.
Meaning ‘For the Love of the Earth’, Amaterra farms organically and works with partner vineyards who also focus on sustainable practices. The wines are made in a patent-pending gravity flow winery with an emphasis on the gentle handling of both the grape clusters and the in-process wine. This texture-focused winemaking includes utilizing whole cluster fermentations, extended cold soaks, with pigeage and delestage as cap management. The wines are currently only available at the winery or through the website.
Coming to Central Otago was a lifelong ambition for Chief Winemaker Sam Davies. With a wealth of winemaking experience collected from some of the world’s greatest wine regions, he has found his special place below Mount Pisa at Amisfield. Sam hails from Auckland and graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Viticulture & Oenology in 2008. Since then he has seen vintages in wineries from Waiheke to Portugal’s Alentejo and Douro regions, the Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, Victoria and Margaret River.
Making the most of Central Otago living, Sam enjoys getting up on the skifields and getting out on the lakes. Spending time with his family, playing music, good food and good company are central in Sam’s life.
In 1993, Archery Summit set its sights on creating wines of real purpose in the Willamette Valley. Since, the Dundee Hills winery has helped establish the region as the cradle of cooler-climate American wine. Winemaker Ian Burch and his team achieve bar-raising wines by way of earned instincts—the familiarity gained from many shared vintages, tending sites they know personally. Thirty years on, Archery Summit proudly considers itself the stewards of someplace truly special, with unparalleled potential. The winegrowing stresses organic and biodynamic farming, with zero-tolerance for herbicide, nurturing the land and yielding a rousing lineup of estate Pinot Noirs.
Belle Pente was established in 1992 when Jill and Brian O’Donnell purchased a historic seventy-acre farm in what is now the heart of the Willamette Valley’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Planting the estate vineyard began in 1994, and the first Pinot Noir was produced in 1996. Belle Pente means “beautiful slope”, a perfect description for the steep hillside vineyard site. The name also implies a commitment to making wines gently and naturally, capturing the essence of each individual vineyard site, and reflective of the vintage. The estate vineyard now includes twelve acres of mature Pinot Noir vines densely planted in shallow marine sedimentary soils, and is dry farmed using organic & regenerative practices. Estate Reserve Pinot Noir is the top cuvée: a barrel selection of individual lots from the best sections of the vineyard, aged for at least 18 months in barrel, and gravity-bottled without fining or filtration.
Born in Tokyo, Chisa Bize started her career as an investment banker. She met Patrick Bize, the talented vigneron of Savigny-lès-Beaune while he was in Japan, and later moved to Burgundy in 1997 to be with him. Unfortunately, Patrick passed away prematurely in 2013 on the first day of the harvest. Chisa has been at the head of Domaine Bize since then, carrying on and furthering Patrick’s ever-present goal of pursuing quality through careful and exacting work in the vines, working in harmony with nature, and striving to ensure the domaine’s future in a healthy environment. The winery’s history began in 1880. Many generations have followed, each contributing its own developments and knowledge to establish the domaine as it is today. In her generation, Chisa tries to drive the farming in a natural direction and to make wine that is not decorated but rather simply pure. Hugo, her son, who studied at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune, and has now joined the team at the Domaine after gaining experience in Burgundy, Alsace and Argentina. Nazca, her daughter, is studying architecture and is captivated by wine as well.
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars is a family-owned winery in BC’s Okanagan Valley and exclusively 100% estate grown grapes. The focus on Méthode Traditionnelle-style sparkling wine and single varietals; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Blue Mountain strives to produce complex, age-worthy wines, consistent in style while allowing the expression of both the terroir and the individual growing season. When it comes to vinification, their aim is to create wines that are a reflection of the Okanagan, and in particular of the Blue Mountain estate. Their process involves minimal intervention with careful attention to handling practice from the early season in the vineyard all the way to harvest. Their fruit is hand-picked and sorted, then carefully racked from tank to barrel. They are proud of the wines they produce, but it is the singular belief in cultivating the best fruit that they can every season in the vineyard, and a fastidious attention to detail that allows them to make wines of a consistent and precise nature.
In 1993, Chris and Sheree Shown purchased 66 acres in the Willamette Valley’s coastal foothills with the goal of raising a family and growing some grapes along the way. It took them over 15 years to plant their patchwork 15 acre vineyard and by the time they’d finished, both sons had already left home and graduated college. Perhaps the lull of being empty nesters was too much to take, as in 2008 they decided to embark on a new adventure with son, Matt, and Brigadoon Wine Company was born. A simple goal was agreed upon, to work for themselves and with each other while having passion and dedication for wines that would reflect their family and their home.
Craig & Claudia Broadley founded the winery, and their son, Morgan and his wife Jessica are the second generation continuing with their passion in the wine business. Planted in 1981 in Monroe, Oregon, their estate vineyard consists of several designated Pinot Noir blocks including, “Claudia’s Choice,” “Marcile Lorraine” & “Jessica” block. More Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay & Pinot Gris are sourced from hand selected vineyards that also use meticulous farming methods in order to harvest the healthiest fruit for the vintage. Their family has been hand-crafting wines since 1986, and their goal is to consistently produce dynamic and outstanding wines that are true expressions of the place where they are grown. They believe “great sites produce great wines!” Their estate vineyard is sustainably farmed and they use organic material to promote healthy growth in their vines.
Brooks Winery, a biodynamic winery located in Amity, Oregon, is the living legacy of Jimi Brooks, a visionary Portland native who came to wine through his passion for history and philosophy. Jimi devoted his life to holistic farming and winemaking in the Willamette Valley and his excitement for the Willamette Valley terroir lives on through Brooks wines. Brooks is renowned for its Riesling and Pinot Noir. Brooks sources grapes from a variety of vineyards and microclimates from across the region, which bring an inimitable taste to each bottle. Brooks is the only winery in the world to be Demeter certified for Biodynamics, a certified B Corporation, a member of Ecologi, a member of 1% For The Planet AND certified Earth First E Commerce. Join them this year at IPNC to celebrate their 25th year of making wines and 50th of growing vines. Cheers!
Weingut Bründlmayer is located in Langenlois, Kamptal, approximately 50 miles northwest from Austria’s capital Vienna, where the Danube and the Kamp valleys meet. Willi Bruendlmayer has been in charge of the family estate since 1981. Pinot Noir has been planted in the area probably since the 14th and 15th centuries, and Willi’s parents introduced it to their vineyards in the 1960’s. The winery uses this noble grape variety today for both the production of traditionally made sparkling wines and for still wines, including single-vineyard designated Pinot Noirs. When Willi took over his parents’ vineyards, he introduced a policy of ecological winegrowing; synthetic fertilizers and herbicides were omitted in the late 1970’s, and since 2015 all vineyards have been cultivated organically. The winery is also sustainably certified. The management of natural resources – soil, sun, water and plants – follows simple and sensible procedures. Biodiversity is fostered on all levels: bird habitats have been installed in the vineyards to foster almost extinct breeds, the winery looks after several bee hives and produces its own honey. Carbon dioxide as a by-product of fermentation is collected and reused. Weather and climate at the winery are constantly monitored in collaboration with the Austrian central institute of meteorology and geodynamics.
Bryn Mawr Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery dangling high off the precipitous Western Crest of the Eola-Amity Hills. From a foundation of four acres of vines and a tiny garagiste winery, the Lauer family and winemaker Rachel Rose have developed Bryn Mawr into a premier destination winery and tasting room. Rachel is redefining local winemaking culture by bridging natural and conventional winemaking practices, using adaptive and experimental approaches to craft dynamic and profound wines. Armed with three degrees in Microbiology, Enology, and Viticulture, she takes a holistic and judicious approach to each of the 13-15 wines she produces per vintage, farming their 26 acres of estate vines to the highest standards of sustainability to express the unique voices found on their rocky, windswept vineyard.
In 1975, legendary vintner Josh Jensen founded Calera (Spanish for “lime kiln”) high in the remote Gavilan Mountains of California’s windswept Central Coast. There, in Mt. Harlan’s low-yielding, limestone-rich soils and cool, arid climate, he began planting what would ultimately become six small estate vineyards. Today, these vineyards and the Mt. Harlan AVA are recognized as a true American monopole, and some of the world’s most revered Pinot Noir sites. With beautiful views of the Diablo Mountain Range, Calera’s remote, one-of-a-kind seven-level gravity-flow winery honors the traditional Burgundian craftsmanship that Josh came to know during his time working at the famed Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and Domaine Dujac. Under the stewardship of Winemaker Mike Waller, each vineyard is renowned for producing singular wines of uncommon purity, elegance and aging potential.
Casa Marin’s story began with its founder, owner, and winemaker, María Luz Marin’s dream.
Nothing describes this winery better than the story of a woman who persevered to create fine and exclusive wines. In 2000, against advice from colleagues and experts, she decided to establish her winery in Lo Abarca, a small town in the San Antonio Valley. Despite warnings about problems with location, the cool climate, and people’s disbelief, she was successful in developing a vineyard and winery whose wines have received numerous world awards, helping position Chile in a distinct light with its high quality, high value wines. Her son, Felipe Marin, follows in her footsteps as a winemaker. Together they have created the most awarded Chilean wines outside of the country in the icon and premium categories, and they dedicate themselves exclusively to the winery. In general, it is the Marin family team – siblings and children – who continue to passionately support this boutique winery’s growth.
The story of Chehalem is rooted in a deep and abiding reverence for the land. From the vineyards they nurture and harvest to the wine they blend and age – they handle every step with an unwavering respect to sustainable practices. Founded more than 30 years ago, they farm four estate vineyards in three distinct American Viticultural Areas: the Dundee Hills, as well as the Laurelwood District and Ribbon Ridge, the latter of which are both in the greater Chehalem Mountains AVA. They are proud to have an all-female driven winemaking team under the leadership of winemaker Katie Santora.
CHO Wines specializes in high elevation Willamette Valley sparkling wine and Pinot Noir. Dave and Lois Cho were introduced to wine while playing music at local wineries in Southern California. Dave studied enology and viticulture at Oregon State University and worked for notable wineries in the Willamette Valley. Pursuing autonomous decisions from vineyard to bottle, in 2020, CHO Wines was born. CHO Wines is the first Korean-American owned and operated winery in Oregon, developing 77 acres on the west flank of Bald Peak in the Chehalem Mountains AVA at 650-1150 ft elevation. Their tasting room/winery is slated to open late 2023. Lois Cho left her decade-long career as a family nurse practitioner to run the operations. In her spare time, she serves on the Women in Wine Oregon Board and Our Legacy Harvested, founded the Oregon AAPI Food + Wine Fest, while raising three beautiful children.
Chosen Family was founded by 2016 NBA Champion Channing Frye with a mission to connect people through some of the best wines imaginable and a promise that what you are drinking is cultivated with care. Channing then partnered with former 2016 NBA Championship teammate and current Cleveland Cavaliers star, Kevin Love, as well as CEO Jacob Gray, and Partner Chase Renton.
Good wine has been at the center of so many of their favorite memories. Inspired by these moments, they invite you to take a seat at their table and raise a glass to the people and places that have brought us all joy. At Chosen Family Wines, they believe in doing things with purpose, respect, and compassion. They believe in taking time to celebrate the best life has to offer, and they believe in giving the best you’ve got.
Adam Lee, co-founder and winemaker for Siduri Wines for 25 years, started Clarice Wine Company after selling Siduri to Jackson Family in 2015. Though he still sources from the Garys’ and Rosella’s Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands, his picking style is earlier, whole-cluster use is heavy, about 70-80%, and no additions other than sulfur. The Garys’ Vineyard is rocky soil and a cool climate growing season with long hang time and amazing farmers that take pride in their work, focusing on quality over quantity. These wines are well received by consumers and critics alike, and they look forward to sharing them with you.
In 2001, two generations of the Cobb family came together to explore a shared passion for Pinot Noir. David and Diane were among the first to arrive in the far Sonoma Coast when they planted Coastlands Vineyard with their son Ross in 1989. After spending nearly a decade honing his winemaking skills, Ross approached his parents with the idea of founding Cobb Wines with a vision that would allow the family to guide every step of the process, from the farming of the vineyard to the crafting of a style that celebrated the site. The first vintage of Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir was a mere 130 cases. The wine sold quickly, and Ross never looked back.
Colene Clemens was founded in 2005 by Joe and Victoria Stark and named in honor of Victoria’s mother. Wine production began in 2008 with acclaimed Winemaker & Vineyard Manager Stephen Goff dedicated to the development of the vineyard and the production of our stunning wines ever since. Spanning 122 acres where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge, the estate contains both sedimentary soils and volcanic soils. Elevation climbs from 350 to 650 feet, where the winery perches with sweeping views of the coast range and valley. 62 acres are planted to Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. The vineyard is dry farmed, and they take a pragmatic approach to viticulture, using sustainable and organic processes whenever possible. They are firm believers in taking care of their soil, practicing crop reduction for low yields and improved quality, and hand-harvesting their fruit at its optimal physiological ripeness for maximum flavor and intensity.
Cramoisi, French for crimson, is derived from the delightful crimson clover that blankets Cramoisi vineyard every spring. Vibrant, elegant, and earthy, the micro boutique winery is operated by owners Sofia and Ryan McKay. Cramoisi reflects the color, beauty and complexity of their wines born from red volcanic soils. Estate grown with respect for the land, the grape and hardworking vineyard stewards. They are organic and biodynamic farmers. Every bottle honors and delivers their passion, from soil to glass.
In April 2012, they planted their first vines. Today, they have a total of 7 acres under vine, with just over 6 acres of Pinot Noir and nearly an acre of Chardonnay. They produce Pinot Noirs, Rosé of Pinot noir, Blanc de Noirs, White Pinot and Chardonnay. Their vineyard is their home, and they farm without the use of pesticides and herbicides while leveraging ancient practices to avoid contaminating the soil, the environment, farm workers, and guests.
They make their home in the renowned Dundee Hills AVA of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. It is a privileged place as their young vineyard is surrounded by some of the oldest vines in the region, planted where terroir is proven, and vineyards thrive.
Château de la Crée utilizes a collaborative approach to winemaking encompassing decades of experience led by VP of Winemaking and Viticulture, Michael Fay. Since 2017, he has worked with the viticultural team to implement techniques in the vineyard and the cellar to elevate wine quality. The Château de la Crée winemaking team strives to continually combine innovative vinification techniques to accentuate the finest qualities of the legendary terroir found only in Burgundy. Michael was born in Vicenza, Italy, near the winegrowing region of Friuli, and was raised in Southern California. While working in the restaurant industry and studying forestry management at the University of Washington in Seattle, Michael discovered a passion for West Coast Pinot Noir. “I was studying forestry management because I wanted to cultivate a relationship with nature, but my growing love of Pinot made me realize that I didn’t just want to make wine; I wanted to make great wine.” Michael joined Domaine Serene and Château de la Crée in 2017 and has taken command of this program, consistently producing world-class, award-winning wines.
Cristom Vineyards was established in 1992 by the Gerrie family to grow and craft distinguished wines of place that honor individual sites and old-world techniques. Second-generation-owned thirty years later, we remain stewards of our east-facing volcanic hillside in the Eola-Amity Hills focused on growing benchmark Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Owner and winegrower Tom Gerrie leads Daniel Estrin, Winemaker and Vineyard Manager, Steve Doerner, Winemaker Emeritus, and their tenured production and vineyard teams in crafting elegant, dynamic wines.
DANCIN is a love story.
Romance and wine have gone hand in hand for centuries and it’s only fitting that the genesis of DANCIN has its roots in a love story. The tale of Dan and Cindy has all the markings of a great love story. It’s a blend of passion, serendipity, and miracle meetings. Suffice to say, inclement weather and a chance meeting twice on the same day brought the pair together. They were married after three months and have been DANCIN ever since! Within a year of their storybook meeting in 1995, Dan and Cindy (DANCIN) began researching wine and viticulture at UC Davis, and twelve years later, they discovered a perfect northeast facing high elevation site benefitting from the late afternoon shade provided by the surrounding tall pines and cedars that would become the perfect terroir for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a sense of place.
Dave Paige has been part of the West Coast wine industry for over 30 years. A graduate of UC Davis, Dave began his career in California before heading north in 2001 to become Winemaker at Adelsheim Vineyard. He quickly developed a deep appreciation for the Wilamette Valley and the community, learning to tailor his winemaking expertise to the distinctive qualities of each site.
In 2018, the David Paige Wine brand was launched with the purchase of Z’IVO Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. This beautiful site with mature vines on a volcanic ridge has been renamed RPG Vineyard. Their goal is to create great wines from Pinot Noir and other cool-climate wine grapes that have classic character and highlight the terroir from which they are grown. They believe the Willamette Valley is a special place for these varieties, and that is reflected in their wines.
Division Winemaking Company is a Portland, Oregon based winery founded in 2010 by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe. Inspired by the wineries of the Beaujolais, Burgundy, the Loire, and the Northern Rhone, where Kate and Thomas first studied and worked in winemaking and viticulture. Division represents a fresh generation of curious winemaking looking beyond the status quo to create unique wines from diverse grape varieties with both intention and a story.
Determined to make approachable and balanced wines with minimal manipulation and great price to quality value, the winemakers work with terroir-expressive vineyards, focused on organic, regenerative and/or Biodynamic® farming. Division Winemaking Company includes the flagship Division label, the daily Division-Villages label, as well as Nightshade and Gamine labels – a combination of both joint and personal expressions from each winemaker.
Jeremy Seysses was born in 1975 at Neuilly-sur-Seine. With an American mother and French father who founded Domaine Dujac in 1968, Jeremy grew up in a bilingual household. While attending University College at Oxford reading Biology, he presided over the Oxford Wine Circle. He also attended the University of Burgundy for a degree in Sciences de la Vigne and then interned at the R. Mondavi Winery in Napa where he met his wife Diana. Jeremy started working with his parents at the estate in 1998. From only five hectares in 1968, the estate gradually expanded to 11 hectares in 1977, and then reached 15.5 hectares in 2005. Over the years, the estate has expanded beyond the historic site of Morey-Saint-Denis. In 2014, with the acquisition of leased vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet (the Premier Crus Folatières and Combettes), the Domaine produces wines in both Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. The estate was certified organic in 2011. Jeremy’s experiment in organic farming began in 2001, with just four hectares. He was pleased with the results and gradually extended this approach until 2008, when the entire estate was managed organically. Jeremy introduced biodynamic practices in 2003, and is now using them throughout the estate. The biodynamic approach is not an end in itself. It is above all an additional tool to protect the vines, as well as an effort to protect the future of the terroir. Domaine Dujac seeks to preserve a natural, living, and varied ecosystem. Terroir is not merely geology; it also includes living organisms. The microbial fauna that breaks down organic matter is part of the identity of Burgundy.
For over 150 years, the Eden Rift site has been an inspired source of enological experimentation. Located at the foothills of the Gavilan Mountain Range, Eden Rift sits atop the San Andreas Fault, and is comprised of limestone-rich, calcareous deposits running through granitic, sandy beds of loam. These dramatic, nearly inhospitable soils have challenged any number of grape varieties. Over time, they have learned that the varieties most ideally suited to this singular confluence of soils and maritime-influenced micro- and macro-climates are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Pinot Gris. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay seem especially simpatico to this estate site, and it is through these two transparent varieties that they have found the most honest and pure expression of terroir at Eden Rift.
One of the founding wineries of the Willamette Valley, family-owned and operated Elk Cove Vineyards was the first to make wine in what is now the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Elk Cove is named for the local herd of Roosevelt elk and the protective bowl shape of the property. Its tasting room is tucked into the foothills of the Coast Range, with spectacular views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains.
Second-generation owner/winemaker and fifth-generation Oregon farmer Adam Campbell produces 90+ point award-winning Pinot Noirs as well as crisp aromatic Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Sparkling Wines. Elk Cove sources fruit from six 100% estate-grown, sustainably-farmed vineyard sites located across the northern Willamette Valley, representing the region’s three primary soil types and a variety of microclimates. Elk Cove is known for distinctive Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs such as their La Bohème, Roosevelt and Mount Richmond.
Enroute is dedicated to capturing the essence of pure varietal and terroir expression. The name EnRoute is a nod to the journey taken to produce the best Pinot Noir possible. Their quest to craft exceptional Pinot Noir took them to the Russian River Valley, where a rich tapestry of terroir awaited. Inspired by the joint passions for Pinot Noir, and the unique climate and terroir of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, EnRoute was founded in 2007 by Far Niente Wine Estates and is dedicated to cultivating world-class California Pinot Noirs.
Pinot Noir is a subtle dancer, and we are now 27 years into trying to learn the steps. How the land relates to the vines in so many details has become an obsession, using a combination of Biodynamics and curiosity to try to unravel a small part of a still undiscovered web.
Winemaking is based upon humility, always seeking to minimise our stylistic footprint. Patience is our main teacher, when we can learn to embrace it. Science and an open mind is critical, as is tasting widely and keeping a dialogue with our global tribe.
In the afternoon, we go water skiing.
Founded in 1989, Fiddlehead Cellars encapsulates founder and winemaker Kathy Joseph’s desire to produce Pinot Noirs that capture the essence of their bi-state roots in Santa Barbara County and the Willamette Valley.
With over 35 years as “Head Fiddle,” Kathy helped define these regions, while bringing recognition to domestically produced wines. Her wines are crafted with a commitment to sustainable farming, nurtured from start to finish to pay tribute to their respective origins.
Fiddlehead Cellars’ textural and age-worthy Pinot Noirs naturally showcase an expression of place and deliciousness. Sources include Fiddlestix Vineyard, the iconic Santa Rita Hills site Kathy planted, farmed and owned for two decades, and Alloro Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains, farmed in conversation with owner David Nemarnik. The Lollapalooza selection highlights the dazzle of each vintage, and is selected with extreme care.
Contemporary of Henri IV and his descendants, the Hémart family settled permanently in Aÿ at the beginning of the 17th century. Its history is rooted in Aÿ, terroir of exception, and intimately mixed with the extraordinary epic of champagne from the 18th century. Claude Giraud, 12th generation of the Giraud-Hémart family, today presides over the destiny of this Champagne house. Since 1990 Claude has been focusing on making the first oak barrels from the Argonne forest since before the war. The famous oaks of this historic forest have for more than ten centuries raised the great wines of Champagne. “Argonne” is today the name of the house’s iconic cuvée. Each year, Sébastien Le Golvet, the Cellar Master of the house, mobilizes his merrandiers and coopers. Together, they select the most beautiful oaks of the Argonne forest, Sébastien then leads the toasting himself. This delicate work will be the last precious touch of the grande cuvées.
Leaving behind careers in journalism and advertising for the wine industry, husband and wife team Brandy and Ari Grey deeply understood that it is the stories that connect us. And each vintage, each bottle is a story.
The places they come from and the people they meet along the way are woven into each choice they make. Therefore, their focus is on producing wines that can connect people and create community. Their goal is to highlight the distinct beauty of this very special region, which exists due to the environmental practices of the original inhabitants of this Valley as well as our unique geological history and the dedicated labor of today’s stewards.
Their small lots of Pinot Noir are all picked, sorted, pressed and bottled by hand from the high elevation fruit of Yamhill-Carlton, and from their small family estate, Blackfeather Vineyard, named for Brandy’s Shawnee Cherokee ancestor Johnson Blackfeather.
Sparked by the tragic loss of a young family member and quarter-life crisis in 2014, Hazelfern’s co-founders and winemakers, Bryan and Laura Laing, traded in their daily work commutes for a tractor and the wine life in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Hazelfern’s Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are expertly crafted in an old-world style, and are made to be paired with good music, great people, & delicious farm dinners.
Hazelfern specializes in making critically acclaimed, single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Bryan and Laura’s dedication to organic farming and thoughtful winemaking mirror their love of cooking fresh, seasonally driven meals for family & friends. Hazelfern’s latest releases of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay earned 97 points and Top 100 from multiple world-renowned wine critics, including James Suckling who welcomed Hazelfern to the “upper echelon of the Oregon wine kingdom.”
Hope Well Wine is the alchemy between the natural world, Mimi’s deep love for this land, and the unsung heroes whose strong hands, hearts, and minds have helped her make it. Human. Nature. Hope Well.
In 2006 Grant and Renée headed for the Willamette Valley to join its community of world-class Pinot Noir producers, always with a pocket dream of someday embarking on a project of their own. Grant’s 10 years working in cellars and vineyards gave him the experience to forge a path of his own, and the curiosity to want to push the limits. In 2015, their dream was realized when Renée left her job in education, they sold their house, and put all the money into their first 450 cases. Since then, they’ve grown Hundred Suns through grit, experience, and good timing (the two of them still manage all aspects of the winery). In the cellar, high vigilance allows for low intervention, and an understanding of how things work allows for the deeper experimentation that makes their wines distinct. Their goal still remains for the wines to be classically delicious with a little something special you can’t put your finger on.
Johan Vineyards is a certified Biodynamic estate vineyard and winery located in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA in the greater Willamette Valley. They see their entire farm as one living organism, a holistic system that will showcase its own identity through the fruit it develops. Their goal is to explore and sustain the unity of this system to create original and compelling wines with a distinct sense of place. They believe their farm is best expressed through a deep commitment to regenerative farming practices, native-yeast fermentation, and minimal intervention in the cellar. With 15 different grape varieties, animal integration and an intensive grazing program, and the commitment to maintaining native habitat on the property – they seek to gain resilience through diversity, all while producing a distinct array of wines from estate-grown grapes.
Thibault Gagey was born in Paris in 1984. Growing up in Burgundy, he became immersed in the region’s long tradition and culture of wine. Thibault’s grandfather, André Gagey, was appointed managing director of Maison Louis Jadot in 1962, and he ran the company for 30 years. In 1991, Thibault’s father, Pierre-Henry Gagey, was named President of Jadot. He has continued to build Jadot’s reputation for quality across the globe. Thibault has a Master’s Degree in Management from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Reims in Champagne, France. After working in a number of positions in the wine trade in China, New Zealand and the US, Thibault returned to Burgundy at the beginning of 2014. He now works for Louis Jadot, alongside Thomas Seiter and the Jadot team, as Managing Director. He is very much involved in Résonance, Maison Louis Jadot domaine in Oregon.
Joyful Noise Wine is the creation of Calli and Deven Morganstern. The wines are meant to be shared and bring a piece of their home to the tables of friends and family all over the world. They believe the best way to get to know a place is to taste what it grows.
Exploring one vineyard at a time in small quantities from specific places in those vineyards. Not every one of those places are the same. To get the best out of them, they match their winemaking to best suit what their grower has produced. Each row of each vineyard has unique tastes and smells that are so much fun to explore. They are like one note in an album. Every year, every vineyard is different and they play to bring out the best of those notes and write a small part of their song.
Located in Carlton, Oregon, Ken Wright Cellars is devoted to producing wine that showcases the inherent quality of world-class vineyard sites. With a clarity and breadth that is unequaled, they believe Pinot Noir is the ultimate vehicle for conveying the aroma, flavor and texture of the location in which it is grown.
Ken Wright Cellars produces three tiers of Pinot Noir. These three tiers serve as an educational experience about growing Pinot noir in the Willamette Valley. Their Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is an introduction to the diverse qualities of the region. The next level is their AVA (American Viticultural Area) Series Pinot Noir, which are expressions of their respective micro-climates and specific geology. The ultimate connection of people to place is their 13 single-vineyard Pinot Noir offerings.
Since Kosta Browne’s inception over twenty-five years ago, their mission has been to produce the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that stand beside the best in the world. Founders Dan Kosta and Michael Browne started with humble beginnings, saving enough tip money to buy their first ton of grapes in 1997. After being named Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year in 2011, Kosta Browne’s fame spread to every corner of the globe, thanks to their commitment to innovation and winemaking excellence. This unparalleled success and passion for developing some of the most sought-after vineyards led to explorations from the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Anderson Valley in California, to the hallowed vineyards of Burgundy, France, and beyond. Every vintage, they work tirelessly to tell the story of these iconic regions through the medium of wine.
La Follette Wines is a small, family-owned winery in Sonoma County, California. They exclusively produce only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Their passion and focus is sourcing fruit from highly distinctive locations along the Sonoma Coast that have something unique to say. This is their “dialogue” with the vineyards, and allowing these sites to speak through low-input, transparent winemaking has been at the heart of our philosophy since their founding over 15 years ago. Proprietors Pete and Terri Kight, and winemaker Hugh Chappelle, are committed to showcasing Sonoma County’s most compelling, cool-climate vineyards, oftentimes just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. Hugh brings to bear over 30 years of practicing his craft, including time as head winemaker at both Flowers Vineyard and Winery, and Lynmar Estate.
Rooted in a rich history of agriculture, Landmark Vineyards was founded in 1974 by Damaris Deer Ford, the great-great-granddaughter of John Deer, inventor of the steel plow. While originally established as a Chardonnay house, in the early 90’s Damaris and her team began their first foray into Pinot Noir with the release of the inaugural Grant Detour Pinot Noir. Today, Landmark’s portfolio features an array of handcrafted, ultra-premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sourcing grapes from unique vineyard sites throughout California in order to create rich, balanced wines.
Laurent-Perrier was established in 1812 and is now the largest family-run and female-led House in Champagne. Thanks to its long tradition of innovation, it can be credited with many techniques that have defined Champagne production over the centuries. The House is fiercely independent and makes only champagne, and is noted for its House style of freshness and elegance. Laurent-Perrier has been at the vanguard of sustainability efforts in Champagne, and has achieved the sustainability certifications of High Environmental Value (HVE) and Viticulture Durable en Champagne (VDC). The House is most renowned for its unique Cuvée Rosé, made exclusively from Pinot Noir.
Lemelson Vineyards began as a dream — a dream to create a winery that celebrates innovation in technology, sustainability in agriculture, and tradition in winemaking. Utilizing organic farming methods and gravity flow production, they craft estate-grown Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling from some of the finest vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
Since the inaugural release of the 1999 vintage in October 2001, Lemelson Vineyards has been dedicated to producing some of the world’s finest Pinot Noir. Eric Lemelson fell in love with Pinot Noir’s subtle flavors and distinct textures early in the 1990s. He planted his first vineyard in 1995, five years after moving to a Yamhill County farm. Two years later, realizing that he loved the work involved in growing wine grapes, he planted an additional 30 acres of Pinot Noir and began planning for construction of a sophisticated, gravity-flow winery.
Started in 2000 on their family farm, the Lumos Wine Company has always been dedicated to expressing what is specific and unique about the land and its fruit. Staying true to that ideal, and led by Dai Crisp, Lumos has grown to produce wines from three certified organic vineyards. Their winery team, now led by Boone McCoy-Crisp, blends this philosophy of intentionality and responsibility into their craft, transforming the viticulture into their roster of eight white varietals and six Pinot Noirs. They are proud to offer wines that are each their own particular illumination of the people, land, and work that are the inimitable magic behind Lumos.
Wild. Elusive. Welcome to the northern limits of grape growing; British Columbia’s breathtaking Okanagan Valley. Moderated by the nearby Lake Okanagan, their organically-farmed vineyards lie within a rugged, heavily-sloped Valley. The soils there are demanding, with glacial deposits resting upon granite bedrock. All vineyards are organically farmed in the Northern part of the Okanagan Valley, with proximity to the very deep Lake Okanagan. With the lake at 1110 feet above sea level and vineyards that range between 1300-1800 feet, altitude adds a challenging dynamic to farming there. Warm days and cool nights are complemented by extremely low rainfall and humidity. This is winemaking on the edge.
Fastidious organic viticulture and a mix of traditional and progressive winemaking methods are used to produce single-vineyard and single-block Pinot Noirs. Gently moved by gravity and always naturally fermented with a significant percentage of whole clusters, these are Pinot Noirs with intensity, structure & personality.
McCollum Heritage 91 is the creation of CJ McCollum, professional basketball player. Having been introduced to wine in his early 20s by his now wife, Elise, McCollum’s fortuitous move to one of the top wine regions in the U.S. led him to take his existing passion for – and knowledge of – wine to new heights. As reflected through his work both on-and-off the court, leaving a legacy is greatly important to McCollum, and McCollum Heritage 91 is a reflection of bringing his passions to life and honoring his family name in the process.
Since 1989, Jean-Nicolas Méo has been at the helm of the legendary media-darling Domaine Méo-Camuzet in Vosne-Romanée. The domaine, which includes impressive holdings in Clos de Vougeot, was passed down from Jean-Nicolas’s father, Jean Méo in 1959 from the Camuzet family. With no practical experience, Jean-Nicolas felt it was a good idea to have a mentor. Henri Jayer, already a well-known winemaker at the time and recently retired as a vigneron of the Méo family, played that role. Jean-Nicolas made the wines under his guidance in 1989, and he immediately loved the style: deep wines that remain elegant, full of fruit, accessible, very silky, long, and age-worthy without being heavy. Times have changed, techniques have evolved including the switch to 100% organic farming, but the goal has remained the same. In 2012, Jean- Nicolas received a call from a long-time friend, Jay Boberg, suggesting they work together to establish a new brand in Oregon. Nicolas-Jay, located in the Dundee Hills, was established with Jay in 2014.
Winemaker Oscar Gaona’s curiosity for wine began at a very young age, so he decided to learn about the entire process of vinification under the guidance of winemaker Francisco Rodriguez in the 1990s. This passion has led him to work in Mexico, Australia, Canada and the USA. Over his 22 years of experience in the wine industry, he has been involved firsthand in the growth and evolution of Mexican wine quality. Oscar has taken on the task of understanding each vineyard in every valley where he has been involved, understanding the biochemical processes of wine, expressing each variety and achieving excellence in every bottle of wine he makes. Gaona is passionate about Mexico’s uniqueness and his passion, devotion and attention to detail has Monte Xanic recognition as one of the best wineries in Mexico.
Mt. Beautiful lies in the heart of North Canterbury, on the South Island of New Zealand. The Kaikoura Seaward Mountains lie to the North, while the Waiau River borders to the North as well. The vineyard rests under its namesake, Mt. Beautiful. Mt. Beautiful crowns the coastal range to the East, and protects the vineyards from the ocean winds. Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir showcases the best aspects of the varietal. Subtlety is the secret inside this wine. It begins with sophisticated floral fragrances of sweet spice and ripe soft red berry fruits, while showcasing an elegant medium-weight palate that features fragrant strawberry and bramble fruit, earthiness and subtle tannins. Robert Watkins brings more than 30 years’ of wine industry experience to his role as CEO at Mt. Beautiful. He actively works with the winemaking team on production decisions, blending, and creation of the Mt. Beautiful wine styles. In addition, he works directly with the vineyard manager and viticulturist on making planting, yields and vintage decisions.
When Michel Muré planted his vineyard in the 17th century, he surely had little conception of the beautiful adventure that he set in motion for his descendants. In 1935, Alfred Muré extended the property with the addition of the 12-hectare (25-acre) monopole, Clos Saint Landelin, foreseeing its potential for exceptional quality. He replanted the terraces, ideally situated with sunny exposure and shelter from the rain. Today, it is Alfred’s great-grandchildren, Véronique and Thomas, the 12th generation of the family, who are responsible for running this exceptional, wholly-owned vineyard and its neighboring terroirs, using Biodynamic methods. The estate is 28 hectares (70 acres), of which 12 hectares (25 acres) represent the Clos Saint Landelin.
Nautilus Estate was established in 1985 by the Hill Smith family and remains in the same family ownership. Nautilus was part of the second wave of wineries to be established in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, a region that has become world famous after only 50 years of growing grapes. Clive Jones has been the winemaker since 1998 and led the development of the winery’s Pinot Noir program which included building a specialized Pinot Noir cellar in 2000 and completing harvests in Oregon and Burgundy. Over 20 years later we feel we have the right clones planted on the right sites, with enough vine age and accumulated learnings to make a real difference. Our focus is now on the ‘southern valleys’ sub region of Marlborough and our ‘Clay Hills’ vineyard. The future is looking exciting as we unlock the potential of Marlborough Pinot Noir.
Dr. Laura Catena’s Domaine Nico Winery specializes in extreme high altitude Pinot Noir. The high altitude climate, intense sunlight and calcium carbonate-infused limestone soils in Tupungato (Uco Valley, Mendoza) provide a new terroir for Pinot Noir in the world. A self-avowed Francophile, Laura’s Pinot Noir inspiration started in France where she went as a young woman to study Camus, Sartre and Surrealist Art. Domaine Nico is named after Laura’s daughter, Nicola who in turn is named after Laura’s great grand-father, Nicola Catena, who founded the Catena winery in 1902. She plays with words, to give Domaine Nico’s name a contemporary twist. Laura writes, “Domaine Nico’s single-parcel wines are an inspiration from my adolescence. The winery was born from my obsession with the climats of Burgundian Pinot Noir. When I realized we could make a Pinot Noir with the classic floral aromas, minerality and elegance that are characteristic of Burgundy, I began to study the flavours of high altitude Pinot Noir from Mendoza. The wines surprised me with their elegance and old-world style. It took twenty years to make a wine that I would consider grand cru level. Indeed, I can confirm that Pinot Noir is “the heartbreak grape”, but it is a delicious heatbreak that one day turns into true love when it finds its right terroir partner.”
Nicolas-Jay is the story of a three-decade friendship between famed Burgundian winemaker Jean-Nicolas Méo and visionary music entrepreneur Jay Boberg, and their shared love of Oregon Pinot Noir. It is also the story of their desire to build something lasting together, while creating a distinctive expression of great Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. At Nicolas-Jay, this is achieved by applying viticultural and winemaking experience gained from working with the grands crus of Burgundy to the finest grapes from Oregon. This includes fruit from the older vines of Nicolas- Jay’s own organically farmed Bishop Creek Vineyard on the hillsides of the Yamhill- Carlton appellation, as well as grapes from other top Willamette Valley vineyards, including Nysa, Momtazi and Temperance Hill. From this fruit, Jean-Nicolas, Jay and talented Associate Winemaker Tracy Kendall make alluring and expressive wines that convey the special character of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Patz & Hall is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1988, Head Winemaker James Hall has been seeking out the very best small, family-owned Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in California and establishing long-term relationships with the talented winegrowers who farm these world-class sites. Built on real friendships, and a shared commitment to quality, these partnerships have led to the rich diversity of the Patz & Hall wine portfolio, contributing to the winery’s acclaimed cuvées. Patz & Hall makes some of California’s most stirring and sought-after single-vineyard Pinot Noirs—wines that have become benchmarks for their intensity, elegance and complexity. Winemaker James Hall has crafted every single vintage.
Paul O’Brien Winery is the culmination of twenty years of friendship between two winemakers who share a passion for fine wine, great food and a gracious life. Dyson Paul DeMara and Scott O’Brien Kelley met while working at Robert Mondavi Winery in the Napa Valley. Since then they have traveled the world’s wine regions learning classic traditions and sharing new world techniques. In 2013 the duo came together to start the first urban winery in Umpqua Valley, Oregon.
Scott Kelley began his career in winemaking in the Napa Valley after graduating from University of California, Davis. In 1999 he joined the Robert Mondavi Winery as Director of Winemaking for La Familia di Robert Mondavi as well as representing the winery’s interests in Italy and Australia. Since then he served as GM/Director of Winemaking for Estancia Estates in Monterey County, California before making the jump to Oregon in 2013 to fulfill his dream of starting his own winery.
In 1998 Lynn Penner-Ash and her husband Ron founded Penner-Ash Wine Cellars. Lynn built the foundation of her legacy as a ‘master blender’ of the Willamette AVA, and early champion of the region’s promise. Today, Winemaker Kate Ayres carries forward longstanding relationships with grower neighbors and friends that have been the heartbeat of Penner-Ash for twenty-five years to produce lush and layered Pinot Noirs that tell the story of the cherished Willamette Valley region.
Founded in 1726, the legendary, storybook Château de Pommard is home to Clos Marey-Monge, a geological marvel with seven distinct clay and limestone-rich vineyards, creating some of the world’s most outstanding wines. Guests visiting from around the world are guided by Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) professionals, taste the purest expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from villages along Burgundy’s Route des Grands Crus, and can learn at École V, the château’s professional wine school with weekly classes in Pommard. A Burgundy native, winemaker Paul Negrerie spent the past ten years working in different wineries worldwide, from New Zealand, to the United States, Israël, and France. Wherever he could, Paul followed his passion for Pinot Noir, making this grape variety the common theme for all of his professional experiences. Having done more than 20 vintages during his career, he is now the wine guru at Château de Pommard. Paul graduated with a BTS in Wine and Spirits Technical Sales in 2008 and holds a BTS in Viticulture and Oenology.
Pronounced “rain”, the name reminds us that wine was rain first. It only becomes wine in the vineyards after being filtered by the rocks taken back up by the vines and sweetened by the sun. The unique spelling is the winery’s society and ethos: Research in Agriculture and Enology Naturally. Carlo & Dante consider themselves winegrowers, not winemakers, a term inspired by their grandfather Robert and father, Tim. RAEN’s monopole vineyards are farmed with the utmost respect for Mother Earth and in unison with nature; in the cellar, the delicate expression and microflora of the vineyard is through whole cluster, native fermentations, gentle oak aging, and bottling unfined and unfiltered. RAEN’s limited production bottlings, three Pinot Noirs and one Chardonnay, are wines of elegance and finesse, hailing from ‘grand cru’ quality vineyards within the Sonoma Coast, and capable of sitting among the world’s finest.
REX HILL, a legacy winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, has been making elegant pinot noir for over 40 years. Named the inaugural Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery in the Americas “Under the Radar,” REX HILL consistently offers authentic wines that are balanced, complex, rich and delicious.
Producing REX HILL wines is truly a labor of love. The commitment to superior quality means year-round responsiveness to site, vintage and climate, farming with organic and Biodynamic principles, and careful hand-selection of only the best clusters at harvest. In 2020 REX HILL’s historic tasting room underwent a yearlong renovation, reopening in January 2021 with expansive outdoor views, a state-of-the-art kitchen for a growing culinary program, and cozy yet modern furnishings.
Family-owned and operated since 1981, Saintsbury was established with a curious spirit and is recognized as an early producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Northern California. Based in the Napa Valley, Saintsbury thoughtfully pursues exceptional vineyards, varieties and farmers throughout California. An open-minded approach in the cellar balances decades of practice with a playful sense of discovery. After 40 years, their wines have become the centerpiece of their extended family of growers, collaborators and enthusiasts.
Salty Goats is a wine company concentrated on Pinot Noir that is sourced and farmed on the coastal hills of Northern California. They pride themselves on collaborating with dedicated and trusted organic farmers and are constantly in search of new and exciting sites. With its high elevation, proximity to the ocean, and cooler climate, they believe the West Sonoma coast creates wines that are expressive and elegant.
Their winemaking style is rooted in producing fresh and vibrant wines. They achieve this through meticulous farming, whole cluster fermentation, and gentle extraction. Their wines are then aged between 10 and 12 months in French oak to be released the following fall. They strive to create site driven wines that are age worthy.
Stay salty.
Sojourn Cellars produces highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. They source fruit from celebrated vineyards in both Sonoma and Napa counties, where they work closely with vineyard owners who use world-class growing methods for cultivating grapes of the highest quality. Their hands-off winemaking style allows the character and personality of these vineyard sites to shine through in the finished wines.
At Sojourn, every single decision they make, every vineyard they work with, every person on their small team, and every hour spent in the winery is done to deliver an extraordinary experience to their customers. They love sharing their wines in their Tasting Salon in Sonoma. There’s little in life that surpasses a shared experience with others over a very special glass of wine. In everything they do, their goal is to deliver uniquely memorable wine sojourns.
As one of the first wineries of the Willamette Valley, Sokol Blosser has played a key role in developing and shaping the Oregon wine industry for over 50 years. The winery remains family owned and operated, with second-generation Alex Sokol Blosser at the helm. Certified B Corp since 2015, Sokol Blosser is committed to producing world class wines in a sustainable manner, reflecting the brilliance of the family’s certified organic 89-acre hillside vineyards in the Dundee Hills, as well as exploring the unique terroirs of the Willamette Valley with vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills and Yamhill-Carlton. The winery produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, along with small quantities of Single Block Pinot Noirs in selected vintages and a growing sparkling program under its Sokol Blosser brand, and a white blend, red blend, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling under the Evolution label.
For Louis, discovering wine was a life-changing event. “A good friend put together a tasting of classic French wines, and some California Cabernets for contrast. This one tasting flipped the switch, and wine has been my passion ever since.” Shortly after enrolling in an Enology and Viticulture program, he took a wine sales position and divided his time between these and industry tastings. “I learned winemaking and wine tasting at the same time. I value and rely on both in the cellar.” In 2010 Louis interned with Betz Family Winery followed by working for Delille Cellars in 2011, where he earned the title of Enologist. He returned to Betz in 2014 and was promoted to Winemaker for both Betz and SUNU wines in 2016. ”I can always find inspiration and motivation in the wine industry. There is always more to learn and there are always new wines to taste.”
The first Pinot Noir producer in the Arroyo Grande Valley, Talley Vineyards planted their first vineyard in 1982, and introduced their wines to the world in 1986. Inspired by Burgundy for its unwavering dedication to wine that perfectly expresses place and time, Talley Vineyards makes wines that are classic in character yet lively in spirit and true expressions of their coastal, estate vineyards.
The Talley Estate within California’s San Luis Obispo Coast region imparts a beautiful mix of gentle sunshine and cool weather ideally suited for Pinot Noir. Winemaker, Eric Johnson believes in a minimal intervention at the winery to allow the remarkable character of terroir to shine through. Talley Pinot Noir tends to be refreshing, energetic, and delicate rather than fruit-laden and oak-heavy. The wine typically expresses aromas of forest floor and violet, cranberry and raspberry on the palate, and an elegant and silky texture.
Ten Minutes by Tractor’s three original home vineyards were planted in the early 1990’s – all ten minutes by tractor apart. The estate now has 10 vineyard sites, each with different aspects, slopes, soils, altitude, and influence from the cool maritime climate that surrounds the Mornington Peninsula. This diversity of terroir and sense of place, explains everything about the estate’s wines.
Over the past 20 years, Martin and Karen Spedding have propelled the winery to become one of the leading Pinot Noir producers in Australia. They also established one of the nation’s best winery restaurants and wine lists.
For Martin, the craft of winemaking is a process of continual learning and discovery. Ten Minutes by Tractor have been leaders in the development of sustainable viticulture programs and high-density vineyard architecture in the region. Martin has held a range of industry positions over the past twenty years, most recently as Chair of the 2019 & 2023 Pinot Celebration Australia.
Tesselaarsdal was founded in 2015 by long-standing Hamilton Russell Vineyards employee, Berene Sauls. This wine is named after the historic Overberg farming hamlet of Tesselaarsdal, not far from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge wine appellation, in which Berene was born – a descendant of the freed slaves who were bequeathed the land by former East India Company settler, Johannes Tesselaar in 1810. Extreme care is taken to ensure this small-production, classically styled Pinot Noir expresses the personality of the cool, maritime, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge from un-irrigated vines and its elevated, stony, clay and iron-rich soils. Referred to as “the next Pinot Noir icon” by MW Greg Sherwood.
Since 1981, the Thomas Fogarty Winery has been making single vineyard estate Chardonnay & Pinot Noir that have helped to lead the revival of the Santa Cruz Mountain AVA. The raising of the wines at Thomas Fogarty Winery is informed by their setting, high on the Skyline ridge at the northern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This naturally diverse terrain, and varying bedrock formations including Lambert Shale, Mindego basalt and Purisima. Each vineyard is defined by its unique geological underpinnings. To that end, they use their winemaking as a lens to examine the multitudes of terroirs they farm. They strive to use human intervention only in ways that help to preserve the voice of their vineyards and ensure maximum expression of site.
From the time Chris Figgins’ great-grandparents arrived in the Pacific Northwest in 1902, his family has achieved everything through meticulous hard work. The silhouette on the label of Toil Oregon is from a photo of his Great Uncle William Leonetti and his father, Gary Figgins, planting the first Leonetti Cellar Vineyard in 1974 in Walla Walla, WA. Chris has long enjoyed Pinot Noir from around the world, especially from Willamette Valley, and was drawn to the challenge of producing a Pinot Noir that is the same level of quality as the wines from Leonetti Cellar and the Walla Walla Valley. At its finest, Pinot Noir has such a lovely delicacy, perfume, and levity that it was just impossible for Chris to not to try his hand at creating it while relentlessly striving to honor the trailblazers of the Willamette Valley.
Founded in 1998 and located just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, Tolosa epitomizes the special terroir that is Edna Valley. The Edna Valley is nestled amongst the northwest to southeast running volcanic hills of San Luis Obispo County and the frontier for the most complex, cool-climate varietals in California. Helmed by vintner Robin Baggett, Tolosa is the expression of his commitment to spare no effort to craft Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines of distinctive character to rival any in the world. With guiding knowledge from their experienced winemaker, Frederic Delivert, who focuses on artisanal expression rather than technical winemaking. The Tolosa winemaking team combines traditional winemaking techniques and cutting-edge technology to achieve the purest translation of place to taste. In addition to being a region with exceptional wines, Tolosa is Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified, giving eco-conscious luxury a new meaning.
Viñedos Veramonte is an organic and biodynamic winery dedicated to elaborate, fresh, authentic, and sustainable wines. One of the first wineries in the Casablanca Valley, they planted the first 40 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc vines in the 90’s. Viñedos Veramonte’s philosophy, named Living Soils, is the synergy of careful work in the vineyards, based on respect for the origin and the environment, where the soils nurture the vines so they can express their unique character, in conjunction with a dedicated vinification process with minimal intervention and native yeasts. The Casablanca estate is located at the foot of Chile’s Coastal Range. The vineyards, surrounded by 2,500 hectares of native forests, are influenced by the cool breeze and morning fog from the Pacific Ocean, which moderate the temperatures and provide the ideal conditions for growing cool climate red varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
WALT is a family-owned, multi-generational winery specializing in premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from the most coveted vineyards along the Pacific Coast, spanning 1,000 miles from the Willamette Valley to the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. WALT represents wines of a place – these special sites where thoughtful viticulture enables winemakers to create expressive wines that reflect the signature personality of each site. WALT farms four estate vineyards and partners with meticulous growers who aspire to share standards of quality. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall, WALT honors Kathryn’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt, who were grape growers in Mendocino County since 1972 and nurtured Kathryn’s passion for vineyards, wine and land stewardship.
Founded in 1993, “Westrey” represents the collaborative winemaking of Ames Wesselman and David Autrey. Through careful observation and experimentation, Autrey and Wesselman employ a style of winemaking that is distinctively “Westrey”, while allowing each wine to communicate its vineyard of origin. Westrey wines are crafted to showcase fruit in a context of balanced texture, acidity and alcohol. Every winery process is carried out as gently as possible. Upon arrival at the winery, Pinot Noir is destemmed directly into fermentation vessels to keep handling to a minimum. Indigenous yeast is used wherever possible, and wine is pressed immediately at dryness to ensure the majority of extraction occurs before the presence of alcohol. New oak barrels are used to complement, rather than compete with, varietal character. Westrey Pinot Noirs are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Reserve and single-vineyard bottlings emphasize Westrey’s commitment to Pinot Noir.
WillaKenzie Estate is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA in the Northern Willamette Valley, Oregon. The winery was established in 1991 by Bernard and Ronni Lacroute who were inspired by the Estate’s dynamic rolling hills that reminded them of their Burgundian roots. The Estate is named for the marine sedimentary soil series on which the vineyard is planted, in keeping with tradition that great wines reflect a true sense of place. WillaKenzie Estate was Oregon’s first LIVE Certified winery (#001), and remains committed to its sustainable practices today, and into the future.
The “budwood” of Willamette Valley Vineyards began long before its founding in 1983 by Jim Bernau. His Dad, a Roseburg attorney, was hired by California winemaker Richard Sommer to secure one of the first winery licenses in Oregon since Prohibition.
Willamette Valley Vineyards has collaboratively grown its estate vineyards through partnerships like the merger with Bill Fuller of Tualatin Vineyards (established in 1973), the O’Briens for Elton Vineyard (established in 1983) and Loeza Vineyard (planted in 2015). The winery sources all of its barrel-aged Pinot Noir from its estate-grown vineyards and meticulously farms by hand nearly 500 acres in the valley. Since the winery’s founding in 1983, stewardship of the land has been a key principle in our winemaking. We practice environmentally sustainable farming and were part of the founding of the Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) program.
Forty years ago, Denis Burger and Elaine McCall laid the foundation for what would become Yamhill Valley Vineyards. Spurred on by the Oregon winemakers before them, they set out to find their own patch of land to learn winemaking from the ground up. A classified ad in the local paper pointed them in the direction of McMinnville, with the promise of ‘Land for Sale: Good for Grapes’. It was their first vintage, 1983 Pinot Noir, that was included in the 1985 Burgundy Challenge, where it outcompeted the French Burgundies in a blind tasting and took home top honors.
Today, they produce 100% estate-grown wines from their 150-acre estate. Pinot Noir lies at the heart of their winemaking, with Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Rosé rounding out the production. Building on the foundation of hard work, determination, and intrepid spirit, the second generation has now taken up the reins.
