Cristom Vineyards
Cristom was founded by Paul Gerrie, a petroleum engineer and researcher that had a passion for wine.
On his many travels to France, he found the traditional growing practices of Burgundy to be appealing and realized that soil and site, the mainstays of terroir, were key in producing complex Pinot Noir.
After attending the 1991 International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville, Oregon, he was inspired enough the following year to leave the East Coast with his family in tow to pursue his love of Pinot Noir in Oregon’s burgeoning wine country.
He bought a small winery and vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, and named his new winery Cristom, after his two children, Chris and Tom.
Gerrie’s dream could not be complete without a winemaker. Enter Steve Doerner, a biochemist by training whose passion for Pinot Noir was inspired by working at Calera Vineyards with owner Josh Jensen and studying under Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac in Burgundy. The engineer and the biochemist worked together to develop their vision in 1992 and have since established Cristom Vineyards as an iconic Oregon winery producing outstanding Pinot Noirs with a Burgundian sensitivity.
Today, Cristom Vineyards consists of nine distinct vineyards on 65 acres in the Eola-Amity Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. All but Marjorie Vineyard are planted to high density (about 2300 vines per acre) and yields are strictly limited. All vineyards are biodynamically farmed and certified sustainable.
Cristom Vineyards is a rarity among Oregon wine producers in that every varietal produced offers uncommon excellence and consistency year in and year out.
On his many travels to France, he found the traditional growing practices of Burgundy to be appealing and realized that soil and site, the mainstays of terroir, were key in producing complex Pinot Noir.
After attending the 1991 International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville, Oregon, he was inspired enough the following year to leave the East Coast with his family in tow to pursue his love of Pinot Noir in Oregon’s burgeoning wine country.
He bought a small winery and vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, and named his new winery Cristom, after his two children, Chris and Tom.
Gerrie’s dream could not be complete without a winemaker. Enter Steve Doerner, a biochemist by training whose passion for Pinot Noir was inspired by working at Calera Vineyards with owner Josh Jensen and studying under Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac in Burgundy. The engineer and the biochemist worked together to develop their vision in 1992 and have since established Cristom Vineyards as an iconic Oregon winery producing outstanding Pinot Noirs with a Burgundian sensitivity.
Today, Cristom Vineyards consists of nine distinct vineyards on 65 acres in the Eola-Amity Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. All but Marjorie Vineyard are planted to high density (about 2300 vines per acre) and yields are strictly limited. All vineyards are biodynamically farmed and certified sustainable.
Cristom Vineyards is a rarity among Oregon wine producers in that every varietal produced offers uncommon excellence and consistency year in and year out.
You must be logged in to post a comment.