Site selection, low yields, native yeasts, grapes grown from well-established vines on east-facing volcanic hillsides – Cristom gets everything right. From humble beginnings thirty years ago in a derelict barn in the Eola-Amity hills, this has become one of Oregon’s premier estates, producing brilliant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was the vision of Paul Gerrie, an engineer brave enough to throw over the day job to pursue a love of Pinot Noir. He scoured the west coast for the ideal spot to found a winery, and after a long search, spotted the potential of some abandoned vineyards in the Willamette Valley.

Paul named each of the Cristom vineyards after one of the Gerrie family matriarchs. Low-lying Louise has dramatic soil diversity, typically producing the darkest fruit and the fullest wines, while with fabulous views to the Cascade Mountains, high-sited Eileen makes a lighter, very aromatic style full of sweet spices. Jessie was a virgin site that Paul understood from the start had enormous potential. They planted Pinot Noir here in 1994, and Paul now characterizes Jessie as the most savory of the Cristom wines.

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