Cristom

Cristom Vineyards is a major winery in the United States that produces high quality wines. It is located in Oregon, specifically in the Willamette Valley, which is one of the most famous areas in the New World for the production of great Pinot Noirs. The Valley is intersected by the Willamette River and surrounded by the Cascade Range to the east and the Oregon Coastal Range to the west. The cool, breezy climate has proved perfect for many international grape varieties such as Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier, Syrah and especially Pinot Noir. The winery was founded in 1992 by Paul Gerrie and his wife Eileen with the intention of enhancing the territory by producing a range of high level wines, which can rival, without fear of reverence, the wines of Europe.

Today the winery is managed by their son Tom Gerrie with the help of winemaker Steve Doener. The property is divided into several estates, each with their own particular characteristics. The Eileen Vineyard has an area of about 7 hectares and is located at an altitude of 220 to 400 metres, on basalt-rich soils. Its cool climate makes it perfect for the Pinot Noir grape. The Jessie Vineyard is located on the steep slopes of a wooded hill. This particularly cool climate gives the Pinot Noir a strong and vibrant profile. The Louise Vineyard is divided into two parts, with altitudes ranging from 80 metres to 135 metres, and produces the most intense and structured Pinot Noirs. The Marjorie Vineyard offers great potential and, thanks to its excellent microclimate and particularly suitable soils, produces an excellent Chardonnay as well as a complex, structured and long-lasting Pinot Noir. In addition to these plots which are almost exclusively dedicated to Pinot Noir, the estate is completed by single-variety estates, including Estate Pinot Gris, Estate Chardonnay, Estate Viognier and Estate Syrah.

The management of the vineyards is based on the principles of sustainability and respect for nature. The estate is Low Input Viticulture & Enology certified, reflecting its commitment to the environment and to maintaining the vitality and fertility of the land. For many years, Cristom has been working towards minimising and progressively eliminating the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and pest control, in order to keep the environment in balance. Recyclable materials are used in the winery and production is managed with low energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions. The wines of Cristom Vineyard are recognised worldwide as some of the finest produced in the Willamette Valley.