About Cristom Vineyards
Cristom Vineyards has farmed the Eola-Amity Hills since 1992, pioneering the case for one of Oregon's most promising but least understood AVAs. The estate sits at the northern edge of the Eola Hills, where the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Coast Range, channels cool Pacific marine air directly across the vineyard every afternoon, dropping temperatures dramatically and extending the growing season.
Winemaker Steve Doerner came to Cristom from Calera Wine Company in California, where he spent 17 years making Pinot Noir on limestone soils in San Benito County. His influence at Cristom is unmistakable, the wines are made with minimal intervention, indigenous yeast fermentation, and an emphasis on site expression over winemaking technique.
The estate vineyards are named for the women of four generations of the Gerrie family who own the winery: Jessie, Louise, Marjorie, and Eileen. Each vineyard, at a different elevation, aspect, and soil composition, produces a Pinot Noir of distinctive character. The Marjorie, from the estate's oldest block, is consistently among Oregon's finest Pinot Noirs.
