Stoller Wine Group, Willamette Valley, Oregon- A Premium Wine Destination
An Interview with Ben Howe Vice President, Winemaking
“Stoller Wine Group is a group of two different wineries and a few different brands. ….We are located in Willamette Valley, an hour southwest of Portland, a valley nestled west from the coastal range which tempers the weather ….We have cool nights and moderately warm days. We grow cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling ….We ARE similar to the climate of Burgundy when you consider the “degree days” and “heat units” that we get….Pinot Noir is well-adapted to our climate, although we have a different terroir [from Burgundy.] It’s unique and Pinot Noir especially shows terroir** so it is a fun grape to work with because different vineyards can taste so incredibly different. They can have a different expression…Oregon….there is nothing like it in the world.” - Ben Howe, Vice President, Winemaking, Stoller Family Wine Group
Introducing Stoller Family Wine Group
Stoller Family Estates has the largest contiguous vineyard in Oregon’s Dundee Hills at 400 acres. Their winery was the first in the world to receive the prestigious environmentally friendly LEED Gold Certification. Founded in 1993 the portfolio wine brands include: Stoller Family Estate wines, Chehalem Winery, Chemistry from Stoller and Chehalem for the weekly wine drinker, [canned wine brands] Canned Oregon and Swing, and History Wines. CEO Bill Stoller’s founding winemaker, Melissa Burr, crafts these small-batch wines from historical vineyards in the Columbia and Yakima valleys of WA and OR.
About the Willamette Valley, Oregon Region
The midpoint of Oregon’s Willamette Valley (WV) lies at 45 degrees north latitude, the same latitude as France’s Burgundy region near Dijon. Oregon’s premier wine region, Willamette Valley, is sometimes nicknamed “The Burgundy of the West.” Both Willamette Valley and Burgundy have a terroir** that supports the growth of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes among other grapes like Pinot Gris. Both WV and Burgundy feature beautifully structured vineyards in picturesque settings. Many differences set them aside though. Oregon’s Willamette Valley caters to a visitor’s sense of adventure offering winery experiences and outdoor adventures you will only find in America. Burgundy exhibits majestic and historic vineyards quite often not necessarily linked to one winery, but famous for individual plots called “Climats” and sometimes enclosed by a stone wall called a “clos.”
As you drive through the Willamette Valley, you might be surprised by the extraordinary vista of vineyards and pine trees with Mt. Hood hovering in the distance. The Willamette Valley countryside is home to some of the most celebrated wines in the world. But, up until the 1980’s when the early WV pioneering winemakers were only a decade into growing grapes, Christmas tree farms actually dominated the farmland.
It is not surprising given the terroir that Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are grown in Oregon. But did you know Rosé of Pinot Noir is now one of the popular wines? The Willamette Valley region is an American Viticultural Area (AVA), and also has 11 nested, sub-AVA’s including Dundee Hills, Eola -Amity Hills, and Yamhill-Carlton. Each AVA features unique expressions of the representative cool-climate grapes.
Family-Friendly Hospitality at Stoller Wine Group
Kids, kites, and Frisbee’s are often spotted on the rolling Stoller tasting room lawns. Stoller was voted USA Today’s “#1 Tasting Room in America. 2018” and they consistently rank in the “Top 10 of America Tasting Rooms” including 2023 at #4 Top Tasting Room in the US.
The large, active wine club and frequent fan visitors attest to the tasting room’s attraction emphasizing the family environment and warm hospitality. A couple or a small family group can even rent one of the on-site Guest House cottages in the vineyards. In 2018 I experienced the hospitality up-close and stayed for several days in the 3-bedroom cottage, which was particularly charming and well-equipped. Serious wine tasters can reserve a Legacy Flight or a wine and food pairing experience in the Heritage tasting room. The Chehalem Winery tasting room in Newberg, OR offers a cozy, downtown tasting experience. Skiers enjoy the Stoller Wine Bar in Bend, OR which features indoor and outdoor paired plates, wine, beer, and cocktails.
“Hospitality is a huge part of what we do….We want to have families here. You can bring your dog and have a casual experience. We take the intimidation factor out of wine. It’s important that we bring in new consumers…We have a chef on staff to offer food pairing experiences, too. And [for a more formal, private tasting experience] we have our “Legacy Room” for a more focused wine tasting.” – Ben Howe, Vice President, Winemaking, Stoller Family Wine Group
Recommended Wines: Stoller Family Wine Group
2022 Stoller Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, OR $20
Wine Spectator, 92 points
2019 Stoller Reserve Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, OR $57
Wine Spectator, 93 Points
2023 Stoller Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley, OR $28
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points
2021 Chehalem INOX unoaked Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, OR $25
Wine Spectator, 90 Points
2014 History Otis Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, WA $100
Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points
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