Oregon estate of Burgundy's Drouhin family, making Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills, plus Chardonnay.
The producer
Domaine Drouhin Oregon is the Oregon estate of Burgundy's Drouhin family, with Véronique Drouhin, the fourth generation of winemakers, responsible for every wine. Its 130 acres of hillside vineyards are sustainably farmed and L.I.V.E. certified. The range includes Cloudline from Willamette Valley fruit sourced from family friends, Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills estate plots, Roserock from 35 Eola-Amity Hills estate blocks, and Chardonnay La Maisonnette.
Known for
Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
Notable facts
The Drouhin family established Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Willamette Valley in 1987.
Véronique Drouhin is the fourth generation of her family to make wine and remains responsible for every Domaine Drouhin Oregon wine.
The estate encompasses 130 acres of hillside vineyards farmed sustainably and certified by L.I.V.E.
A gravity flow winery was constructed on the Dundee Hills property in 1989.
The story
The Oregon venture begins
In 1987, Robert Drouhin and his daughter Véronique decided to purchase land in the Dundee Hills. Véronique had just graduated in oenology, and the investment by the family's Maison Joseph Drouhin placed an international spotlight on Oregon. She made the estate's first vintage in 1988. A gravity flow winery emerged on the hill in 1989, giving the new operation a dedicated cellar. The estate later produced its first Chardonnay vintage in 1996.
The Oregon venture begins
In 1987, Robert Drouhin and his daughter Véronique decided to purchase land in the Dundee Hills. Véronique had just graduated in oenology, and the investment by the family's Maison Joseph Drouhin placed an international spotlight on Oregon. She made the estate's first vintage in 1988. A gravity flow winery emerged on the hill in 1989, giving the new operation a dedicated cellar. The estate later produced its first Chardonnay vintage in 1996.
From the atlas
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
An Oregon estate of Burgundy's Drouhin family, making Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills alongside Chardonnay.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Willamette Valley, Oregon
Appellations
Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs
Main grapes
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Named wines
Cloudline Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Dundee Hills, Roserock Pinot Noir, Chardonnay La Maisonnette
Defining feature
130 acres of sustainably farmed, L.I.V.E. certified hillside vineyards
The Producer
Véronique Drouhin makes every wine at Domaine Drouhin Oregon, the Oregon operation of Burgundy's Drouhin family. She represents the fourth generation of the family's winemakers. The estate's densely planted hillside vineyards are farmed sustainably and carry L.I.V.E. certification.
The Oregon range centres on Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay also present. Its wines connect the family name with vineyards in two Oregon AVAs and with a cellar built for gravity flow.
Place
Domaine Drouhin Oregon's home estate is in the Dundee Hills of the Willamette Valley. The broader Oregon operation is associated with both Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills. Roserock is the family's Eola-Amity Hills estate range, distinct from the Dundee Hills estate bottlings.
The two AVAs give the range separate geographic addresses. Pinot Noir Dundee Hills comes from Dundee Hills estate plots, while Roserock is drawn from estate blocks in Eola-Amity Hills.
Story
The Drouhin family established its Willamette Valley winery in 1987. Véronique Drouhin made the estate's first vintage in 1988, and a gravity flow winery was constructed on the Dundee Hills property in 1989. The estate produced its first Chardonnay vintage in 1996.
These dates mark the Oregon operation's movement from land purchase to estate wine, a dedicated cellar, and a second grape variety. Véronique continues to make every wine today.
Wines
Cloudline Pinot Noir 2023 is a Willamette Valley cuvée made from fruit sourced from long time friends of the Drouhin family. It brings red cherry, red plum and warm spice to a fresh, fruit driven palate.
Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2023 is sourced only from the estate's Dundee Hills plots. Roserock Pinot Noir 2023 is selected from 35 separately fermented estate blocks in Eola-Amity Hills. Roserock opens with cacao, cola, crushed spices, bright red fruit and blackberry bramble, then moves through dried cherry, cranberry and plum, with silky tannins, a firm frame and a long finish.
Chardonnay La Maisonnette 2020 adds a Chardonnay bottling to the range. The estate's first Chardonnay vintage was produced in 1996.
Final Word
Domaine Drouhin Oregon is a Willamette Valley estate where Véronique Drouhin makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay under the Drouhin family name, with Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills wines kept distinct by their vineyard sources.