Driven by a love for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and a desire to produce his own, Daniel Warnshuis searched far and wide before he found his dream spot and founded Utopia Vineyard in 2002. The land, located just above the old Bergstrom farm on Ribbon Ridge, provided the Willakenzie soils he was after, on a set of sloping contiguous south-facing hills—and a magnificent view.
In 2006, Utopia’s first commercial vintage of 413 cases of Pinot Noir was released. “It was a good start,” Daniel says, “but the 2007 was even better.”
Judges at the 2010 Oregon Wine Awards agreed, granting the 2007 Utopia Pinot Noir, the Grand Award of Excellence Gold Medal for Pinot Noir over $35. Evidently, this was not a case of beginner’s luck, because the 2008 Utopia EstatePinot Noir won Double Gold in the same competition the following year.
Daniel is quick to share the kudos with his outstanding vineyard team that includes veteran Oregon winemaker Aron Hess. The team practices sustainable arming—and by extension, high level quality fruit production. Utopia is LIVE certified and dry farmed organically to ensure grape quality, complexity of flavor, and water conservation. The grapes are handpicked at harvest and delivered to the winery in less than one hour.
Located up a gravel patch of Ribbon Ridge Road, the Utopia tasting room is tucked behind the farmhouse where Daniel and his family live. Winery dogs William and Harry are often on hand to greet guests, and so is Daniel, who likes to share his knowledge and passion for Willamette Valley wines for all who are eager to learn and taste. Many sign up for The Utopian Tasting Society, Utopia Vineyard’s three-level wine club, to be certain that they’ll be able to sample the winery’s next offering. New Chardonnay plantings were added in 2010, promising even more to love in the Utopia portfolio in the years ahead.