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Willamette Valley Vineyards began with a dream and a consumer-based business model. The dream was that of Founder Jim Bernau, a wine enthusiast who had been making wine at home since his early years. In fact, Jim’s father, who was an attorney, had done the legal work to establish the first Oregon winery since Prohibition. Jim dreamt of building a world-class winery in the Willamette Valley and making elegant, classic Pinot Noir using sustainable practices to demonstrate the region’s unique weather, topography, and soil.
Besides clearing land and studying viticulture, Jim worked for many years to create the nation’s first publicly owned vineyard. When the winery broke ground in 1989, the owners contributed much more than finances. Hundreds took the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s exam to obtain Servers Permits so they could serve in the tasting room and at events; several more volunteered to deliver wine to the winery’s wholesale accounts directly from the back of their cars. Grassroots efforts such as these did not go unrewarded and, in 1994, Willamette Valley Vineyards became Oregon’s number-one selling wine brand.
Through the years, Willamette Valley Vineyards has collaboratively grown through partnerships including a merger with Oregon wine industry pioneer, Bill Fuller of Tualatin Vineyards in 1997, and a long-term farming lease with the O’Briens of Elton Vineyard in 2007. The winery now sources all of its barrel-aged Pinot Noir from its estate-grown vineyards and meticulously farms nearly 500 acres in the valley.
The current portfolio features a phenomenal range of estate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays as well as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Rosé. Tasting room guests are invited to relax inside near a cozy fireplace or outside on a shaded courtyard with splendid vineyard views.
Willamette Valley Vineyards fulfills a dream, not just for Founder Jim Bernau but also for its thousands of owners and the many wine enthusiasts who visit the beautiful tasting room and enjoy these exquisite wines every day.
T&T: Is there a secret to being a leading winery in Oregon?
JB: There isn’t a secret, but we are very fortunate to have high quality old vine plantings that make up our three estate vineyards. Also, much deserved credit goes to our 9,000 wine enthusiast owners who share their wines with their friends and family. Just five years after our first public offering, we became the leading producer in Oregon.
T&T: And in 2015, you began another “crowd funding” project by offering ownership of preferred stock?
JB: Yes. These funds will be used to build two new boutique wineries, one in the Eola Hills of the Willamette Valley to make Elton Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the other in the Walla Walla AVA called Pambrun focused on Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as support our continuing efforts to find and plant intriguing vineyard sites in Oregon. Our new winery founders planted Pinot Noir vines in September 2015 at Elton. The groundbreaking event drew over 500 shovel toting owners and family members. A groundbreaking event at Pambrun in the Walla Walla AVA was held in May 2016 with over 300 in attendance.
T&T: And now you’re offering wine enthusiasts to join you in building a vineyard and winery in the Dundee Hills. Please tell us more.
JB: We believe that the Willamette Valley is an exceptional location for the production of world-class Sparkling wines due to its cool climate and varietal selection. We recently purchased a vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA, and we are asking wine enthusiasts to join us as owners to build the Bernau Estate in the heart of Oregon wine country. Bernau Estate and Vineyard will make méthode champenoise Sparkling wines from Biodynamically grown grapes. We will use Biodynamic farming practices to create a balanced ecosystem that generates healthy soil and sustainably made wines. The winery will feature Oregon-inspired hospitality with gardens and a wine cave. Owners will earn founder status, invitations to winery celebrations, and will be a part of our efforts to continue to tell the Oregon story through wine.
A LEADING WINERY
Wine & Spirits 2011 Winery of the Year
“Willamette Valley Vineyards’ performance makes it a great ambassador for the wines of Oregon.” Joshua Greene, Editor
Wine Press Northwest’s 2011 Oregon Winery of the Year
“This was an easy decision this year, as Willamette Valley Vineyards has been a leader in the industry for decades with their sustainability efforts and high quality Pinot Noir.” Andy Perdue, Editor in Chief
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
“One of America’s Great Pinot Noir Producers.”
WINNING WINES
Wine Spectator: 2015 Estate Pinot Noir — 91 pts
Wine Spectator: 2015 Bernau Block Pinot Noir — 91 pts
Wine Enthusiast: 2015 Estate Chardonnay — 91 pts
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
SALMON-SAFE
Jim Bernau Hero of Salmon Award “Willamette Valley Vineyards has been a pioneer in moving the Oregon vineyard industry toward greater ecological sustainability over the past decade. The “Hero of Salmon” award recognizes its commitment to communicating its Salmon-Safe leadership to inspire even more agricultural and urban landowners to do their part to restore wild salmon.”
10 CENT RECYCLING PROGRAM
The winery offers 10 cents for each bottle returned to its tasting room, and one dollar for every return bottle shipped.
FCS CERTIFIED CORK
The winery is the first in the world to use cork certified through the Rainforest Alliance to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.
CORK RECYCLING CAMPAIGN
The winery belongs to corkharvest.org, which recycles cork into useful products.
BIODIESEL FUEL PROGRAM
The winery offers each employee using biodiesel fuel 50 gallons of biodiesel fuel per month.
CARBON NEUTRAL
The winery pledged to move toward carbon neutrality through solar energy, green energy, and other ways to reduce global warming.