Stoller Vineyards Brand

	Bill Stoller and Melissa Burr discussing harvest at Chehalem.

Bill and Cathy Stoller are my partners in Chehalem. They own Stoller Vineyards separately, farming 125 acres of vines in a meticulously cared-for operation that has all modern viticultural features from a wide selection of varieties, clones and rootstocks, to full drip irrigation, moderate to ultra-high plant densities, and recent investigation of organic methods.

They also have a new winery in the works to support a brand called, logically, Stoller Vineyards, under which a small amount of the sizable production from the vineyard will be marketed as finished, high-level wine. We have made it at Chehalem beginning in 2001, but by 2005 harvest their own facility will be ready at the vineyard site, complete with equally high quality capabilities and a dedicated winemaker, Melissa Burr, brought on over the last year and working SVB wines at Chehalem this harvest.

Being an early ripening vineyard, ALL of Chehalem and Stoller Vineyards brand Pinot noir has been harvested, plus all of the Chardonnay for SVB. So far, 20% of Harvest-to-date brought in to Chehalem is for Stoller Vineyards brand wines, which consist of an Estate Grown Pinot noir and Chardonnay. Chehalem will continue to use large quantities of Stoller Vineyards fruit once their winery is at full tilt, since the already planted vineyard portion of the 350 acre estate can generate 400+ tons of fruit and they will be able to use only 150 tons max in the facility. Another 5 or 6 wineries as well use fruit from Bill and Cathy's vineyard.

For more info on current releases, new winery construction photos, and bios, check out their website: www.stollervineyards.com.

Photo © Mike Haverkate.

Stoller Vineyards new winery construction from the air looking north.

Photo © Mike Haverkate.

September progress, as barrel cellar walls rise to fermentation level. View to the west.