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Thanksgiving Festivities at J. Christopher Winery

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

The holidays are fast approaching, and what a busy year it’s been at our joint venture, J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon (USA).

The winery had a fantastic season with lots of people visiting and a great harvest–the fruit was gorgeous, and we think we’re going to have some fantastic wines from the 2012 vintage. We even picked the very first fruit from the Appassionata vineyard (in the photo, below).

The first-ever harvest from Appassionata vineyard at J. Christopher Winery.

If you’ll be in or near Oregon over the next two weeks, be sure to stop by the annual Thanksgiving celebration at the winery. You have several options!

 

SATURDAY, NOV 17 - Pre-Thanksgiving Open House for JCru Members

Join Winemaker Jay Somers, along with his family and friends, in the barrel cellar and be among the first to enjoy the 2010 single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, which include the ever-popular Sandra Adele, new bottlings from neighboring Olenik and Lia’s Vineyards, as well as the always-spectacular Abbey Ridge Vineyard. We’ll also be showing two of our most sought-after 2011 white wines: the Blanc de Noir and the Croft Vineyard Über Sauvignon, a very unique wine fermented in an acacia wood barrel. Come taste with us and stock up for the holidays!

Exclusively for our JCru and JCru Wine Club members. This will be a complimentary tasting as our way of saying thank you for always supporting us and our wines. (Want to be a JCru member? It’s FREE! Join the JCru here!)

Open hours: Saturday, Nov. 17, 11 am to 3 pm

 

FRIDAY/SATURDAY, Nov 23 & 24 – Thanksgiving Weekend Open House

Everyone’s invited to our Thanksgiving Weekend Open House, where we’ll be showing the same wines as at the JCru Open House and may throw in something special, maybe even some music from Jay and Tim? You never know!

Open hours: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 23 & 24, 11 am to 3 pm

Tasting fee: $10 (one refundable tasting fee per $200 purchase)

Discount: 10% on case purchases (including mixed cases)

Location: 17150 NE Hillside Drive, Newberg, Oregon (We have great directions from Portland on our website. Better than Google’s, which will send you on a round-about detour.)

Phone: 503-231-5094 (office) or 503-554-9572 (winery)

 

Hope you can join us!

Looking forward to seeing you and wishing everyone a lovely holiday.  

 

 

 

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The 7th Annual Oregon Festival of Sauvignon Blanc: Saturday July 14

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012


Left to right: Don Jay Somers (J. Christopher), Panama Patty Green (Patricia Green Cellars), Ronda “The Moll” Newell (J. Christopher), Pancho Anderson (Patricia Green Cellars), Andy “The Hat” Rich (Andrew Rich Cellars)



MEET THE OREGON SAUVIGNON BLANC CARTEL:
Andrew Rich Vintner ◆ J. Christopher Winery ◆ Patricia Green Cellars

These are the Most Wanted white wine winemakers in Oregon. For years the Oregon Sauvignon Blanc Cartel has controlled the vast majority of the white wine grape for which Oregon truly should be known.

Once a year they open their meeting lair to share their generous nature and delicious wines with the public. In the past year the retaliation from the ruthless and unscrupulous Pinot Gris Cabal (and a new faction known as the Rosé Alliance) has forced them to change the location of the most beloved white wine party in Oregon.

This change of location will take this event to a new level. Failure to attend on your part would be…unwise.

Join the OSBC members Andrew Rich Vintner and Patricia Green Cellars at the festival’s new home at the new J. Christopher winery.


WHEN: Saturday, July 14th ONLY
TIME: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
WHERE: J. Christopher Winery, 17150 NE Hillside Drive, Newberg
Click Here for Directions
COST: $25

You’ll enjoy a dazzling array of Oregon’s finest white wines served (weather permitting) in the open air with beautiful views of the Chehalem Mountain wine country.

If that isn’t enough for you, local Portland legend Pete Krebs Trio will be playing tunes. And every so often Don Jay Somers will sit in for a few songs on the guitar.

$25 gets you multiple wines from The Big Three along with terrific and fun deals on the wines, incredible food and the musical stylings of one of Portland’s best musicians in a beautiful setting.

SEE YOU THERE. (or else…)

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Jay Somers & Sarah Noble at Alabama Pinot Camp

Friday, February 24th, 2012

J. Christopher Winemaker Jay Somers and our Southeast Region Sales Manager Sarah Noble had a great time at the Ninth Annual Alabama Pinot Camp this past week. The event is a Birmingham area-version of Oregon Pinot Camp with 30 Oregon wineries attending!

Enjoy these pics. More on our Facebook page.

Jay Somers, International Wines Brand Manager Colleen Moore and Sarah Noble

Jay Somers and Sommelier Dan Thompson of Ruth’s Chris in Huntsville

Jay pouring at Alabama Pinot Camp, hosted by the Vintage Wine Shoppe

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Three Tips for Your Holiday Wines

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Wondering what to serve with your holiday festivities this year? Here are some tips for you from the gang at Loosen Bros. USA.

Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle

The holidays are a sparkly time of year, and there’s nothing better than a glass of tiny bubbles to make them all the brighter. For you Riesling lovers, now you can celebrate with Dr. L Sparkling Riesling. Bright and bubbly and fruity and tasty – it’s affordable for your holiday or your everyday! Bring an extra bottle to parties for a hostess gift and polish your reputation as a shining star.

A Taste for Every Tradition

Whichever holiday you celebrate, traditional foods often have a bit of sweetness to them. So whether it’s ham, sweet potatoes, fruitcake or sufganiyot, there’s no better match than fresh, fruity Riesling. But which one? Choose a Riesling with similar weight to your food dish. A delicate Kabinett such as our Dr. Loosen Blue Slate will pair well with lighter foods such as fresh crab or latkes. A ripe Spätlese such as our Wehlener Sonnenuhr is perfect for richer foods such as honey ham. Choose an Auslese such as our Dr. Loosen Erdener Prälat for sweeter (fresh fruit) or very rich foods (creamy sauces). And big honkin’ dessert wines (BA or Eiswein) for, well, dessert.

Nimble Pinot Noir

If you’re looking for a wine to pair with roasted birds, grilled salmon, charcuterie and cheese, look to Pinot Noir, a very nimble wine for food. In our portfolio, J. Christopher (Oregon) and Maison Roche de Bellene (Burgundy) give you quite a range of Pinots to choose from – elegant and delicate (J. Christopher Sandra Adele or Maison Roche de Bellene Chambolle-Musigny) to full-bodied and rich (J. Christopher Dundee Hills Cuvée or Maison Roche de Bellene Gevrey-Chambertin).

You can learn more about all of these wines (and more) on the Loosen Bros. USA website. And of course, if you’re still stumped about which of our wines to serve for the holidays, you can always post a question to us on Facebook or Tweet us: @DrLoosenWines. Cheers!

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In Oregon? Visit J. Christopher Winery for Thanksgiving Weekend Tasting!

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

Thanksgiving weekend is a big deal out in the Oregon wine country. Most wineries will be open for tasting, and that includes J. Christopher Winery, Erni Loosen’s joint venture with winemaker Jay Somers.

It was a very late harvest this year, so if you come out you’ll get to see Jay (owner/winemaker), Tim (assistant winemaker) and Jörg (harvest hand from Switzerland) hard at work with the 2011 vintage. They’ll be busily pressing 2011 Pinot and filling barrels while we’re slurping a selection of tasty (and highly rated) 2009s.

You’ll also see the progress we’ve made with construction of the new winery building. It’s not quite finished yet, but it’s certainly up and running — and looking gorgeous!

THANKSGIVING TASTING LIST:
2009 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills (Wine Advocate 94) $35
2009 Pinot Noir, Charlie’s Vineyard (Wine Advocate 93) $45
2009 Pinot Noir, Sandra Adele (Wine Advocate 94) $45
2009 Pinot Noir, Abbey Ridge Vineyard (Wine Advocate 94) $50
2009 Pinot Noir, Le Pavillon Vineyard (Wine Advocate 94) $50

Remember, the winery is still under construction, so be sure to wear sensible shoes (always a good idea when touring wineries). Then you can comfortably check out the winery progress, as well as our newly planted vineyards.

Hope to see you there!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The winery will be open Friday and Saturday ONLY. NOT SUNDAY.

DETAILS:
Open hours: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 25-26, 11 am to 3 pm
Tasting fee: $10 (one refundable tasting fee per $200 purchase)
Discount: 10% on case purchases (including mixed cases)
Location: 17150 NE Hillside Drive, Newberg, Oregon
Phone: 503.231.5094 (office) 503.554.9572 (winery)

Click for Map & Directions

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The Wine Advocate loved J. Christopher 2009 Pinots!

Friday, November 11th, 2011

We’re not big on the whole scores and ratings thing because it just seems weird to try and take something as subjective as wine and boil it down to a numerical rating.

And it’s especially true when the reviewer is tasting the wines several thousand miles away, with no context or connection to the vineyards or the winemaker.

So we were quite happy, and rather impressed, when Wine Advocate reviewer Jay Miller came to Oregon, USA, (where our joint venture with winemaker Jay Somers, J. Christopher Wines is located) for his annual tasting tour this year.

Because there are so many wineries in Oregon these days, he realized that he could no longer visit as many as he’d like. So he set up shop at The Allison Inn in Newberg, and took the time to talk to and taste with as many winemakers as possible, including our own Jay Somers.

The result was that he had some very nice things to say about our 2009 Pinot Noirs. Among other things, he referred to the 2009 Dundee Hills Cuvée as, “a prototype of what could optimally be achieved in this vintage.” That wine was rated at 94 points, as were three others: Sandra Adele, the new Abbey Ridge single-vineyard bottling, and Le Pavillon. The Charlie’s Vineyard bottling was rated at 93 points. Our other new wine, “Nuages” (a Chehalem Mountains cuvée) received 89 points, and he rated our basic Willamette Valley Pinot at 90 points.

So, in this case, we really can’t complain about scores and ratings! Still, we feel that what Jay Miller had to say about the wines is vastly more important than just the numbers. You can read his reviews at the J. Christopher website, or get his full Oregon report at eRobertParker.com (subscription required).

Act Quickly: They’re Going Fast!

Since the Wine Advocate reviews came out, we’ve been hammered with calls and emails. If you’re interested in getting any of the 2009 Pinots, we encourage you to go to the J. Christopher website, where you can buy the wines online. Or you can simply send us an email with your request.

JOIN US ON THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!

Join us Thanksgiving weekend!

If you live in the Portland, Oregon, area and would like to taste some of the wines that the Wine Advocate rated so highly, J. Christopher Winery will be open for two days over Thanksgiving Weekend.

It’ll also be a good chance for you to see the progress we’ve made on construction of our new winery on Chehalem Mountain.

It’s not quite finished yet, but it’s certainly up and running. We just completed our second harvest in here!

On the Thanksgiving tasting list are:
2009 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills (Wine Advocate 94) $35
2009 Pinot Noir, Charlie’s Vineyard (Wine Advocate 93) $45
2009 Pinot Noir, Sandra Adele (Wine Advocate 94) $45
2009 Pinot Noir, Abbey Ridge Vineyard (Wine Advocate 94) $50
2009 Pinot Noir, Le Pavillon Vineyard (Wine Advocate 94) $50

Remember: the winery is still under construction, so be sure to wear sensible shoes (always a good idea when touring wineries). Then you can comfortably check out the winery progress, as well as our newly planted vineyards.

DETAILS:
Open hours: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 25-26, 11 am to 3 pm
Tasting fee: $10 (one refundable tasting fee per $200 purchase)
Discount: 10% on case purchases (including mixed cases)
Location: 17150 NE Hillside Drive, Newberg, Oregon
Phone: 503-231-5094 (office); 503-554-9572 (winery)
Directions

Happy Thanksgiving. We hope to see you!

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Harvest at J. Christopher Winery

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Kirk Wille, here, reporting from the harvest at J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon, USA, our joint venture with acclaimed winemaker Jay Somers.

We took in 35 tons of Pinot Noir – the most in a single day ever in the history of J. Christopher Winery. The new winery and its crush pad are rockin’!

So far the fruit is looking better than expected for such a late, wet harvest. We’ve had just enough sunny, dry weather in October to get the grapes ripe, and the cooler temperatures have helped keep the botrytis mold at bay.

Winemakers Erni Loosen and Jay Somers at the sorting table.

Crush pad - ready for the harvest!

Harvest crew working the sorting table.

Work is still proceeding on building the new winery. Here you can see the exterior nearing completion.

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Labor Day Weekend Tasting at J. Christopher

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

If you find yourself in Oregon this Labor Day weekend, please join us at the J. Christopher Winery in Newberg for Explore Tour & Taste, sponsored by the Chehalem Mountain Winegrowers Association. Come taste some new wines, tour our newly planted vineyards, and see the progress on the new winery — we have walls and floors now!

Date: Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3 and 4
Time: Noon to 3 p.m.
Tasting fee: $10 (one refundable tasting fee per $200 purchase)
Discount: 10% on mixed cases
Location: 17150 NE Hillside Drive, Newberg, Oregon
Phone: 503-231-5094 (office); 503-554-9572 (winery)
Directions

On the tasting list:

2010 Cristo Misto: A dry, white, stainless-steel-fermented quaffer. Mostly Sauvignon Blanc, but with a few other things to give it extra juiciness. $15.

2010 Chardonnay, Cuvée Lunatique: A clean, refreshing style of Chardonnay made without oak or malolactic fermentation. $15.

2009 Zoot Allures Rouge: A tasty red blend of Syrah and Grenache from the Orchard View Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge. $14.

2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley: A classic Oregon Pinot blended from three Oregon appellations: Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains and Eola Hills. $25.

NEW! 2009 Pinot Noir, “Nuages”: A very fine, focused Pinot made with excellent fruit from our most excellent neighbors here in the Chehalem Mountains. $35.

PLEASE NOTE: the winery is still under construction, so be sure to wear sensible shoes (always a good idea when touring wineries). Then you can comfortably check out the winery progress, as well as our newly planted vineyards.

Hope to see you there!

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Our Featured Wine Today: J. Christopher “Nuages” Pinot Noir

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Let us introduce you to a delightful wine: J. Christopher 2009 “Nuages” Pinot Noir.

Named in tribute to Django Rheinhart’s “Nuages,” one of winemaker Jay Somer’s favorite gypsy jazz tunes, the 2009 Nuages Pinot Noir was selected from the Adams and Buttonfield Vineyards in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains AVA.

The name “Nuages,” which is French for “clouds,” also pays homage to the moderating influence of Oregon’s autumn cloud cover, which slows ripening to allow for the long hang time that creates fully developed flavors.

The 2009 Nuages is a very engaging wine. Beginning with a mouthwatering nose of dark, sweet fruit and a hint of smoke and vanilla, it delivers a full impact on the palate, with fine, focused fruit accented by intriguing spice and herbal notes, a juicy grip, firm structure, and good length. It spent 20 months in barrel.

Total production: 170 cases.

About J. Christopher Winery

Appassionata (foreground) and Adams vineyards on Chehalem Mountain.

Located in Oregon’s Northern Willamette Valley, J. Christopher Winery specializes in Pinot Noir made in the traditional style of Burgundy, and in Sauvignon Blanc modeled after the great wines of Sancerre. Winemaker Jay Somers’ wines are hand-crafted in small lots and are sourced from some of the best vineyards in Oregon.

The philosophy at J. Christopher is to produce wines in an Old World style that emphasizes focus, length and balance. As Jay puts it, “We do not make fruit bombs! We want wines that have a fine balance of fruit, acidity and texture. We want wines that give you more than just a big mid-palate blast — wines that are complete.”

Jay and Ernie Loosen met years ago, and cemented their friendship when Jay traveled to Germany to help the short-handed harvest crew at Dr. Loosen. In 2010, they formed a partnership and began construction of a winery and vineyard in Newberg, Oregon. The new venture, Loosen Christopher Wines LLC, produces wines under the already-established “J. Christopher” brand. As winemaker for the joint venture, Jay is in charge of all winery operations. Ernst sees his role as that of an investor who both supports the growth of the J. Christopher brand and broadens the winery’s exposure to Old World ideas and techniques.

More info about J. Christopher Winery at www.jchristopherwines.com.

PRAISE FROM THE PRESS

“Jay Somers is easily one of Oregon’s best winemakers.” — Matt Kramer

“…Jay Somers, a wunderkind admired for his wines as well as for his guitar stylings for the Stumptown band Poncho Luxurio. —The Oregonian

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In Progress: J. Christopher Winery & Appassionata Vineyard

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Construction on the new J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon, (a joint venture between Ernie Loosen and Jay Somers) is proceeding with many of the buildings on schedule for completion by this year’s harvest. Here are the latest pics of the work in progress.

Phase 2-Under Construction: A view up the driveway from Hillside Drive shows the new winery taking shape.

Inside the Red Fermentation Building: Beautiful laminated beams support the roof, which will be heavily insulated for energy efficiency.

Winery view from the South: The solar panels are mounted on a temporary roof over the barrel caves. This is where the eventual Phase III will go (offices, tasting room and kitchen).

White Fermentation and Crush Pad: The crush pad sits between the smaller white fermentation building (to the left) and the much larger red fermentation building, which starts on the right side of the image.

Sauvignon Blanc Block: Our latest planting – 3.5 acres of Sauvignon Blanc, which is a specialty of J. Christopher. We now have a total of 13 acres of vines planted. The other 9.5 acres are all various clones of Pinot Noir.

Want to learn more about J. Christopher wines? Visit the website at www.jchristopher.com.

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