The new J. Christopher Winery and Appassionata Vineyards (our joint venture with winemaker Jay Somers) is rising rapidly in Newberg, Oregon. Here are the latest pix.
This pic is part one of a two-part panorama of the pre-cast concrete arches that were set in place to form the barrel caves. There are five caves, which radiate out like spokes of a wheel.
Part two of the panorama of the concrete arches set in place to form the barrel caves.
Inside the common room that joins all five barrel caves.
Loosen Bros USA VP Kirk Wille standing in one of the caves to show you the scale. Each cave will have a row of barrels down each side and two rows down the center.
(left to right) Jay Somers, Stuart Pigott and Mike Weersing standing in the doorway to the barrel cave vestibule. Stuart Pigott, renowned wine critic and author, had stopped by on his way to Riesling Rendezvous. By coincidence, Ernie Loosen's pal Mike Weersing, winemaker at Pyramid Valley Winery in New Zealand, was also visiting that day.
Waterproofing and insulation were installed over the caves before backfilling.
The winery is cut into the side of a north-facing slope, so the completed caves are now covered with the original soil. This, combined with the insulation, will keep the caves naturally cool, reducing energy needs and giving us a really “cool” place to raise the wines, which stay 15-18 months in barrel.
We have planted the first five acres of new Pinot Noir vines at the Appassionata Vineyard (J. Christopher) property in Newberg, Oregon. This view is toward Hillside Drive, and you can see one of the new blocks, as well as work being done on the driveway. We planted a mix of three Pinot Noir clones: Pommard, Dijon 115 and Wadenswil.
Ellisa and I went to a winemaker dinner at Oba! in Portland, Oregon, with legendary Spanish winemaker Alejandro Fernandez (second from left) last Wednesday. Also in the photo with us (far right) is John Kennedy, owner of 
I arrived in Germany on Monday, which was a holiday here. So I spent a lovely afternoon with Eva Loosen walking their dog, Diana. We only made it to the neighbor village, Graach, where a few wineries had open cellars. Here we’re sitting outside Weingut Kees-Kieren, a very nice producer in this village, and enjoying a glass or two. 
Be the first to try the first release of the first Oregon Pinot Noir produced collaboratively by Ernie Loosen and Jay Somers of 