Introduction:
Cristom Vineyards was founded in 1992 by Paul Gerrie on the slopes of the Eola-Amity Hills in the Willamette Valley. It has grown into one of Oregon's most respected and consistently awarded estate producers, appearing on the Wine & Spirits Top 100 list eleven times in twelve years. The estate is now led by Paul's son Tom Gerrie as owner and winegrower, with winemaker Daniel Estrin — an alumnus of Littorai and Craggy Range — at the helm in the cellar. In 1993, Cristom made history by being the first winery to plant Viognier in the Willamette Valley, doing so in the Louise Vineyard — named for Paul's maternal grandmother — on the lower slopes of the estate. This wine remains a singular expression of what the variety can achieve in a cool-climate Oregon setting.*

Terroir:
Louise Vineyard occupies the lower, warmer slopes of the Cristom estate, planted between 1993 and 2003 at elevations of 290 to 440 feet on a mix of Columbia River basalt and marine sediment soils — the most diverse soil profile on the property. Protected from the famously strong Van Duzer Corridor winds by a horseshoe of forest, the site collects and radiates warmth in a way that sets it apart from the windswept upper vineyards, allowing Viognier to ripen fully while the surrounding Eola-Amity Hills climate preserves the natural acidity that gives the wine its tension and length.*

Tasting notes:
The 2022 Cristom Viognier Eola-Amity Hills is a deep, vibrant gold with rich color saturation — noticeably more intense in the glass than most Viogniers, hinting at the concentration and depth within. Intensely aromatic, it has a nose of orange blossoms, ripe peaches, apricots, and lychee, with hints of honeysuckle, acacia flowers, and freshly cut hay. The palate is full-bodied, lushly textured, and deeply concentrated, with flavors of ripe yellow peaches, apricots, and tropical fruits anchored by subtle saline minerality. The wine is aged in a combination of neutral French oak, stainless steel, and concrete eggs; this approach preserves freshness and tension, resulting in a palate that feels simultaneously rich and precise. Mouthwatering acidity brings the wine to a long finish, with fruit, floral, and herbal notes fading slowly into a clean, mineral close.

Press:
92 points, Vinous:
"Spicy and with a lovely herbal tinge, the 2022 Viognier Louise Vineyard blends young kiwi with lime zest and green apples. This is wonderfully perfumed with candied citrus, adding a lovely sweetness. Tart orchard fruits combine with zesty acidity, creating a push and pull of tension. It finishes with cheek-puckering freshness, leaving hints of mint and a mineral tang. Wow, this zesty effort is nearly impossible to put down."

92 points, Wine Advocate:
"It has an intense, heady perfume of lychee, peaches, toasted meringue, pie crust and jasmine. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with pure, generous fruit. Its textural grip is balanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a long, floral finish."

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Pan-seared halibut with brown butter and capers, roasted pork tenderloin with peach chutney, or lobster with drawn butter
🥦 Vegetarian: Roasted butternut squash with sage and cream, saffron risotto with preserved lemon, or a Thai green curry with jasmine rice
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged Gruyère, ripe brie, dried apricots, honeycomb, and Marcona almonds

Overall Impression: The 2022 Cristom Louise Vineyard Viognier is a rare thing — a genuinely serious American Viognier that delivers the variety's characteristic opulence while maintaining the freshness and precision of cool-climate Oregon fruit. From vines planted by the estate that introduced the variety to the Willamette Valley nearly 30 years ago, this is a wine of both historical significance and genuine quality. Serve at 50–54°F; drink now through 2028–2031.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %) 13.5%
Farming Practices: Certified LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) sustainable; estate-grown; dry-farmed; hand-harvested; vines planted 1993 and 2003
Producer Name:Cristom Vineyards
Old World / New World: New World
Country of Origin: United States
Region: Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Grape Varietals: Viognier 100%
Vintage: 2022
Wine Style: Dry, Full-Bodied White 
Winemaking Techniques: Hand-harvested estate fruit from vines planted 1993 and 2003; fermented and aged 6 months in a combination of neutral French oak barrels, stainless steel tank, and concrete egg; unfined and unfiltered
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Cork
*from winery notes