Chehalem Winery

Chehalem's story starts at Ridgecrest Vineyard, the first vineyard planted on what became the Ribbon Ridge AVA, northwest of Newberg, Oregon. Founder Harry Peterson-Nedry bought the land in 1980 and first planted it in 1982; the vineyard's first harvest came in 1985. In 1988 Bill Stoller (d. 2025) invested in Ridgecrest, his entry into the Oregon wine industry. Chehalem Winery was bonded in 1990, the year of its inaugural Pinot Noir harvest at Ridgecrest, and Stoller joined as co-owner in 1993 as those wines were releasing. In 1995 Chehalem bought Corral Creek, the vineyard surrounding the winery, from the Howieson family. In early 2018 Stoller became sole owner, and Chehalem joined his family of brands within the Stoller Wine Group.

• Ridgecrest timeline: land bought 1980, first planted 1982, first harvest 1985
• Harry Peterson-Nedry founded Chehalem as a winery in 1990; Stoller was co-owner by 1993 and sole owner from 2018
• Corral Creek, formerly known as Veritas, was bought along with its winemaking facility in 1995
• Wynne Peterson-Nedry, daughter of founder Harry Peterson-Nedry, was Chehalem's head winemaker by 2011

Chehalem belongs to the Stoller Wine Group, which in 2025 included Stoller Family Estate, Chehalem Winery, History, Chemistry, Stoller Swing, and Canned Oregon. Bill Stoller was raised on the family farm outside Dayton, Oregon, and co-founded Express Employment Professionals in 1983. The team includes Gary Mortensen as president, Katie Santora as winemaker, Jess Spera as associate winemaker, Ian Hays as cellar master, Gretchen Boock as vice president of winemaking operations, Jason Tosch as vice president of vineyard operations, and DJ Cook as viticulturist. Santora joined Chehalem in 2012 as assistant winemaker and became winemaker in 2018; she graduated from UC Davis with a degree in enology and viticulture.

• Winemaker: Katie Santora (assistant winemaker from 2012, winemaker from 2018)
• Associate winemaker Jess Spera first joined Chehalem in 2016 as a harvest intern
• Vineyards: Jason Tosch, vice president of vineyard operations, and DJ Cook, viticulturist
• Gary Mortensen is president of the Stoller Wine Group

Chehalem farms four estate vineyards in three AVAs: Ribbon Ridge and the Laurelwood District, both within the greater Chehalem Mountains AVA, and the Dundee Hills. Ridgecrest is now split into three parcels; Chehalem keeps a south-facing 29-acre parcel with 22 acres planted, on Wellsdale loam, planted to seven Pinot Noir clones. Corral Creek, planted in 1983, surrounds the winery and is the only estate vineyard Chehalem did not plant itself; the 40-acre site has 24 acres bearing fruit on Laurelwood soil. The Stoller Vineyard occupies the Dundee Hills farm that Bill Stoller's father and uncle bought in 1943 to raise turkeys. Planted in 1995, it sits on a 400-acre parcel with 225 acres planted on Jory soil, which Chehalem describes as the largest contiguous vineyard in Oregon's Dundee Hills. Chehalem Estate, near Sherwood in the Laurelwood District, is the newest vineyard and future home of Chehalem: first planted in 2007, with land bought in 2018 and 2020, it covers 210 acres with 122 planted on Laurelwood, a wind-blown loess.

• Ridgecrest (Ribbon Ridge AVA): 29 acres, 22 planted; Wellsdale loam; 589 to 673 feet; runs about a week later than the other estate vineyards
• Corral Creek (Laurelwood District): first planted 1983, bought 1995; 40 acres, 24 bearing; roughly 70 percent Pinot Noir, mainly Pommard and Wädenswil clones; first vineyard-designate Pinot Noir in 1998
• Stoller (Dundee Hills AVA): acquired 1993, planted 1995, first commercial release 1997; roughly 70 percent Pinot Noir and 25 percent Chardonnay
• Chehalem Estate (Laurelwood District): 17 Pinot Noir clones plus Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Grüner Veltliner; first Chehalem harvest 2020

Chehalem calls itself a vineyard winery that aims to reflect what the vineyard has produced with minimal processing, in wines that emphasize balance, elegance and texture, and it describes itself as known for single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and a progressive approach to white wines. Its white wine program is as extensive as its Pinot program. The Pinot Noirs include Ridgecrest Vineyard, Corral Creek Vineyard, Stoller Vineyard, and Chehalem Estate Vineyard bottlings, a Reserve Pinot Noir, and a Statement Pinot Noir. Whites include the INOX Unoaked Chardonnay, Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc, and the range also takes in a Sparkling Brut and a Blanc de Blancs. Wines made in the past include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Mondeuse Noir, Trousseau Noir, and Cerise, a Pinot Noir and Gamay blend made from 1996 to 2009.

• Current varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Rosé of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner, Gamay Noir, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc
• Single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from Ridgecrest, Corral Creek, Stoller, and Chehalem Estate
• The trade portfolio has included a 2022 INOX Columbia Valley Chardonnay
• Cerise (1996 to 2009) blended Pinot Noir and Gamay

Ridgecrest, Corral Creek, Stoller, and Chehalem Estate are LIVE and Salmon Safe certified. Chehalem uses no herbicides, controlling weeds by hand and mechanization; it dry farms whenever possible, sows diverse cover crops every fall, and reserves a large percentage of its vineyard land as an eco-zone for native plants and animals. In July 2018 it became the sixth Oregon winery to achieve B Corp certification. More than 30 percent of its spending goes to local vendors within 50 miles of the winery, and it pays a living wage. Chehalem also supports ¡SALUD!, a Pinot Noir auction that raises money for healthcare access for Oregon's seasonal vineyard workers and their families.

• All four estate vineyards: LIVE and Salmon Safe certified
• No herbicides; dry farming whenever possible; cover crops sown every fall
• Sixth Oregon winery to achieve B Corp certification, July 2018

Chehalem's estate tasting room is at 31500 NE Bell Road in Sherwood. The Estate Tasting Room Experience is a guided five-wine tasting of current releases from the four estate vineyards, and LaRue's Library Loft, above the tasting room, offers a seated flight of aged wines.

Primary sources (producer's own site and its linked wine shop): https://www.chehalemwines.com/our-story/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/vineyards/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/our-people/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/sustainability/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/tasting-experiences/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/trade-media/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/news/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/vineyards/ridgecrest-vineyards/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/vineyards/corral-creek-vineyards/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/vineyards/stoller-vineyards/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/vineyards/chehalem-estate-vineyard/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/blog/deep-dive-with-dave-ridgecrest-vineyard/, https://www.chehalemwines.com/blog/winemaker-katie-santora-celebrates-ten-years/, https://shop.stollerwinegroup.com/collection/che-all-wines/. Secondary sources: Wine Spectator (April 25, 2025), The Drinks Business (April 28, 2025). Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs. Last verified 2026-10-12