Cristom Vineyards

Cristom Vineyards was established in 1992 when Paul Gerrie, a petroleum engineer from Pittsburgh with a deep passion for Burgundy and terroir, purchased the abandoned Pellier Winery site in the Spring Valley region of Polk County with his wife Eileen. Paul had visited Oregon in 1991 for the International Pinot Noir Celebration and decided it was ideal wine country. Mike Etzel, owner of Beaux Frères in the Willamette Valley, served as a consultant who identified the property. The winery name combines the first names of their two children, Christine and Tom. The existing vineyards were in disrepair; all but one needed replanting, which took place from 1993 to 1996. The first vintage in 1992 used purchased fruit, with the first estate-grown wines bottled in 1994. Paul hired Steve Doerner from Calera Wine Company as founding winemaker, making Doerner the first established California winemaker to relocate to Oregon, a move that inspired many others to follow.

• Paul Gerrie visited the 1991 International Pinot Noir Celebration and chose Oregon as an ideal location for world-class Pinot Noir
• Mike Etzel of Beaux Frères served as property consultant, identifying the Pellier Winery site in Spring Valley, Polk County
• First vintage (1992) used purchased fruit; estate-grown wines first bottled from the 1994 vintage after vineyard replanting from 1993 to 1996
• Steve Doerner became the first established California winemaker to move to Oregon; founding winemaker Steve Doerner was later made a partner in the business

Cristom's consistent excellence stems from a remarkably stable team. Founding winemaker Steve Doerner graduated from UC Davis in 1978 with a biochemistry degree, spent 14 years at Calera Wine Company working with Josh Jensen, and also studied under Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac in Burgundy before joining Cristom in 1992. He was subsequently made a partner in the business. Tom Gerrie, who grew up in the vineyards, returned to Cristom after graduating from the University of Washington in 2007, gaining harvest experience at Beaux Frères, Bethel Heights, Domaine Francois Mikulski, and Tapanappa Wines before becoming majority owner in 2012. Tom brought in Daniel Estrin in 2019, who had spent seven years as Associate Winemaker at Littorai with Ted Lemon as well as stints at Craggy Range, Burn Cottage, and Bodega Chacra. Estrin serves as both winemaker and vineyard manager, with particular expertise in Chardonnay and biodynamic farming.

• Steve Doerner: UC Davis biochemistry (1978), 14 years at Calera, mentorship under Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac; founding winemaker and partner since 1992
• Tom Gerrie: majority owner since 2012; harvest experience at Beaux Frères, Burgundy, and Australia before returning to Cristom
• Daniel Estrin: joined 2019 as Winemaker and Vineyard Manager; previously Associate Winemaker at Littorai for seven years under Ted Lemon
• The winegrowing team has more than 200 combined years of experience farming and making wines from the estate vineyards

Cristom's east-facing estate in the Eola-Amity Hills spans 240 acres, with approximately 84 to 90 acres under vine distributed across five family-named vineyards. The estate rises from roughly 250 feet at the base to more than 790 feet at the summit, exposing a dramatic range of Columbia River Basalt volcanic soils including Jory, Nekia, Witzel, and Gelderman on the upper slopes, with marine sedimentary soils and alluvial deposits at lower elevations. The defining climatic influence is the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Pacific Coast Range through which cool marine winds funnel each afternoon, dropping temperatures by more than 35 degrees F and allowing grapes to retain vivid natural acidity during extended hang time. Each vineyard expresses a distinct character: Marjorie (1982, own-rooted, 495 to 620 ft) is the estate's oldest and sole pre-purchase planting; Louise (1993, 290 to 440 ft) sits at the lowest elevation in the shelter of surrounding forest; Jessie (1994, 345 to 565 ft) occupies a steep mid-slope position; Eileen (1997, 545 to 735 ft) is the highest and most wind-exposed site; and Paul Gerrie (2014, 540 to 800 ft) is the largest at 28.9 acres.

• Columbia River Basalt soils (Jory, Nekia, Witzel, Gelderman) predominate on upper slopes; marine sedimentary and alluvial soils appear at lower elevations
• Van Duzer Corridor winds reach gusts of 25 mph, dropping daytime temperatures by 35 degrees F or more to preserve acidity and extend ripening
• Elevation range from approximately 250 feet (Louise) to more than 790 feet (Paul Gerrie), enabling significant site-by-site microclimate variation
• Marjorie Vineyard (planted 1982) is own-rooted with lower planting density of 605 vines per acre, the only pre-purchase planting retained from the original property

Cristom's winemaking ethos is grounded in minimal intervention and terroir transparency, a philosophy shaped by Steve Doerner's mentorship under Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac and his years producing Pinot Noir at Calera. The Gerries were also drawn to Domaine Dujac's use of whole-cluster fermentation for the complexity it imparted. Fermentations proceed with 100 percent native yeasts, without cold soaking, in small open-top fermenters with manual punch-downs. Whole-cluster inclusion for Pinot Noir typically runs 40 to 52 percent depending on the wine and vintage. Single-vineyard Pinot Noirs are typically aged 17 months in French oak with approximately 36 to 50 percent new barrels, while the Mt. Jefferson Cuvee sees shorter aging in a lower proportion of new oak. All wines are unfined and unfiltered. Gravity is used to transfer wine from tank to barrel to minimize oxidation. Since Daniel Estrin joined in 2019, the Chardonnay program has also been significantly elevated using similar low-intervention principles.

• 100 percent native yeast fermentation in small open-top fermenters with manual punch-downs; no cold soak and minimal racking throughout aging
• Whole-cluster inclusion typically 40 to 52 percent for Pinot Noir, adjusted vintage by vintage and block by block for tannin balance and aromatic complexity
• Single-vineyard Pinot Noirs aged approximately 17 months in French oak; all wines bottled unfined and unfiltered
• Gravity transfers from tank to barrel used throughout; winemaking philosophy rooted in the Domaine Dujac tradition of whole-cluster fermentation and terroir expression

Cristom produces five primary single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, each named for a member of the Gerrie family. Marjorie, the estate's oldest site (1982), is own-rooted and produces structured, mineral wines with a distinctive east-southeastern aspect on Columbia River Basalt soils. Louise (1993), the lowest-elevation vineyard at 290 to 440 feet and sheltered from the wind, yields rounder, more approachable wines. Jessie (1994) occupies a steep mid-slope position at 345 to 565 feet with deep volcanic soils and floral, savory character. Eileen (1997) is the highest and most wind-exposed vineyard at 545 to 735 feet, producing wines with intense acidity and aromatic precision. Paul Gerrie (2014), the estate's largest vineyard at 28.9 acres and highest points reaching 800 feet, brings depth and bracing maritime influence. The flagship Mt. Jefferson Cuvee blends estate fruit with selected Eola-Amity Hills partner vineyards using the same whole-cluster, native yeast approach. Cristom also produces Chardonnay from Eileen, Louise, and Paul Gerrie vineyards, as well as Pinot Gris, Viognier (from plantings dating to 1993), and a small amount of estate Syrah.

• Marjorie (1982, own-rooted, 495-620 ft): estate's oldest vines; structured and mineral with east-southeastern aspect on Columbia River Basalt
• Eileen (1997, 545-735 ft): highest and most wind-exposed site; intense acidity and floral aromatics from cool, maritime ripening
• Paul Gerrie (2014, 540-800 ft): largest estate vineyard at 28.9 acres; deep volcanic soils and strong Van Duzer wind influence
• Mt. Jefferson Cuvee: Cristom's flagship blend of estate and partner-vineyard fruit; named for Mount Jefferson visible due east of the winery; produced since the 1994 vintage

Cristom has received consistent critical recognition that has cemented its place as one of Oregon's benchmark producers. The Mt. Jefferson Cuvee was recognized as the number one Oregon Pinot Noir in America's top restaurants by Wine and Spirits magazine for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, and appeared in the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2019. Wine and Spirits has also named Cristom a Top 100 Winery of the Year for more than a decade, including 2012 through 2023. Among single-vineyard wines, the 2022 Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir earned 96 points from Decanter and 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck. The 2019 Marjorie received 96 points from Vinous and 95 points from James Suckling. The estate was nominated as Robert Parker Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery of the Year in 2020 and Best Oregon Winery in 2017. In 2025, the 2023 Mt. Jefferson Cuvee ranked 11th in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines. Cristom's longevity and consistency, sustained across founder, founding winemaker, and second-generation leadership, reflect what Karen MacNeil described as wines with purity, precision, balance, and elegance.

• Mt. Jefferson Cuvee: Wine and Spirits #1 Oregon Pinot Noir in America's Top Restaurants 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019; Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2019
• 2022 Marjorie Vineyard: 97 points Jeb Dunnuck, 96 points Decanter; 2019 Marjorie: 96 points Vinous, 95 points James Suckling
• Wine and Spirits Top 100 Winery of the Year for more than eleven consecutive years; 2023 Mt. Jefferson Cuvee ranked 11th Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2025
• Robert Parker Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery of the Year nominee 2020; Best Oregon Winery nominee 2017