Lingua Franca

Lingua Franca is the fulfillment of Larry Stone's lifelong ambition to make world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley. Stone, one of America's most accomplished Master Sommeliers, began searching for vineyard land in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills in 2010. He entered negotiations for the 150-acre Janzen Farm, a prized east-facing site with a 300-foot elevation gain that sits beside some of the most respected vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Stone purchased the property in 2012 and formally launched the winery in 2015 alongside co-founder David Honig and Dominique Lafon, the celebrated winemaker of Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Meursault, Burgundy.

• Stone began negotiations for the Janzen Farm property in 2010 and purchased it in 2012
• The 150-acre estate features east-facing slopes with 300 feet of elevation gain
• Dominique Lafon of Domaine des Comtes Lafon joined as co-founder and consulting winemaker
• The name 'Lingua Franca' refers to a common language, reflecting the shared vision between Oregon and Burgundy

The Lingua Franca estate sits in the heart of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, a sub-region of the Willamette Valley prized for its exposure to cool Pacific winds funneled through the Van Duzer Corridor. The vineyard's Nekia, Gelderman, and Jory soils are volcanic in origin, providing excellent drainage and mineral complexity. The Willamette Valley's average seasonal temperatures, extended summer daylight hours, and annual rainfall closely resemble conditions in Burgundy, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay achieve their finest expressions. The estate follows low-impact, organic, and biodynamic farming principles to cultivate both varieties.

• Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, cooled by Pacific winds through the Van Duzer Corridor
• Volcanic Nekia, Gelderman, and Jory soils provide drainage and mineral complexity
• Climate parallels Burgundy in temperature, daylight hours, and rainfall patterns
• Organic and biodynamic farming practices across the estate

Thomas Savre leads winemaking at Lingua Franca, bringing deep Burgundian training to Oregon terroir. Savre earned a Bachelor's degree in Wine Science and two Master's degrees from the Jules Guyot Institute at the University of Burgundy, and worked at several prestigious Burgundian estates before joining Lingua Franca. Dominique Lafon serves as consulting winemaker, contributing decades of experience crafting some of Burgundy's most admired white wines at Domaine des Comtes Lafon. The collaboration between Savre's day-to-day winemaking and Lafon's Burgundian perspective defines the house style: wines of precision, transparency, and site expression.

• Thomas Savre trained at the Jules Guyot Institute, University of Burgundy, with three degrees in wine science
• Savre worked at prestigious Burgundy estates before relocating to Oregon
• Dominique Lafon consults, bringing his experience from Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Meursault
• The team's Burgundian approach emphasizes precision, site transparency, and minimal intervention

Lingua Franca produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate fruit and select Willamette Valley vineyard sources. The AVNI Pinot Noir draws from multiple vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills and Yamhill-Carlton AVAs, serving as an accessible entry point. Mimi's Mind Pinot Noir is a single-vineyard bottling from the Lingua Franca estate, offering greater power and concentration with red and dark fruit layered over red florals. The Sisters Chardonnay is a barrel-selection wine named after Larry Stone's sisters. Each wine reflects the Burgundian philosophy of the winemaking team while expressing the volcanic terroir of Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills.

• AVNI Pinot Noir blends fruit from Eola-Amity Hills and Yamhill-Carlton AVA vineyards
• Mimi's Mind Pinot Noir is a single-vineyard estate bottling with serious power and concentration
• Sisters Chardonnay is a barrel-selection wine named after Larry Stone's sisters
• All wines reflect the Burgundian approach of site expression and restrained winemaking

In early 2022, Lingua Franca was acquired by Constellation Brands, the major beverage company whose portfolio includes Robert Mondavi, Meiomi, and beer brands Corona and Modelo. The acquisition placed Lingua Franca within Constellation's newly created Aspira division, focused on high-quality, organically farmed vineyards. Larry Stone, who cited the challenges of Covid-19 and Oregon wildfire seasons as factors in the decision, reassured fans that the winery's ethos would remain unchanged. The winemaking team of Thomas Savre and consulting winemaker Dominique Lafon remained in place, and the organic and biodynamic farming practices continued.

• Acquired by Constellation Brands in early 2022, placed within the new Aspira fine wine division
• Covid-19 and wildfire challenges were cited as factors in the decision to sell
• Thomas Savre and Dominique Lafon remained as winemaker and consulting winemaker
• Organic and biodynamic farming practices continued under Constellation ownership