WillaKenzie Estate

Overview

Passion for Pinot: Pinot is All We Do

WillaKenzie Estate is a small family-owned winery dedicated to the highest expression of terroir, making great wines from the Pinot family of grapes: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, as well as Gamay Noir made in the Beaujolais crus style. Owner Bernard Lacroute developed a passion for Pinot Noir in his native province of Burgundy.

Oregon Terroir: World-Class Pinot

Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley is a pioneer in the cultivation of cool climate varietals on the West Coast, producing wines that are world-renowned. The soil, the climate and the topography are ideal for growing Pinot grapes. In January 1991, Bernard and Ronni Lacroute purchased the ideal Pinot site they had been seeking, a beautiful 420-acre ranch in Yamhill County, which they began planting to grapevines in 1992. Today, more than 100 acres of vineyards are arranged on rolling hills around untouched stands of majestic, native Douglas fir and oak.

Vineyard Expression: Dirt Matters, Clones Matter

The sedimentary Willakenzie soil on which the vineyards are planted and for which the winery is named, displays subtle variations throughout the estate. Differences in elevation, from 300 to 750 feet, inclination, from gently rounded hilltops to 40-degree slopes, top soil depth, restrictive sandstone layer depth, drainage, exposure, row orientation and microclimate all contribute to create specific terroirs, which are expressed in the distinctive character of each WillaKenzie Estate wine. A further level of diversity and complexity is provided by the selection of more than 10 different clones of Pinot Noir planted across the estate. Creating estate wines that explore and express the specific qualities and combinations of clones and terroir is at the heart of WillaKenzie Estate’s philosophy.

Sustainable Viticulture: Healthy Soil, Healthy Vines, Healthy People

Sustainable farming practices that respect the environment, soil, plants and people are another expression of WillaKenzie Estate’s commitment to genuine quality. To promote the health of the soil, the winery uses composts and cover crops, and encourages beneficial organisms such as earthworms and fungi. To maintain the health of the vines, WillaKenzie Estate uses organic fertilizers and fungicides rather than synthetic chemicals. Only 102 acres of the 420-acre estate are planted to grapes. The winery has left open pastures, patches of blackberry, Douglas fir and oak around the vineyards to preserve the balance of the ecosystem. Sustainable viticulture is extremely labor intensive — a dedicated vineyard crew employed year-round touches each of the more than 150,000 vines on the estate at least 24 times annually, further ensuring consistency and quality.

French Tradition, American Innovation: The Best of Both Worlds

When Bernard Lacroute decided to return to his Burgundian roots by following his passion for great Pinot, he drew on his successful career in American high tech, combining tradition with technology. A new gravity-flow winery was built in 1995, allowing gentle handling of the wine from harvest to bottle. With a degree in enology from the University of Bordeaux, Thibaud Mandet brings a French touch to the art and science of winemaking. WillaKenzie Estate also applies technology and innovation whenever it can help make better wines. Examples include: a state-of-the-art irrigation monitoring system to track moisture levels in the vineyard; “Big Foot,” a mechanical punch-down robot designed by Bernard to insure precise control over tannin extraction; and pioneering bottling with screw cap closures. Following time-honored tradition, but also a leader in cutting edge innovation, WillaKenzie Estate combines the best of the Old World and the New.