Corks & Forks: Stoller Family Estate a product of vision

Distinguishing oneself in a sea of approximately 400 wineries is no easy feat, but Stoller Family Estate has managed to do just that through a combination of elegantly crafted, estate-grown wines and laying claim to the world’s first LEED gold-certified winery.

A sweeping, tree-lined drive welcomes visitors to their expansive grounds in Dayton, Ore., that have been in the Stoller family since 1943. South-facing slopes are covered in 195 acres of vines with clumps of oak trees scattered about and a state-of-the-art tasting room and winery sits as its crowning glory. The whole effect weaves not just a visual feast but is the substance of owner Bill Stoller’s vision to preserve that which he has built up for generations to come and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship through the application of sustainable practices.

A network of rooftop solar panels contributes to about half of the winery’s electrical needs; the floor-to-ceiling glass brings the outdoors in while introducing natural light to the main tasting room; and Stoller has taken full advantage of the slope of the property to employ gravity-flow winemaking — a process that has been around since the 1800s wherein gravity, as opposed to mechanical means, is used to move the wine through its various steps. Energy conservation is one goal in adopting this method, but gravity flow is also widely believed to produce a superior quality wine through the gentle handling of the grapes at all stages.

Seven grape varietals –with pinot noir and chardonnay constituting the vast majority of the plantings — enjoy the Jory soil of this Dundee Hills vineyard. Layers of organic material, silty clay loam and clay create this well-draining soil that brings a minerally characteristic to the wines of Stoller.