In 1971, when Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser planted their first vines in the Dundee Hills, there was no Oregon wine industry. The
journey of the founders from east to west can be likened to that of the
pioneers...except that the covered wagon was really a Volkswagen bus and
the roads were paved. Now Dundee, in the heart of the Willamette Valley, is the “epicenter of Oregon Pinot Noir.” Still family-owned, with the second generation taking the helm, Sokol Blosser farms 72 acres, crafting elegant, seductive estate wines with a sense of place.
Oregon is situated at 45 degrees latitude, the same parallel as Burgundy, the traditional home of Pinot Noir, and the Willamette Valley climate provides ideal growing conditions. Looking for the perfect place to grow Burgundian varieties and raise a
family, the Sokol Blossers chose Oregon. In 1970 they purchased their
first piece of vineyard land, an 18-acre dilapidated prune orchard, and
utilized volunteer labor and used equipment to plant their first acres of
Pinot Noir. By the mid-'80s, Sokol Blosser had become a nationally-recognized producer of acclaimed Pinot Noir and one of the first producers
to sell its wine outside Oregon.
The Sokol Blossers, along with a handful of like-minded innovative
pioneers, have put Oregon on the map as a producer of distinctive wines.
Their belief that exceptional wines could be produced on Oregon soil has
been validated. Sokol Blosser has never lost its pioneering spirit, family
feel and community focus. It remains family-owned and -operated, with Susan
Sokol Blosser as President, son Alex Sokol Blosser as Vice-President
and daughter Alison Sokol Blosser Spoljaric as Director of Marketing.
They
maintain an active involvement in shaping the Oregon industry,
participating in government, environmental and industry programs.
Pinot Noir is the grape at the heart of Sokol Blosser – a seductive grape that pulls you back to the glass, evokes thought and presents subtle texture and complexity. The commitment behind the passion means careful handwork on each vine, hand-harvesting and fermentation in small lots, and aging 16 months in small French oak barrels from 14 different cooperages. Sokol Blosser also produces Pinot Gris, Evolution (a proprietary white wine blend of nine varieties) and Meditrina (proprietary red blend), along with small quantities of Single Block Pinot Noirs in selected vintages.
In 1971, when Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser planted their first vines in the Dundee Hills, there was no Oregon wine industry. The
journey of the founders from east to west can be likened to that of the
pioneers...except that the covered wagon was really a Volkswagen bus and
the roads were paved. Now Dundee, in the heart of the Willamette Valley, is the “epicenter of Oregon Pinot Noir.” Still family-owned, with the second generation taking the helm, Sokol Blosser farms 72 acres, crafting elegant, seductive estate wines with a sense of place.
The Sokol Blossers, along with a handful of like-minded innovative
pioneers, have put Oregon on the map as a producer of distinctive wines.
Their belief that exceptional wines could be produced on Oregon soil has
been validated. Sokol Blosser has never lost its pioneering spirit, family
feel and community focus. It remains family-owned and -operated, with Susan
Sokol Blosser as President, son Alex Sokol Blosser as Vice-President
and daughter Alison Sokol Blosser Spoljaric as Director of Marketing.
They
maintain an active involvement in shaping the Oregon industry,
participating in government, environmental and industry programs.
