Steve Doerner has been making great wine for a long time. After graduating from
UC Davis in 1978 with a degree in biochemistry, and staging at Domaine Dujac with Jacques Seysses, he began working for Josh Jensen at the pioneering central coast winery, Calera. After 14 years of making some of Californias most distinctive and sought after Pinot Noirs, he decided to head north and try his hand in the more vintage variable Willamette Valley of Oregon. In 1992 he began making wine for Paul and Eileen Gerrie who had recently purchased some vineyards in what is now the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, at the southern extent of the Willamette Valley. They chose to replant the vineyards to better clones, more densely spaced, and, as a result the first few vintages were made with largely purchased fruit. They named the winery Cristom after their children Christine and Tom and under Steve Doerners guidance rapidly ascended to the top tier of Oregon producers. The wines can age beautifully and are often among the best wines to seek out in more challenging vintages.
