Pioneers in Oregon

For many wine enthusiasts around the world, the name Joseph Drouhin is closely linked with Beaune and Burgundy. However, the history of Maison Joseph Drouhin is not solely rooted in Côte-d'Or.

It is also in the United States, in Oregon, that the House embarked on a brilliant chapter in July 1987. Robert Drouhin, along with his daughter Véronique Drouhin, who had just graduated in oenology, decided to purchase land in the Dundee hills, in the Willamette Valley.

In 1989, a gravity-flow winery emerged from the ground on top of the hill. Three years later, a selected cuvée of Pinot Noir was released, named Laurène, as a nod to Véronique’s eldest daughter. The first vintage of Chardonnay from the estate was produced in 1996. Three vintages later, Véronique Drouhin chose the name Louise, after her younger daughter, for a new selection of Pinot Noir. In 2004, the third child, Arthur, lent his name to a cuvée of Chardonnay.

This family adventure in Oregon, initiated by Robert Drouhin, took a new leap forward in 2013 with the acquisition of Roserock Vineyards. This property, nestled in the Eola-Amity Hills, encompasses 112 hectares, including 54 hectares of vineyards. Like the first vineyard, the estate is predominantly planted with Pinot Noir.

"What excites us is having two different terroirs, both of volcanic origin, with a slightly cooler microclimate at Roserock," emphasizes the family. As a result, the wine style exhibits nuances: the wines from Dundee Hills are charming and silky, while those from Eola-Amity Hills are more structured and vibrant. These nuances can be compared to the differences between Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin in Burgundy."