Since Maison Joseph Drouhin founded Domaine Drouhin Oregon in 1987, its success has inspired many French vignerons to set out for Oregon. Compared with France’s expensive vineyard land (especially in Burgundy) and highly regulated environment, Oregon offered a new frontier for quality winemaking, with lower vineyard prices and greater flexibility. These pioneers have embraced Oregon’s innovative spirit while remaining true to the rich traditions of France.

Among the earliest to arrive was Laurent Montalieu, who came to Oregon in 1987 and worked at several wineries before launching his own Soléna label in 2000. He was followed not long after by Isabelle Dutartre, a frequent collaborator with the Drouhin family who has been making wine in the valley since 1993, with labels that included De Ponte, and is now winemaker at DDO’s Roserock estate. Bruno Corneaux first visited the region in 1996, then worked at Soléna before launching his own brand, Domaine Divio, in 2014. And in 2000, Thibaud Mandet was hired as winemaker at WillaKenzie, where he stayed for many years before founding Clos Griotte in 2017.

Beyond this group of talented vignerons, there has been a steady flow of French wine companies arriving in Oregon, with the most recent being Champagne Bollinger’s purchase of Ponzi Vineyards in 2021.

Nicolas-Jay

Burgundian winemaker Jean-Nicolas Méo of Domaine Méo-Camuzet and Jay Boberg were friends for years before they launched Nicolas-Jay in 2013 in the Dundee Hills. The two connected over their similar attitudes about music, life and wine, particularly Burgundy. A former music executive, Boberg was the co-founder of I.R.S. Records and helped discover bands such as R.E.M. and the Go-Go’s and was later the president of MCA Records. The duo converted an old cattle barn into a sustainable, gravity-fed winery in 2021. Méo visits Willamette Valley frequently, while Noah Roberts oversees the day-to-day winemaking.