Our Story

Biodynamic Farming Represented

Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological and ethical farming method used in all kinds of agriculture; the principles behind biodynamics have been taught for over 100 years. Applied biodynamics in our vineyards includes increasing the farm’s capacity for self-renewal and sustainability. Walking through the winery grounds, you’ll find that biodynamic methods inspired Domaine Willamette’s gardens and artwork.

Exterior, Garden and Water Features

The massive boulder by Domaine Willamette’s entry is a nod to the biodynamic principle that rocks are reservoirs of light energy. This boulder and others in the landscape came from a quarry west of the winery. Tony Prunty of All Oregon Landscape placed the boulders.

Steven Koch of Koch Landscape Architecture of Portland came up with the idea of adding large sculptures that feature some of the beneficial flowers used in biodynamic farming. Guests will find white granite depictions of chamomile, yarrow and stinging nettle in the gardens. A giant cow horn sculpture in front of the winery acknowledges the preparations used in biodynamic farming. Manure is pushed into cow horns, buried in the vineyards and dug up later to make a “tea” full of beneficial microbes to spread over the soil. The sculptures are the work of stone carver Mauricio Saldaña of Guinett Masonry in Vancouver, Washington.

Guests will discover water features and native plants as they stroll through the gardens. Eammon Hughes, who designed features at The Oregon Garden, created Domaine Willamette’s waterfall and pond features. The Solstice Garden is a round area of plantings featuring colors for each season and metal edging.

Some of the trees used in the landscape are cork oak trees. The root systems of cork oak planted at Domaine Willamette are inoculated to grow French black truffles. They represent the groves of cork oak trees in Portugal that provide the bark that makes our sustainable cork wine stoppers.

Interior Features

The Starry Sky presentation room in the winery’s cellar inspires visitors by evoking the celestial influences of biodynamic farming. Planar Systems in Beaverton created the digital presentation screen.

Winery architect Boxwood and sparkling winemaker Andrew Davis collaborated to create Domaine Willamette’s cellar for aging and riddling the sparkling wine.

Méthode Traditionnelle

Méthode traditionnelle is a revered technique for producing sparkling wines of exceptional quality that originated in the Champagne region of France. This method includes tirage, a secondary fermentation where the base wine is combined in the bottle with sweet dosage and yeast and sealed with a crown cap to create pressure and bubbles. After aging for 18 months or longer on their lees, the bottles are disgorged and enclosed with their traditional corks and wire cages. This hands-on approach, marked by riddling and disgorgement to remove sediment, contributes to the signature taste and texture of méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines, celebrated for their delicate bubbles, rich aromas and refined taste that exemplify the artistry of traditional winemaking techniques.

Founders

Domaine Willamette is the culmination of years of hard work by its Founders, Jim and Jan Bernau, and the support of wine enthusiasts who have invested in the project by purchasing shares of preferred stock (NASDAQ: WVVIP).

Jim Bernau’s interest in wine began at the dinner table with his family. His passion for wine was nurtured by winegrowers and inspired by study and experimentation. The early 1980s marked the humble beginnings of what grew into Willamette Valley Vineyards when Jim purchased and planted his first Pinot Noir vines. As the vines flourished, so did Jim’s collaborative prominence in the industry as he partnered with fellow Oregon winemakers such as Bill Fuller of Tualatin Estate Vineyard, established in 1973, and Dick and Betty O’Brien of Elton Vineyard, established in 1983. Jim is unwavering in his wholehearted belief in the sanctity of community, protecting the environment, protecting farmers and sharing Willamette’s wines with wine lovers worldwide.

Jan Bernau started work at Willamette as a consultant in 2008 when she helped launch staff training and development tools. She now serves as the company’s Project and Staff Development Manager. Beginning in 2017, she oversaw the collaborative effort between the architectural firm of Boxwood, the Landscape Design of Steven Koch, the general contractor, CD Redding and all of their subcontractors – along with many other Willamette team members and local artists – to create Domaine Willamette’s visually stunning tasting room, underground aging cellar and biodynamic gardens that tell the story of the winery’s biodynamic farming and sustainable winemaking.