2011 Top 20 Producers

By Karl Klooster

Based on the estimates from Oregon’s 20 largest wineries obtained for this annual report, total production was up substantially from the abnormally short 2010 harvest.

Last year saw an aggregate 30,700 tons or approximately 1.96 million cases processed around the state. That was a whopping 23.6 percent lower than the record-setting 40,200 tons, or 2.57 million cases, in 2009.

Based on an average of previous years, the 20 wineries listed below represent roughly 55 percent of the state’s production. Using that guideline, their combined 1.58 million cases indicate that the total 2011 vintage will amount to 2.45 million cases.

Whereas this calculation does not quite reach a new record, it is just that, a preliminary calculation. Given a 4 or 5 percent margin of error, in the end, 2011 could very well turn out to be Oregon’s largest wine production year to date.

Brand Production

King Estate, the perennial king of the hill, retains the top spot again this year. Continuing its climb in the national marketplace, Erath moves into second place and Duck Pond grabs third.

A to Z Wineworks is in fourth while NW Wine Company’s controlled brand program lifts it to fifth and Willamette Valley Vineyard slips to sixth. Sokol Blosser’s well-priced blends earn it seventh and several wineries are clustered in the 40,000 to 50,000 case range.

New contender Union Wine comes out of nowhere to claim 14th, while a slew of wineries circling the 20,000 to 30,000 case arena make it difficult to state figures with certainty at this early point.

Pacific Rim Winery, the Riesling specialists recently making their presence known, could not be reached in time for publication, nor could Owen Roe representatives. Owen Roe is listed in the top 20 based on the probability that its production merits inclusion.

Top Oregon Wineries by Total Production for 2011
(Processed at the winery’s primary facility)

WINERY • LOCATION • MANAGER • ESTIMATED CASES

1. King Estate Winery • Eugene • Ed King III • 250,000
2. 12th & Maple Wine Company • Dundee • Corus Estates • 152,300*
3. Wine by Joe/Dobbes Fam. Estate • Dundee • Joe Dobbes • 133,900*
4. Erath Winery • Dundee • Ste. Michelle Estates • 122,100
5. Duck Pond Cellars • Dundee • Lisa Jenkins • 116,400
6. NW Wine Company  • Dundee • Laurent Montalieu • 113,200*
7. A to Z Wineworks/REX HILL • Newberg • Bill Hatcher • 101,200
8. Willamette Valley Vineyards • Turner • Jim Bernau • 86,500
9. Eola Hills Wine Cellars • Rickreall • Tom Huggins • 63,600*
10. Firesteed Wines • Rickreall • Howard Rossbach • 52,000
11. Ponzi Vineyards • Beaverton • Ponzi Family • 51,000
12. Foris Vineyards Winery • Cave Junction • Ted Gerber  • 48,000*
13. Adelsheim Vineyard • Newberg • David Adelsheim • 47,000
14. Argyle Winery • Dundee • Rollin Soles • 46,800
15. Elk Cove Vineyards • Gaston • Adam Campbell • 43,800
t16. Bridgeview Vineyards • Cave Junction • René Eichmann • 40,000
t16. Union Wine Company • Sherwood • Ryan Harms • 40,000
18. Owen Roe Winery • St. Paul • David O’Reilly • 35,300
19. Sokol Blosser • Dayton • Alex Sokol Blosser • 29,400
20. Pallet Wine Company • Medford • Linda Donovan • 27,200
*2) 12th & Maple: 100% for clients; 3) Wine by Joe: 70% for clients; 6) NW Wine Company: 30% for clients; 9) Eola Hills: 45% for clients; 12) Foris: 27% for clients. 

Top Oregon Wineries by Brand 2011
(Includes all sources of fruit)

WINERY • LOCATION • MANAGER • ESTIMATED CASES
1. King Estate Winery • Eugene • Ed King III • 250,000
2. Erath Winery • Dundee • Ste. Michelle Estates • 122,100
3. Duck Pond Cellars • Dundee • Lisa Jenkins • 116,400
4. A to Z Wineworks/REX HILL • Newberg • Bill Hatcher • 91,200
5. Willamette Valley Vineyards • Turner • Jim Bernau • 86,500
6. Sokol Blosser • Dayton • Alex Sokol Blosser • 79,400*
7. NW Wine Company • Dundee • Laurent Montalieu • 79,200*
8. Firesteed Wines • Rickreall • Howard Rossbach • 52,000
9. Ponzi Vineyards • Beaverton • Ponzi Family • 51,000
10. Adelsheim Vineyard • Newberg • David Adelsheim • 47,000
11. Argyle Winery • Dundee • Rollin Soles • 46,800
12. Elk Cove Vineyards • Gaston • Adam Campbell • 43,800
13. Wine by Joe/Dobbes Fam. Estate • Dundee • Joe Dobbes • 40,100
14. Bridgeview Vineyards • Cave Junction • René Eichmann • 40,000
15. Owen Roe Winery • St. Paul • David O’Reilly • 35,300
16. Eola Hills Wine Cellars • Rickreall • Tom Huggins • 35,000
17. Foris Winery & Vineyards • Cave Junction • Ted Gerber • 34,900
18. Union Wine Company • Sherwood • Ryan Harms • 30,000
19. Domaine Serene • Dayton • Ken Evenstad • 25,900
t20. Montinore Estate • Forest Grove • Rudy Marchesi • 25,000
t20. WillaKenzie Estate • Yamhill • Bernard Lacroute • 25,000
*6) Sokol Blosser: 50,000 cases from contracted sources; 7) NW Wine Company: affiliated controlled brands.