Montinore Estate has been certified Biodynamic since 2008
Forest Grove, Oregon (March 12, 2024) — Montinore Estate, a revered name in sustainable viticulture, is proud to celebrate a century since the beginning of Biodynamic agriculture. In a testament to their steadfast dedication to holistic farming practices, all three of the Estate’s vineyards are Demeter-certified Biodynamic and CCOF-certified. Under the visionary leadership of Rudy Marchesi, Montinore Estate has not only preserved the land but also enriched it for future generations.
Montinore Estate’s commitment to Biodynamic farming extends beyond the vineyards, influencing every aspect of their winemaking process. From hand-harvesting grapes to employing natural fermentation methods, Montinore Estate produces wines of exceptional quality that reflect the purity and vitality of their terroir as well as the passion, stewardship and vision of partner Rudy Marchesi.
Marchesi started working at Montinore Estate in 1998 and began its transformation into Biodynamic farming in 2003. Two years later, Marchesi purchased the estate and further committed the entire property to the practice of Biodynamic agriculture. The 200-acre vineyard received Demeter Biodynamic certification in 2008, but his inspiration was nearly a century in the making.
Rudolph Steiner’s organic agriculture lecture series in 1924 spanned ten days and only had 111 guests, and is known as the birth of Biodynamics. Steiner characterized the farm as an organism and outlined Biodynamic farming practices, although the term “Biodynamic agriculture” was not popularized until 1938. The proliferation of chemical agriculture and its potential harm on the ecosystem inspired Steiner to create the series, stating, “In the course of this materialistic age of ours, we’ve lost the knowledge of what it takes to continue to care for the natural world.”
Marchesi’s influence on Biodynamic farming practices in vineyards has reached far beyond the scale of Montinore Estate in the Willamette Valley; his impact is felt internationally and at much larger producers. He has spoken at conferences and has demonstrated that Biodynamics® is suitable for larger farms, not just small-scale productions. He was the first American to be asked to join the International Biodynamic Viticulture Group, and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Demeter USA from 2019 to 2021. Montinore’s Head of Viticulture Clay Wesson was hired at the beginning of last year to carry on Rudy’s work and continue to improve the health of the estate vineyards. In addition to this, Wesson works with other members of the wine industry in the Willamette Valley to troubleshoot issues and continue to inspire others to use Biodynamic farming methods.
In conjunction with this historic anniversary, Montinore Estate is proud to announce the promotion of Chris Brack to Winemaker alongside Head Winemaker Stephen Webber. With a deep understanding of Biodynamic principles and a passion for winemaking, Chris brings invaluable expertise to Montinore Estate’s esteemed winemaking team. He started working for Montinore in 2014, and completed his Winemaking Certificate at UC Davis while working as Cellarmaster for the company.
“Chris Brack’s promotion to Winemaker is a testament to his dedication and talent,” said Stephen Webber, Master Winemaker at Montinore Estate. “Together, we look forward to crafting exceptional wines that honor the Biodynamic legacy of Montinore Estate.”
“Being promoted to Winemaker means the world to me. It feels amazing to have my work acknowledged and to be trusted in a leadership role. I hope to carry on the torch of producing phenomenal wines with Organic and Biodynamic certifications, and I hope to be the best leader and educator I possibly can be” Chris said.
ABOUT MONTINORE ESTATE
Montinore Estate was established in 1982 and is one of the country’s largest estate wineries producing wine with Biodynamic grapes. Montinore concentrates on Pinot Noir as well as cool climate white varieties and Northern Italian reds like Teroldego and Lagrein sourced from their 200-acre Demeter Certified Biodynamic® and CCOF-Certified Organic estate vineyard located in north Willamette Valley. Montinore also owns Tidalstar Vineyard, an organic and certified Biodynamic estate in Yamhill-Carlton AVA planted in 1999, and Laughlin Vineyard, a new Biodynamically-farmed vineyard also in Yamhill-Carlton AVA. For more information visit montinore.com.
