THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT CLIMATE FOR PINOT NOIR

Born in 1989, Van Duzer was the culmination of a search for a cool weather location that, like Burgundy, the traditional home of pinot noir, would produce pinot noirs of pleasing balance and intriguing layers of flavor that express the terroir from which they sprung.

Van Duzer owners Carl and Marilynn Thoma absorbed the interest of their partner, vineyard pioneer William Hill, in 1998. Believing it was essential to develop a 100% estate fruit winery, they located a winery with existing vineyards in the Van Duzer Corridor and set about upgrading the vineyards and winery. To date, 38 acres of vineyard have been replanted or grafted to new grape clones. An additional 15 acres in the Westside Bowl were planted in 2001, bringing the total estate to 77 acres of vineyard.