Appassionata Estate began as a passion project for the renowned German winemaker Ernst Loosen. Erni’s lifelong love for exploring the world’s great Pinot Noirs drew him to Oregon nearly three decades ago. Over many visits, collecting wines and friends along the way, he realized that something special was going on in the Willamette Valley and began to dream of making wine here himself.
Never one to merely dream, Erni launched a small, collaborative project with J. Christopher Wines in 2005, bottling a very limited, highly selected Pinot Noir that he named Appassionata. A few vintages later, he put down roots in Oregon, purchasing 40 acres in the Chehalem Mountains, planting the Appassionata Vineyard, and building the winery. His long-term vision was to establish an enduring family wine estate, dedicated to growing and producing exquisitely expressive wines with extraordinary ageability. It has been nearly two decades in the making, but that vision is now being fully realized. For Erni, the real character and complexity of a truly great wine don’t emerge until it has developed maturity, which can only happen through time and cannot be rushed. Given time — in the barrel and in the bottle — a fine wine will clearly reveal the unique nature of its terroir, as well as the signature of its vintage. This is what we strive for at Appassionata Estate: wines that vividly express their origins, and that have the depth, structure and complexity to reward long-term cellar aging.