Passion. Patience. Place.
Appassionata is the culmination of renowned German winemaker Ernst “Erni” Loosen’s vision of establishing a high-end, European-style winery and vineyard in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Rooted in Old World traditions, the winery is dedicated to crafting exquisitely expressive Pinot Noirs and white wines with extraordinary ageability. Driven by Erni’s belief that the true character and complexity of a wine doesn’t emerge until it has developed maturity, Appassionata Estate holds its wines for up to 10 years, ensuring they are ready to enjoy upon release.
A lifelong enthusiast of the great Pinot Noirs of the world, Erni began exploring Oregon’s Willamette Valley nearly three decades ago. After many visits to the region and tasting numerous wines, he recognized that Oregon Pinot Noir has the potential to age well. In 2005, Erni realized his dream of producing an Oregon Pinot Noir when he launched Appassionata as a collaborative project with J. Christopher Wines. After several vintages of bottling Appassionata as a limited, highly selected Pinot Noir, Erni decided to put down roots in Oregon. He purchased 40 acres in the Chehalem Mountains, near Newberg, planting the Appassionata vineyard and building the Appassionata Winery.
Inspired by the three movements of Beethoven’s “Appassionata” Piano Sonata, the winery crafts three distinctive Pinot Noirs that are thematically intertwined expressions of the Willamette Valley. The Allegro cuvée is selected from barrels that show a precocious liveliness and will drink well after three years, but is still built for aging. The Andante is released five years after the vintage and is selected to emphasize elegance and refinement. The Fortissimo is the pinnacle of Appassionata’s Pinot Sonata, crafted for its longevity and expressiveness, and not released until 10 years after the vintage. Appassionata also produces a barrel-fermented Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc produced in Acacia barrels and a dry Riesling inspired by the historical winemaking techniques of Erni’s great-grandfather.
Guided by the three core principles of patience, passion and place, Appassionata is committed to growing exceptional quality fruit and practicing unhurried winemaking, allowing the wines to unfold at their own tempo. The wines are then given time to develop, both in the barrel and bottle, so they can clearly reveal the unique nature of their terroir, as well the signature of the vintage.
www.appassionataestate.com
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