Description
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.
Appassionata
The fruit for this wine was harvest from old, ungrafted Riesling vines (planted in 1976) in the Medici Vineyard, an exceptional site in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, located just a few miles from Appassionata Estate. The Appassionata Riesling is made following the traditional winemaking approach that Ernst Loosen uses for his Dr. Loosen GGs — fermented in a 3,000-liter German oak cask and matured on the full lees for 12 months before bottling. The extended lees contact allows the wine to clarify and find its own harmonious balance naturally.
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