WINERY HISTORY
Josh Bergström has long been driven by a single, lofty goal: to craft the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the United States. Now entirely estate-based using biodynamic techniques, Bergström has long since established itself at the forefront of American wines. Founded by his parents – John and Karen – Josh took over the reins of the family business in 1999, when it was still early in its development. Helped by his then-fiancée, now-wife Caroline – who he met while studying in Burgundy – Josh has turned Bergström into the pinnacle of Oregon wine. The key to Josh’s success has been his near total-obsession with terroir. Spending 10 months of the year in the alternating marine sedimentary and volcanic soils of his estate ensures an unrivalled familiarity with the land, letting Josh extract every nuance from his grapes.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
Bergström is based in the heart of Willamette Valley, a region long known to have ideal conditions for Burgundian varietals. Shielded from cold Pacific winds and Eastern Oregon’s severe seasonal changes by two mountain ranges, the Willamette Valley provides a long growing season with cool winters and warm summers. It is amongst the coolest growing regions in the world, with a climate like that of Mosel or Champagne. Their farming programme consists of five monopole vineyards that span 28ha across many of the Willamette Valley’s most lauded AVAs. It is from these meticulously cared for, sustainably and organically grown plantings that Josh and his team craft some of the New World’s most desired bottlings. Their wines are a vinous road map to the different marine sedimentary and volcanic hillsides where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown here.
The portfolio features two Chardonnays as well as a variety of cuvée and single vineyard Pinot Noirs. The Old Stones Chardonnay is crafted from fresh-fruited and mineral-laden fruit that highlights Oregon Chardonnay at its most charming and elegant. It is in many ways the little sister to the Sigrid, a wine named for Josh’s Swedish grandmother. This Chardonnay is amongst their best bottlings, sourced from Bergström’s finest plantings. It is vinified entirely in small French oak barrels, delighting with layered structure, resonant strength, and fresh citrus, stone fruit, and floral notes. The Pinot offerings start with the Cumberland Reserve, a blend of sites that perfectly captures the essence of the Willamette. The single vineyard Pinots tend to retain slightly more structure, displaying remarkable site character and incredible potential to age. Bergström's stylistic expression has juicy, natural acidity, fresh fruit aromas and flavours, a taut and saline mineral core, as well as rich earth and spice characters from the ancient weathered soils and bedrocks
GRAPE VARIETIES
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
