Winemaking
From root to bottle, from our land to you
Head Winemaker Stephen Webber works diligently to shepherd our grapes through the evolution from exceptional fruit to exceptional wine. By uniting Rudy Marchesi and Clay Wesson’s thoughtful Biodynamic® and organic growing practices with Stephen’s focus and restraint in winemaking, the terroir is undeniably reflected in our wines.
Our approach to winemaking focuses on producing wines that are an expression of the terroir while ensuring they are approachable, food-friendly and structured for graceful aging. From harvest dates to fermentation vessels and temperature, from cultivating our own yeasts to selecting the perfect barrels for aging, each decision is thoughtfully made with one end goal in mind: to craft wines that reflect the place where the grapes are grown while showcasing the best characteristics of each variety.
Stephen Webber
Stephen left DiStefano winery for Montinore Estate in 2006, having previously spent extensive time working in Australia, where he gathered much of his larger-scale winemaking experience. A vintage in Alsace, France sealed Stephen’s love of cool-climate white varieties. Under Stephen’s direction and expertise, the winemaking team crafts superior Pinot Noir, fascinating Italian varietals and an array of aromatic white wines not widely available in the Willamette Valley
Chris Brack
Chris Brack joined Montinore Estate in 2014, after starting his career on the East Coast in fine wine sales. It was there that his love of wine and winemaking ignited, and he quickly moved west to intern at Montinore Estate for the 2014 harvest. Chris went on to become the Cellarmaster for 5 years at Montinore while completing a Winemaking Certificate at the University of California-Davis and working a vintage in Central Otago, NZ. With diverse experience in nearly every aspect of the craft and extensive knowledge of Montinore Estate winemaking, Chris was promoted to Assistant Winemaker in 2021 and Winemaker in 2023.
Rudy Marchesi
Rudy’s Italian heritage helped develop his palate for acid-driven, food-friendly wines, which is why he fell in love with Oregon more than two decades ago. He strives for flavors that complement a variety of foods, harkening back to the northern Italian dishes on which he was raised. In addition to Pinot Noir and cool climate whites, we also grow and produce estate Teroldego and Lagrein, grapes that originate in the Dolomite Mountains of Italy and are a nod to Rudy’s heritage.