Pictured from left to right: Claudia Knudsen, David Knudsen, Nate Klostermann, Colin Knudsen, Peter Knudsen, Page Knudsen Cowles, and Jay Cowles.

We celebrated a signature milestone this month during our annual Chardonnay blending session beneath the eaves of historic Oregon Bonded Winery No. 52, the first commercial-scale bonded winery in the Dundee Hills. Originally established in 1976 as Knudsen Erath Winery, this historic setting made the experience even more meaningful as we crafted the next vintage of Knudsen Vineyards Chardonnay.

Since returning to winemaking under the Knudsen Vineyards label with the 2012 vintage, our wines have been blended in the laboratory and produced at Argyle Winery in Newberg, Oregon. This year, however, COVID-19 precautions moved the tasting and blending process to the open-air breezeway at our estate vineyard, allowing our team to safely continue this important winemaking tradition.

Winemaker Nate Klostermann guided us through blending two distinct Chardonnay programs. We first evaluated wines fermented as individual vineyard lots before selecting the final blend for our limited-production 2019 Founders Series JLK Chardonnay. We then finalized the blend for the 2019 Family Series Chardonnay and carefully determined the ideal percentage of new French oak to complement each wine’s balance, texture, and fruit character.

Our estate vineyard is planted with three Dijon Chardonnay clones—76, 95, and 96—each contributing its own personality to the finished wine. Vintage conditions also influence the final blend, making every release unique while expressing the character of the Dundee Hills.

We’re incredibly excited for the release of these exceptional 2019 Chardonnays. In the meantime, our inaugural 2018 Founders Series JLK Chardonnay remains one of our rarest wines, with only 50 cases produced exclusively for members of our Family Roots Wine Club.