2012: A New Chapter Begins
A landmark year for Knudsen Vineyards—2012 marked our return to winemaking under our own label for the first time in 25 years. With Nate Klostermann, winemaker at Argyle, and guidance from founding winemaker Rollin Soles, we crafted the inaugural Knudsen Vineyards Pinot Noir.
The vintage was shaped by a late but dry and warm summer that encouraged steady ripening. Yields were modest due to early season challenges, but the fruit came in balanced, with refined acidity and elegant tannins—a perfect reintroduction of our estate wines.
2013: A Vintage in Two Acts
This growing season brought an unusual twist: warm and consistent conditions gave way to heavy rains in late September, splitting harvest into two distinct periods. Early picks produced fresh, vibrant wines, while later fruit benefited from extended hang-time, contributing depth and complexity.
Despite the weather, our Chardonnay from this year, released in 2015, showed bright character and balance, solidifying our re-entry into Oregon wine.
2014: A Winemaker’s Dream
A nearly ideal season across the board. Warm, consistent days and clean fruit from start to finish made 2014 one of the most generous harvests in recent memory. Yields were strong, ripeness was full, and harvest timing allowed for wines that are expressive and refined without excess. It was a vintage that made both winemakers and growers breathe a little easier.
2015: Concentration and Care
Another warm year that echoed 2014, though smaller berries and slightly higher alcohol levels brought deeper concentration to the wines. Careful winemaking helped maintain elegance and restraint. The Pinot Noir showed structured depth, while Chardonnay remained textured yet fresh.
2016: Early and Expressive
The earliest start to harvest in our records—everything happened ahead of schedule, from budbreak to picking. While early, it wasn’t overwhelmingly hot, allowing for excellent ripeness with good natural acidity. Fruit was dense and expressive, with smaller berries leading to rich, focused wines.
2017: Clarity from Contrast
A cooler, wetter spring gave way to warm, dry conditions in summer. September rains had minimal impact, and cooler weather preserved acidity beautifully. The wines from this vintage are marked by clarity and complexity, a reward for the season’s shifting patterns.
2018: Harmony and Potential
One of those years where everything just fell into place. A warm start, followed by a long, even ripening period, produced fruit of outstanding quality. Low disease pressure and balanced crop loads contributed to wines that are poised, textured, and age-worthy.
2019: A Classic Oregon Throwback
A vintage that reminded us of Oregon’s classic style: cool and damp toward harvest, with lower heat accumulation. Pinot Noir showed restraint and elegance, while our Chardonnay carried a brisk, mineral-driven profile that we adore in cooler years.
2020: Challenges and Milestones
In June of 2020 we opened The Outlook at Knudsen Vineyards, a tasting room devoted exclusively to our estate grown wines. This was a season of trials. While growing conditions were near ideal through summer, regional wildfires posed challenges in late stages.
Fortunately, early harvesting and gentle winemaking helped us maintain quality. Chardonnay was especially successful due to quick pressing and clean ferments, and Pinot Noir displayed finesse with a lighter extraction approach. Our first ever Blanc De Blancs was from this year’s harvest, and has been praised by Decanter and Forbes.
2021: Heat and Heart
Extreme heat defined this vintage, yet the fruit handled it well thanks to careful vineyard management and timely harvesting. Smaller berries and extended dry spells led to intensely concentrated wines, with surprising freshness and energy. It’s a vintage of power and polish.
2022: Resilience in the Vines
Spring brought severe frost that initially threatened yields. But the vines proved resilient thankfully, and a warm, sunny growing season led to a boost of secondary and tertiary buds, with the third highest heat accumulation in 26 years, focused at the end of the growing season. In the end, the harvest exceeded expectations—proof of nature’s ability to rebound and surprise us.
2023: A Welcome Return to Normal
After a string of unpredictable years, 2023 felt like a welcome return to balance. Warm but not extreme, the season offered healthy fruit and a relatively early harvest. Crop sizes were slightly lower, but disease pressure was minimal, and the overall fruit quality was high—exactly the kind of “normal” we hope for more often.
2024: A Classic in the Making
The 2024 Oregon vintage is being celebrated as a standout year—what many are calling a “classic” return to form. Favorable weather, healthy vines, and minimal smoke impact set the stage for balanced, flavorful fruit across the region. The resulting wines show vibrant character, structure, and finesse—promising exceptional aging potential and pure Oregon expression.
As we look ahead, we’re filled with excitement for what the 2025 harvest will bring. No two seasons are ever the same, but with each passing year, we grow more connected to our land, our wines, and the community that supports us. Here’s to the next chapter in the Knudsen Vineyards story—rooted in tradition, inspired by the future.
