Father’s Day at Knudsen Vineyards is a little extra special.

Not just because we’re offering free tastings for all dads all weekend long (although we are — and you should absolutely bring yours), but because our own story began with a father’s vision — C. Calvert “Cal” Knudsen — and the legacy he left behind in every row of vines and every glass we pour.

If you’ve visited our tasting room, you may have heard Cal’s name or spotted that iconic black-and-white photo: Cal walking the vineyard with quiet confidence, sleeves rolled, surrounded by young vines that hadn’t yet told their story. He wasn’t just planting grapes — he was planting a future. And as we look around the property today, more than 50 years later, it’s clear that his vision still guides everything we do.

It All Started with Sparkling Wine

In the late 1960s, Cal and Julia Lee Knudsen traveled through Burgundy and Champagne with their children. Like many great ideas, the spark came not from a boardroom or a blueprint, but from a glass of wine enjoyed in the right place, at the right time. The energy of the vineyards, the elegance of the wines, the connection between land and people — it struck a chord.

Cal came home to Oregon with an idea that felt radical at the time: what if this cool-climate corner of the Pacific Northwest could produce wines to rival those he’d tasted in France? Not just still wines, but sparkling wines — crisp, complex, and expressive of place.

In 1971, he found the perfect spot: a 200-acre former walnut orchard tucked into the Dundee Hills. By 1972, the first 31 acres of vines were in the ground — mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. And from there, Knudsen Vineyards began to grow.

At a time when Oregon had fewer than five bonded wineries, Cal’s plantings made Knudsen Vineyards the largest vineyard in the state. He partnered with pioneers like Dick Erath and helped supply grapes for what would become Argyle’s acclaimed sparkling wine program — still a major part of the valley’s wine identity today.

Even before that, in 1969, Cal was already reaching out to other winemakers, trying to source grapes for sparkling. It wasn’t a trend back then — it was a gamble. But Cal saw the potential before anyone else did. He even initiated the release of one of Oregon’s earliest sparkling wines — Oregon Brut — in the early ’80s, long before it was trendy. A lot of it was popped open at his daughter Page’s wedding. (She now is a managing partner in the business, and that full-circle moment is not lost on us!)

 Honoring Cal with Wines That Matter

Cal’s vision is still very much alive here. Our Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine — made from estate-grown Chardonnay — is a tribute to those early days. It’s crisp, bright, and elegant… everything he hoped Oregon sparkling wine could be.

But that’s not the only wine that carries his legacy. We also created something really special in his honor: the CCK Pinot Noir, a club exclusive part of our Founders Series. Named after his initials, this wine is rich, expressive, and has received some serious love:

  • 94 points from Decanter
  • 93 points from James Suckling
  • 91 points from Wine Enthusiast

We like to think he’d be proud.


Come Visit Us This Father’s Day

If you’re looking for a laid-back, meaningful way to spend Father’s Day, we’d love to host you. Bring your dad, your grandfather, your favorite father figure — or just raise a glass to all the fathers with vision, grit, and heart.

And to Cal — and every dad with a big dream — we raise our glass.