Oregon Stoller Family Estate
By W. Peter Hoyne
Explore the rolling landscape of Dundee Hills in Oregon, one of Willamette Valley’s seven AVA’s, and you will discover more than the geology. What makes this region unique is the dedicated and enterprising families who are committed to pursuing the perfection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. One such recognized figure is Bill Stoller of Stoller Family Estate.
Quiet, resolute and passionate about Oregon wines, Bill grew up near Dayton, Oregon spending his childhood on his family’s turkey farm. He left to pursue a successful career as founder and vice chairman of the largest privately held employment staffing firm Express Employment Professionals. He is also CEO and founder of Xenium. Wanting to return to his roots and realizing the unique potential of Oregon’s land, Bill became co-owner of famed Chehalem Winery with Harry Peterson-Nedry in 1993. He assisted Bill in the development of Stoller Family Estate. In the same year Bill purchased a 373-acre turkey farm from his father and uncle where he would establish Stoller Vineyards. Bill recognized that his property of southern facing slopes with well-drained rocky Basalt bedrock, referred to as Jory soils, would be conducive for cultivating Pinot Noir and he went about planting this vineyard with the assistance of Nedry. After planting his first 10 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, he released his first vintage in 2001. Melissa Burr who was an intern at Stoller has risen to the esteemed position of VP of winemaking over the past 16 years.
She is an Oregon native, who rather than pursuing a career in medicine, came on board with Bill in the early years and has had a hand in producing every vintage since 2003. By 2006, Bill opened North America’s first LEED-gold certified sustainable and solar powered winery.
With a full southern exposure, Stoller Family Estate at an elevation of 220 - 640 feet, spanning over 400 acres with 224 acres under vine. It became the largest contiguous parcel of vineyards in Dundee Hills. There are 120 acres planted to Pinot Noir and 50 acres of Chardonnay along with a token amount of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, etc. Within Stoller’s four tiers of wine is a supple and straightforward and approachable style of the Dundee Hills designation. It is followed by the Single Acre and Reserve selections sourced from older plantings. The six Stoller Legacy wines are derived from older plantings and named after family members.
By 2018, Bill purchased Harry’s share in Chahalem Winery, becoming sole owner of the winery known for their single vineyard Pinot Noirs. Bill Stoller is modest in discussing his numerous achievements, but remains committed to placing his signature on the legacy of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the Dundee Hills of Oregon.
The Stoller Family Estate Tasting Room has again been honored and ranked as one of the top ten tasting rooms as judged by the 2019 USA Today Readers Choice Awards.
