J. Christopher

The owner of J. Christopher, Ernst “Erni” Loosen has a lifelong passion for Pinot Noir, and he recognized in the early 1990s that there was something very special going on here in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The internationally acclaimed winemaker behind Germany’s Dr. Loosen and Villa Wolf estates, he became an avid collector of Oregon Pinot Noir, visiting the state often and establishing his U.S. import company here in 2003.

In the wines of J. Christopher, Loosen saw a New World wine made in the unhurried Old World style with finesse, a clear expression of terroir, and excellent aging potential. A collaboration resulted in a finely selected, high-end Pinot named Appassionata, after the Beethoven piano sonata. A few vintages later, Loosen cemented his investment in Oregon by purchasing 40 acres in the Chehalem Mountain AVA in Oregon’s Northern Willamette Valley. This is where he planted the Appassionata Vineyard. and built the winery where Appassionata and J. Christopher wines are produced. In addition, fruit is sourced from some of the best vineyards in Oregon. 

Over the last decade, J. Christopher has been named a Wine & Spirits World Top 100 Winery multiple times and has earned international acclaim. Winemaker Timothy Malone crafts Pinot Noirs, Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, Rosés and Rieslings that continue to showcase the Old-World style that first attracted Erni to J. Christopher. It’s a patient approach to winemaking that gives each wine the opportunity to fully express where it comes from.