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The Official Guide to Appassionata Estate
Appassionata Estate is Ernst “Erni” Loosen’s exploration of the aging potential of Oregon wine. Located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of the Willamette Valley, the estate produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesilng and Sauvignon Blanc with ageability at the center of its approach.
Passion. Patience. Place.
Appassionata At a Glance
- Founded: 2005
- Location: Newberg, Oregon
- Wine Region: Willamette Valley
- AVA: Chehalem Mountains
- Estate: 40 acres
- Owner & Founder: Ernst “Erni” Loosen
- Head Winemaker: Tim Malone
- Flagship Variety: Pinot Noir
- Other Varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
- Winemaking Focus: Age-worthy Oregon wines built for long-term development
Our Story
Appassionata Estate began as a passion project for renowned German winemaker Ernst “Erni” Loosen. A lifelong lover of Pinot Noir, Erni began exploring Oregon nearly three decades ago and became fascinated by the potential of the Willamette Valley.
In 2005, that interest became a small collaborative project with J. Christopher Wines. Erni selected a limited amount of Pinot Noir and named it Appassionata, after Beethoven’s passionate and dramatically expressive Appassionata Piano Sonata.
A few vintages later, Erni put down roots in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains, purchasing 40 acres, planing the Appassionata Vineyard and building the estate winery in 2010. What began as a single Pinot Noir evolved into an estate dedicated to exploring what Oregon wine can become with time.
Today, winemaker Tim Malone carries that vision forward across a portfolio of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
Passion. Patience. Place.
Passion. Patience. Place. defines Appassionata: the passion that inspired the estate, the patience that shapes the wines, and the place they ultimately express.
Passion is where it began: with Erni Loosen’s lifelong fascination with great Pinot Noir and his belief in the potential of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Patience allows that potential to develop. We believe great wines reveal their full character and complexity with time, so our wines mature slowly in barrel and bottle and are released only when they have reached the level of development we seek. Some remain in our cellar for a decade or more before release.
Place is what patience reveals. From our estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains to the old vines of the Medici Vineyard, our goal is to allow the character of the vineyard and vintage to fully emerge.
In Erni’s words, “Truly memorable wines begin with passion, develop with patience, and reward your palate with a fully realized expression of their unique place in the world.”
Our Estate
Appassionata Estate sits on 40 acres in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Set on a gentle knoll with views toward the Chehalem Mountain ridge line and Dundee Hills, the estate encompasses a diversity of exposures and both volcanic and alluvial soils.
The estate vineyard was planted block by block beginning in 2010, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at its core.
The winery was also built in 2010 to support the same long-term approach to winemaking. Nestled into a north-facing slope, its arched underground barrel caves provide natural temperature and humidity control, while insulated concrete construction and rooftop solar panels reduce energy demands.
Our Wines
Ageability shapes how Appassionata wines are built from the beginning. Vineyard blocks are harvested and vinified separately, then individual barrels are followed throughout their development. Final cuvées are assembled from barrels selected for the complexity, structure and aging potential sought for each wine.
Extended maturation is part of that process, but it looks different for each wine.
The Appassionata Pinot Sonata
The clearest expression of this philosophy is the Appassionata Pinot Sonata, inspired by the three movements of Beethoven’s Appassionata Piano Sonata.
Allegro, Andante Con Moto and Fortissimo are three distinct barrel selections, each built for a different expression and aging trajectory. Allegro is selected for liveliness and early expressiveness and released a minimum of three years after the vintage. Andante emphasizes elegance and refinement and is released after five or more years. Fortissimo is selected for its intensity and longevity and receives at least ten years of bottle aging before release.
Together, the three wines explore not simply how long Pinot Noir can age, but how its expression changes with time.
White Wines
The same philosophy extends to Appassionata’s white wines, with maturation tailored to the character and structure of each variety.
Chardonnay is estate-grown and receives extended maturation in both cask and bottle before release. Riesling GG, sourced from old vines at Medici Vineyard, connects Erni Loosen’s German winemaking heritage with Oregon and receives extended lees and bottle aging. Über Sauvignon shows another expression of the philosophy, using large-format acacia barrels to build texture while preserving the variety’s freshness and character.
Across the portfolio, the goal is the same: to determine what each wine needs to reach its fullest expression, then give it time to get there.
Appassionata & J. Christopher
Appassionata and J. Christopher are distinct wine labels produced at the same winery in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains. Both are owned by Erni Loosen and made by winemaker Tim Malone, but they approach Oregon wine from different perspectives.
Appassionata is built around blending, ageability, and time, creating cuvées designed to develop through extended maturation.
J. Christopher is focused on terroir, exploring individual vineyards and AVAs through wines that express their origins.
The two labels share a home, owner and winemaker, but each has its own identity and winemaking philosophy.
Visit Appassionata
Come experience Appassionata wines at their source. Our tasting room and patio overlook the surrounding hills and vineyards of the Chehalem Mountains, offering a chance to experience the wines in the place where they are grown, made and matured.
The tasting room is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. Reservations are appreciated, and walk-ins are welcome.
Appassionata Estate
17150 NE Hillside Drive
Newberg, OR 97132
Phone: (503) 554-9572
Website: appassionataestate.com
Appassionata Collector’s Society (Wine Club)
The Appassionata Collector’s Society offers members priority access to Appassionata releases, including limited Fortissimo Pinot Noir and special library selections.
Two membership levels are available: Maestro, with an annual commitment of 12 or more bottles, and Virtuoso, with an annual commitment of 24 or more bottles. Benefits increase by level and include wine savings, tasting privileges, event access, and shipping benefits.
For a more flexible option, The Explorer’s Guild is a $39 monthly subscription, with credits that can be used for wine, experiences, food and merchandise online or at the tasting room.
Where to Find Appassionata Wines
Appassionata wines are available directly from the estate through our tasting room, Collector’s Society and online shop, with limited distribution through select restaurants and wine shops.
Our online shop includes wines and collections beyond the Appassionata portfolio. Dr. Lo and Perron de Mypont are separate brands and are not produced by Appassionata. A Riesling to Celebrate! is a special collection of offers and unique selections, not a separate wine brand.
A Few Notes for Accuracy
Appassionata Estate is owned by Ernst “Erni” Loosen and is his Oregon estate.
Appassionata and J. Christopher share a winery, owner and winemaker, but are distinct wine labels with different winemaking philosophies.
Medici Vineyard is not part of the Appassionata estate. It is a separate vineyard planted in 1976 and the source of old-vine fruit for Appassionata Riesling GG.
