The Family

The winemaking roots of the Drouhin family go back to Burgundy, 1880. A century later, Maison Joseph Drouhin ventured out of France with the establishment of Domaine Drouhin Oregon, in the Willamette Valley’s Dundee Hills. Today, the Drouhin family’s commitment to exploring and expressing the terroirs of Oregon has blossomed at Roserock in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA.

Roserock is the culmination of a rich and storied family history that began in Beaune over a century ago. Sustainable agriculture advocate Philippe Drouhin continues that history as Vineyard Manager along with Véronique Boss-Drouhin, a graduate in oenology whose post-graduate work focused on Pinot Noir, as Winemaker.

Our History

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1880: Our winemaking roots are planted in Burgundy when Joseph Drouhin moved from Chablis to Beaune and purchased the business trading rights of a wine house founded in 1756.

1950 - 1980

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1957: Robert Drouhin took over the family business; he continued the expansion of the estate in Côte de Nuits, adding prestigious vineyards such as Musigny, Griotte Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Bonnes Mares, Grands Echézeaux.

1961: Robert Drouhin visited America's west coast, and was invited to visit Oregon. Though there were no vineyards to see in the Willamette Valley at the time, he was impressed by the natural beauty of the region.

1979: The Gault-Millau Wine Olympiad is held in Paris. In the Pinot Noir category, an entry from Oregon finishes in the Top 10, which is a shock. That wine was the 1975 South Block Reserve from the Eyrie Vineyards.

1980 - 1987

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1980: Intrigued by the results of the 1979 tasting, Robert re-stages the tasting at the Drouhin cellars in Beaune, and uses many of his own Burgundies in the tasting, to understand the new world competition better. Amazingly, the same Oregon wine (the now legendary 1975 Eyrie Vineyards South Block Reserve) placed 2nd by a very narrow margin, bested only by a 1959 Drouhin Chambolle Musigny.

1986: Robert's daughter Véronique comes to Oregon after achieving a master's diploma in enology. She works that harvest with three families, the Letts (Eyrie Vineyard), the Casteels (Bethel Heights), and the Adelsheims (Adelsheim Vineyards). That first impression was profound and helped to form the bond between the Drouhins and some of the founding families of Oregon wine.

1987: Robert Drouhin is invited to participate in the first International Pinot Noir Celebration. Just prior to his arrival, he was tipped to an exceptional piece of land in the Dundee Hills, which he agreed to purchase in July of 1987. With no vineyards, no winery and no equipment, Robert asks Véronique to be Domaine Drouhin Oregon’s winemaker. He would later ask his son Philippe to take responsibility for viticulture.

1988

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1988: Domaine Drouhin Oregon was truly born, with Véronique making the wine in rented space at the Veritas (now Chehalem) winery outside of Newberg. Excited by the potential in Oregon, Robert begins working on designs for a winery. Built in 1989, this now iconic facility would be ready just in time for the 1989 harvest.

2013 - 2020

2013: The Drouhin's purchased the Roserock vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, adding 122 planted acres (279 total acres) to our portfolio.

2013: Robert Drouhin awarded the Wine Spectator's prestigious Distinguished Service Award, the first-ever for a Burgundian.

2014: Roserock Vineyard becomes LIVE Certified.

2016: The inaugural release of Roserock Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

2017: DDO celebrates the 30th Anniversary.

2020: MJD celebrates the 140th Anniversary.

140 years in the winegrowing business have taught the Drouhin family the value of experience and patience.

Inspired by the enterprising resolve of their great-grandfather and the exploratory spirit of their father, the fourth-generation winegrowers of Maison Joseph Drouhin and Domaine Drouhin Oregon have embraced the opportunity to establish a new family legacy with Roserock, in the Willamette Valley’s esteemed Eola-Amity Hills AVA.

The extended Drouhin Oregon family also includes Managing Director David Millman, Assistant Winemaker and Operations Manager Arron Bell, and Ashley Bell, Director of Sales and Education.

Tractor with trailer and three bins driving through the vineyard

Véronique Boss-Drouhin and Philippe Drouhin in the vineyard

Véronique and Philippe Drouhin

The Family

140 years in the winegrowing business have taught the Drouhin family the value of experience and patience.

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