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Looking for information about J. Christopher Wines? You’re in the right place.
J. Christopher is an Oregon winery in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of the Willamette Valley, producing terroir-driven wines with Pinot Noir at the heart of the portfolio. Founded in 1996, J. Christopher celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Our philosophy is captures in a simple idea: Old World Patience. New World Curiosity.
We believe that wine should feel approachable, comfortable and welcoming, whether you’re new to wine or a longtime collector. Think classic Oregon: at home outdoors or at a nice dinner, never black tie.
J. Christopher At a Glance
- Founded: 1996
- Location: Newberg, Oregon
- Wine Region: Willamette Valley
- AVA: Chehalem Mountains
- Owner: Ernst “Erni” Loosen
- Head Winemaker: Tim Malone
- Flagship Variety: Pinot Noir
- Other Varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé
- Winemaking Focus: Terroir-driven wines from distinctive Willamette Valley vineyards and AVAs.
Our Story
J. Christopher Wines was founded in Oregon in 1996. Ernst “Erni” Loosen, the internationally acclaimed German winemaker behind Dr. Loosen and Villa Wolf, had already developed a passion for Oregon Pinot Noir after recognizing the potential of the Willamette Valley in the early 1990s.
Erni was particularly drawn to J. Christopher for its unhurried, Old World approach to winemaking, producing wines with finesse, a clear expression of terroir and the ability to age. That shared philosophy led to a collaboration and the creation of Appassionata, a Pinot Noir named for Beethoven’s Appassionata piano sonata.
A few vintages later, Erni deepened his commitment to Oregon by purchasing 40 acres on Chehalem Mountain in Newberg, planting the Appassionata Vineyard, and building the winery where both J. Christopher and Appassionata wines are produced today.
Today, under Head Winemaker Tim Malone, J. Christopher continues to produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé with the patient approach to winemaking that first attracted Erni to the winery. The goal remains the same: to give each wine the opportunity to fully express where it comes from.
Our Approach to Oregon Wine
At J. Christopher, terroir is at the center of what we do. We believe the character of a vineyard and growing region should be expressed int eh glass, and our approach to winemaking is designed to give each wine the time and space to do just that.
Our Pinot Noir portfolio draws from distinctive vineyards across multiple Willamette Valley AVAs, including the Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, and Eola-Amity Hills. This allows us to explore the differences between individual sites and growing regions through the variety at the heart of J. Christopher.
That same patient, place-driven philosophy extends across our portfolio of Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé.
Our Wines
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the flagship variety of J. Christopher and the foundation of our exploration of the Willamette Valley.
Our Pinot Noir portfolio includes wines from individual vineyards such as Medici Vineyard, Kolb Vineyard, and Bieze Vineyard, along with Special Selection AVA blends including Lumière and Volcanique.
Basalte is our bedrock Pinot Noir cuvée.
J. Christopher Pinot Noir generally ranges from approximately $20-$75 per bottle.
Chardonnay
J. Christopher Chardonnay includes Cuvée Lunatique and Sol et Soleil.
Riesling
Sonnenschein Riesling is sourced entirely from the Medici Vineyard.
Sauvignon Blanc
Our Chehalem Mountains Sauvignon Blanc showcases the variety from our home AVA.
Rosé
Cristo Irresisto is a dry Grenache and Syrah Rosé and our standard pink bottling. Also available is Cristo Irresisto Sparkling. J. Christopher does not currently produce a standard Estate Pinot Noir Rosé.
J. Christopher & Appassionata
J. Christopher and Appassionata are distinct wine labels produced at the same winery in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains. Both are owned by Ernst “Erni” Loosen, but each has its own approach to wine.
J. Christopher is about terroir, exploring individual vineyards and AVAs through wines that express their origins.
Appassionata is about blending and aging, bringing fruit from multiple sources together to create the best possible blend that is aged 3-10+ years in our cellar before release.
Together, the two labels reflect different expressions of Erni Loosen’s approach to Oregon wine while sharing the same winery and winemaking team.
Visit J. Christopher
J. Christopher is located at 17150 NE Hillside Drive in Newberg, Oregon, surrounded by the vineyards and landscape of the Chehalem Mountains.
Our tasting room is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm, and walk-ins are always welcome. Reservations are welcome but not required, except for groups of nine or more.
Guests can enjoy expansive views of the Chehalem Mountains and neighboring vineyards. Small bites are available for purchase, and outside food is welcome.
We also host private, after-hours events for large groups both indoors and outdoors.
J. Christopher Wine Club
There are two ways to be part of the J. Christopher wine club.
Our Traditional Club offers three membership tiers with three customizeable shipments each year. Benefits and discounts increase at higher membership tiers. Pricing varies per shipment and is dependent on the size of membership.
Our Subscription Club, the Explorer’s Guild, offers a more flexible approach. Members contribute $39 per month to a virtual gift card that can be used online or in the tasting room on whatever they choose.
Where to Find J. Christopher Wines
J. Christopher wines are distributed nationally and available in most U.S states, as well as directly through our tasting room.
J. Christopher Wines
17150 NE Hillside Drive
Newberg, Oregon 97132
Phone: (503) 554-9572
Email: info@jchristopherwines.com
Instagram: @jchristopherwines
Website: jchristopherwines.com
Good to Know
J. Christopher is a terroir-driven Oregon winery focused on wines from the Willamette Valley. We don’t describe J. Christopher as a “boutique” or “luxury” winery; those terms don’t reflect who we are.
J. Christopher and Appassionata share the same winery facilities and ownership, but they are distinct wine labels with different approaches to winemaking.