Lenné Estate is the classic Willamette Valley winery: small, family-owned,
entirely
estate-grown, intensely focused on well-balanced Pinot Noirs and
Chardonnays that express soils and climate. Proprietor Steve Lutz spent his
early 20s in Napa Valley, working and learning in cellars and tasting rooms
at Beringer, Franciscan, Inglenook, Vichon and Merryvale. While in Napa, he
made his first homemade pinot in 1986 and was immediately hooked on the
challenges and rewards of pinot.
After returning to Oregon to find a vineyard in 1999, Steve says: “I knew the
minute we climbed into that pasture that this was an A+ site. What I didn’t
know is how difficult it would be to farm.” After initially losing 1,000s of plants,
the vineyard started to reveal why you grow Pinot Noir without any irrigation
in difficult soils: delicious wines totally reflective of one specific place. And that
unusual name? It’s a tribute to Karen’s father Lenny, who helped Steve and
Karen put a down payment on that perfectly terrible hayfield.
Over the years Lenné has earned dozens of accolades and 90 - 95 point
ratings
from Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Pinotfile, and
the Prince of Pinot. Steve and Karen are particularly proud of being panel-selected
as a Featured Winery at the prestigious IPNC (International Pinot Noir
Celebration) recently.