Piluso Vineyard & Winery

Pinky and Sandee Piluso came north from California in the late 1970s for a change in lifestyle. They succeeded in transforming their lives into those of wine-growing Oregonians. Pinky is the self-described “tractor driver,” and Sandee is the winemaker, possessing degrees in both enology (i.e., making the wine) and viticulture (i.e., growing the grapes) from Chemeketa Community College and University of California–Davis programs. It’s unusual that a winemaker would have degrees in both fields, rarer still for a woman to have accomplished this in what is known to be a male-dominated industry.

Rather than spending big bucks on winemaking equipment, Sandee teamed up with Pudding River Wine Cellars to acquire advanced equipment and share winemaking space. This is collaboration on a grand scale, but around these parts, wineries helping each other is par for the course. By sharing resources with Pudding River, Sandee is able to focus on her own Piluso Vineyard & Winery label. (WineTrail note: The art that graces her wine labels is from critically acclaimed local artist Terry Peasley.) Perhaps this explains why she received a silver medal for Piluso’s 2005 Estate Pinot Noir at the Northwest Wine Summit and an 88 rating from Wine Spectator. Expect Piluso Vineyard & Winery to receive a boatload of accolades and awards in the future.

Piluso Vineyard & Winery’s motto is “Great wines begin with great grapes,” and for that reason the battle is fought and won in the vineyard. From bud break through harvest, the Pilusos closely manage four clones of pinot noir (Pommard, 777, 828, and Wadensville) and a block of tempranillo. Their focus is on sustainable farming. Using a combination of estate and purchased grapes, Sandee plans future releases to include pinot noir, tempranillo, dolcetto, Maréchal Foch and an unusual gamay noir white wine.

Don’t miss Sandee’s special “vintner’s garden” next to the winery’s tasting room. Here amongst colorful flowers and indigenous plants, visitors can relax and truly enjoy Piluso Vineyard & Winery’s award-winning pinot noir.

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  Piluso Vineyard & Winery was featured in WineTrails of Oregon as part of the East Willamette Valley WineTrail on page !