Cooper Mountain

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Cooper Mountain is Oregon’s first certified organic and first biodynamic producer, one of the pioneering wine farms of the Willamette. Bob & Corrine Gross planted their first Pinot Noir vines in 1978 on the volcanic slopes of Cooper Mountain’s foothills. 

Cooper Mountain’s vineyards are situated just a half-hour south-east from Portland at the mouth of the now world-famous Pinot Noir juggernaut, the Willamette Valley AVA. Of course when Bob and Corrine Gross planted their first vineyard in 1978, Oregon Pinot was still an anonymous little upstart region with a small hand-full of enthusiastic wine pioneers.

Today Bob & Corrine are famous not only for their early role in viticulture and their unreal Pinots but also for having spearheaded chemical-free farming in Oregon and proving not only the viability but the deliciousness of the results. Cooper Mountain were the first vineyards in Oregon to be certified Organic (their estate planted vineyards have never seen a chemical) and they were first in Oregon to practice biodynamics (the 2nd in America) beginning in 1995 and becoming Demeter certified in 1999. The complexity and nourishment of their wines testifies to their dedication and attention in farming.

In 2004 Bob & Corrine retired, leaving the domaine’s management to their daughter Barbara Gross, their vineyards to Gerry Sanchez (who’s worked in Cooper Mountain’s vineyards over 30 years), and their cellars to Gilles de Domingo. Gilles de Domingo began his winemaking career at his family’s estate in Bordeaux. After receiving a degree in Viticulture he travelled the world in pursuit of fine wine. Gilles has worked in wineries in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa before taking the helm at Cooper Mountain nearly twenty years ago.

Cooper Mountain continues showing us year after year what makes Willamette Valley Pinot Noir so special.