Adelsheim Vineyard
Adelsheim Vineyard is an Oregon winery known for estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Willamette Valley.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Adelsheim Vineyard is a winery based near Newberg in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Founded by David and Ginny Adelsheim, it is among the earliest wineries established in Oregon and became especially associated with the development of the state’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay industry. The business operates vineyards and winery facilities in and around the Chehalem Mountains, a sub-AVA of the Willamette Valley, and has historically produced wines from a broader range of varieties, including Pinot Gris, Riesling, Auxerrois, Syrah, Sémillon, and Merlot. The Adelsheims entered Oregon viticulture during the formative period of the state’s modern wine industry. In 1971, they purchased 19 acres outside Newberg and began planting vines the following year. Their initial plantings included Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling. David developed his winemaking knowledge through work with David Lett at The Eyrie Vineyards, restaurant experience in Portland, and study in France. The couple formally established Adelsheim Vineyard in 1978, although David has noted that the company’s origins can also be traced to the 1971 land purchase. The first commercial wines were made from purchased Washington grapes and included Sémillon and Merlot. David and Ginny personally delivered early cases to local businesses while building the customer base. By 1981, David was working full time at the winery, and the company began selling wines made from its own 1978 and 1979 fruit in 1982. Production initially took place in the Adelsheims’ basement, followed by a small winery near their home and, in 1997, a larger facility at Calkins Lane Vineyard. A tasting room opened at Calkins Lane in 2009. Adelsheim expanded its vineyard holdings over time. Quarter Mile Vineyard was the first estate site, followed by the 1988 purchase of Calkins Lane Vineyard. By 2013, the winery owned 11 estate vineyards covering more than 200 acres, primarily in the Chehalem Mountains. The sites encompass volcanic, loess, and sedimentary soils and vary in elevation, giving the winery a broad range of growing conditions. Most of the wines are made predominantly from estate fruit. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay became the winery’s central focus. Adelsheim has been recognized by wine writers as one of Oregon’s longest-established and most respected producers, with its wines often described as elegant, balanced, and representative of the Willamette Valley. The winery’s historical labels, designed by Ginny Adelsheim between 1982 and 2009, featured portraits of women. In 2010, the company adopted a more contemporary label design. Elizabeth’s Reserve, a Pinot Noir, used a portrait of the Adelsheims’ daughter. The company’s leadership and ownership evolved in the twenty-first century. Dave Paige became head winemaker in 2001 and oversaw a substantial increase in production. Gina Hennen, previously Paige’s assistant, became head winemaker in 2017. Jack and Lynn Loacker first invested in the company in 1994, later becoming partners and co-owners before acquiring full ownership in 2017. David Adelsheim expressed a preference for the winery to remain independent and locally owned. The business also began a formal search for a successor to David’s leadership in 2016 and appointed its first chief executive officer in 2017. Beyond winemaking, David Adelsheim has played an influential role in Oregon wine policy and regional identity. He advocated for stronger wine-labeling rules, helped pursue federal recognition for the Willamette Valley AVA in 1983, and supported the later designation of the Chehalem Mountains AVA in 2006. He also assisted Maison Joseph Drouhin with its Oregon vineyard project and contributed to the Oregon Wine History Archives at Linfield University. Adelsheim Vineyard remains an active Oregon wine producer whose identity is built around estate viticulture, regional history, and premium Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
History
Adelsheim Vineyard emerged during the first generation of Oregon’s modern wine industry. After David Lett began experimenting with Pinot Noir in Oregon in the 1960s, David and Ginny Adelsheim became part of the group of growers and winemakers who demonstrated that the Willamette Valley could support high-quality cool-climate wine production. The couple purchased 19 acres near Newberg in 1971 and planted Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling in 1972. David Adelsheim’s preparation combined practical winemaking, hospitality, and international study. He worked with David Lett at The Eyrie Vineyards, spent time studying in France, and gained restaurant experience in Portland. The Adelsheims formally founded Adelsheim Vineyard in 1978. Their earliest commercial wine was made from grapes purchased in Washington state, producing Sémillon and Merlot. The founders sold the wine directly to local businesses, helping establish a market for Oregon-produced wine at a time when the state’s industry was still small. The winery first operated from the Adelsheims’ basement. A 6,000-square-foot winery was built near their home in 1982, the same period in which the company began releasing wines from its own early vintages. Expansion followed with the acquisition of Calkins Lane Vineyard in 1988 and construction of a 35,000-square-foot winery there in 1997. The Calkins Lane tasting room opened in 2009. By 2013, the company owned 11 estate vineyards and more than 200 acres, most of them in the Chehalem Mountains. The properties contain varied volcanic, loess, and sedimentary soils and occupy different elevations. Although the winery experimented with as many as twelve grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay became its principal categories. In 2015, Adelsheim stated that it intended to concentrate primarily on those two varieties. The brand’s visual identity also changed over time. From 1982 through 2009, Ginny Adelsheim designed labels featuring portraits of women, including the Elizabeth’s Reserve Pinot Noir label depicting the founders’ daughter. In 2010, the winery moved to a more modern label system. Management and ownership changed during the 1990s and 2000s. Jack and Lynn Loacker invested in the company in 1994, eventually becoming partners and co-owners. Dave Paige took over as head winemaker in 2001 and expanded annual production from approximately 25,000 cases to about 50,000 by 2017. Gina Hennen, who had worked as Paige’s assistant, succeeded him as head winemaker in 2017. The Loackers acquired the remaining ownership in 2017, while David Adelsheim sought to preserve the company’s independent and local character. The winery also appointed its first CEO in 2017 after beginning a succession search the previous year. David Adelsheim’s influence extended beyond the company. During the 1970s, he advocated stronger wine-labeling requirements before Oregon regulators. He later petitioned federal authorities for recognition of the Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area, which was designated in 1983. Further lobbying contributed to the creation of the Chehalem Mountains AVA in 2006. He assisted Maison Joseph Drouhin in establishing an Oregon vineyard and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Wine Board in 2012. Adelsheim Vineyard has also contributed to preserving Oregon wine history. David Adelsheim donated material and expertise to the Oregon Wine History Archives at Linfield University. In 2021, the winery and the archive released a series of video interviews with ten founding winemaking families from Oregon’s North Willamette Valley. The company’s public identity therefore combines commercial wine production with regional advocacy, historical preservation, and a long-standing focus on Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Climate change has been identified by David Adelsheim as a major long-term threat to Oregon winemaking.
- 2021
Oregon wine-history video series released
[1]Adelsheim partnered with the Oregon Wine History Archives on interviews with ten founding North Willamette Valley winemaking families.
- 2020
McCollum Heritage 91 introduced
[1]Adelsheim produced McCollum Heritage 91, a Pinot Noir associated with Portland Trail Blazers player CJ McCollum.
- 2019
Portland Trail Blazers anniversary wines released
[1]The winery released limited-edition Pinot Noir and Chardonnay commemorating the basketball team’s fiftieth anniversary.
- 2017
Ownership and winemaking transition
[1]Jack and Lynn Loacker acquired full ownership, while Gina Hennen succeeded Dave Paige as head winemaker and the company appointed its first CEO.
- 2015
Focus narrows to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
[1]Adelsheim announced that it would concentrate primarily on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
- 2012
David Adelsheim receives lifetime achievement recognition
[1]The Oregon Wine Board honored David Adelsheim with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
- 2010
Label identity modernized
[1]The winery replaced its earlier portrait-based labels with a more contemporary design.
- 2009
Calkins Lane tasting room opens
[1]Adelsheim opened a public tasting room at its Calkins Lane site.
- 2006
Chehalem Mountains AVA designated
[1]The Chehalem Mountains was recognized as a sub-appellation of the Willamette Valley, following advocacy in which David Adelsheim participated.
- 1997
Larger winery facility opens
[1]The winery established a 35,000-square-foot production facility at Calkins Lane.
Products and positioning
An established, independently owned Oregon winery centered on estate-grown Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a strong connection to the history and identity of Oregon wine.
Red wine · 1982
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is Adelsheim Vineyard’s signature wine category and one of the varieties most closely associated with Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The winery produces wines from estate vineyards positioned across varied elevations and soil types in the Chehalem Mountains and surrounding appellations. Its Pinot Noir range has included estate and reserve expressions, with Elizabeth’s Reserve serving as a notable historic label.
White wine · 1982
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the winery’s two principal areas of concentration. Adelsheim’s Chardonnay program draws largely on estate fruit from cool-climate Willamette Valley sites, emphasizing the regional character produced by varied soils, elevations, and vineyard exposures. The category became increasingly central to the portfolio as the winery narrowed its focus toward Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
White wine · 1972
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris was among the first varieties planted by the Adelsheims in Oregon in 1972. It formed part of the winery’s historical multi-variety portfolio, although later strategy placed greater emphasis on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Reserve Pinot Noir
Elizabeth's Reserve
Elizabeth’s Reserve is a Pinot Noir label named for the Adelsheims’ daughter. Its historic label used an illustration by Ginny Adelsheim depicting Elizabeth, making the wine an example of the family-centered portrait design language used across the brand’s labels from the 1980s through 2009.
Pinot Noir · 2020
McCollum Heritage 91
McCollum Heritage 91 is a Pinot Noir created with Portland Trail Blazers player CJ McCollum and released in 2020. It extended Adelsheim’s sports-related collaboration following the limited-edition wines produced for the Trail Blazers’ fiftieth anniversary.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Conversations with the 10 Founding Winemaking Families
United States · Oregon
For the winery’s fiftieth anniversary, David Adelsheim and the Oregon Wine History Archives at Linfield University created a video interview series documenting ten founding North Willamette Valley winemaking families.
Outcome. The project supported preservation and public access to the history of Oregon’s early wine industry.
- 2020McCollum Heritage 91 collaboration
United States · Oregon
Adelsheim collaborated with CJ McCollum on McCollum Heritage 91, a Pinot Noir connected to the Portland Trail Blazers player’s wine interests and public profile.
Outcome. The collaboration expanded the winery’s sports and celebrity partnership activity.
- 2019Portland Trail Blazers 50th Anniversary Wines
United States · Oregon
Adelsheim released limited-edition Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Portland Trail Blazers, linking the Oregon winery to a prominent regional sports identity.
Outcome. The releases received mixed media assessments, with reviewers differing on the quality and value of the two wines.
Brand decisions
2017
Loackers acquire full ownershipM&ABackground
Jack and Lynn Loacker had invested in the winery in 1994 and later became partners and co-owners.
Action taken
The Loackers acquired the remaining ownership of Adelsheim Vineyard.
Aftermath
The winery continued under private ownership, with the stated intention of preserving its independent and locally owned character.
2017
Transition to new winemaking and executive leadershipOtherBackground
The winery began planning for leadership succession after announcing a search for David Adelsheim’s successor in 2016.
Action taken
Gina Hennen succeeded Dave Paige as head winemaker, and the company appointed its first CEO.
Aftermath
The transition separated the winery’s founding-era leadership from its next operating phase while retaining continuity in its Oregon-focused production.
2015
Prioritize Pinot Noir and ChardonnayStrategyBackground
Adelsheim had historically grown and produced wine from a wide range of grape varieties.
Action taken
The winery decided to focus primarily on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Aftermath
The two varieties became the core of the brand’s product positioning.
2010
Modernize the label systemStrategyBackground
The winery had used Ginny Adelsheim’s portrait-based label artwork for much of its early history.
Action taken
Adelsheim adopted a more modern label design beginning in 2010.
Aftermath
The change marked a visible shift in the brand’s packaging while retaining continuity with its earlier identity.
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