Producer Spotlight: Mark Vlossak and St. Innocent Winery, Salem, Oregon, USA, at Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean, Virginia (August 2025).
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The last time we saw Mark in the shop was exactly 5 days before we closed up the sales floor for the 2020 pandemic. A LOT has changed since then, including the location of St. Innocent. But Mark’s wines remain some of the most exciting in the Willamette Valley, delivering deep site specificity along with a uniquely attractive texture that we think of as his trademark. Well, along with a big dose of irreverence and unique take on Oregon’s wine past, present and future! Mark will be here and at the tasting table on Thursday, August 7 for three 45-minute tasting rounds starting at 5pm. He’ll be sharing: St. Innocent Pinot Blanc Freedom Hill 2023 |
St. Innocent Winery: Founded in 1988, St. Innocent Winery, located in Salem, Oregon, is a testament to Mark's wine making passion and skill. The winery focuses on producing wines that respect the quality and tradition of the Old World in the exciting terroir of Oregon's Willamette Valley. They are known for their handcrafted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling, as well as a small program dedicated to traditional method sparkling wines. The winery has received accolades for its wines, including a Double Gold medal for its 2019 Chardonnay at the 11th Annual Best of the Northwest Wine Awards.
Wine making Philosophy: Mark's wine making approach emphasizes creating wines that are food-friendly and reflect the unique characteristics of specific vineyard sites. He believes the grapes themselves tell the story of the region and its terroir. He learned his craft by studying and apprenticing with Fred Arterberry Jr., a pioneer in Oregon wine making.
Family Tradition: Mark's passion for wine stemmed from his upbringing, as his father was a wine educator and importer who introduced him to wine at a young age. His mother, a trained master chef, would prepare meals to accompany the wines, showcasing the interplay between food and wine. Today, his daughter, Makenzie, is following in his footsteps, training to eventually take over the reins at St. Innocent Winery.
Recognition: Mark's dedication to winemaking and the quality of St. Innocent's wines have earned him and the winery recognition within the industry. He was notably honored as a "Wine Personality of the Year" by the Wine Advocate.
Arriving
Tasting
Mark Vlossak's Winemaking Approach (Google AI)
- Focus on the vineyard: Vlossak believes the essence of great Pinot Noir stems from the vineyard itself. His winemaking philosophy prioritizes allowing the unique characteristics of each site – soil, climate, topography, and vine management – to express themselves, rather than imposing a specific style through winemaking techniques, says Ideal Wine & Spirits.
- Natural fermentation: He utilizes natural fermentation, avoiding the use of cultured yeasts, to allow the native yeast populations present on the grapes and in the winery environment to guide the fermentation process. This further contributes to the wine's unique sense of place.
- Long-term relationships with specific vineyards: St. Innocent Winery has cultivated long-term relationships with several exceptional Willamette Valley vineyards known for their distinct terroirs. Vlossak and his team work closely with growers in sites like Shea, Temperance Hill, and Freedom Hill to ensure the vines are nurtured to produce the highest quality fruit possible, reflective of their specific environment.
- Emphasis on vineyard diversity: St. Innocent works with vineyards that showcase a variety of soils, elevations, and microclimates, which are all integral to the wines' terroir expression, according to St. Innocent Winery.
- Minimizing new oak: Vlossak employs a measured approach to oak aging, opting for a lower percentage of new oak barrels (typically around 30% maximum) and longer aging periods in neutral oak to avoid masking the wine's intrinsic characteristics. This allows the nuanced flavors and aromas derived from the vineyard and the grape itself to shine through.
- Aging for balance and complexity: Aging in oak is used to enhance the wine's structure and complexity, rather than impart overt oak flavors.
- Highlighting acidity and balance: Vlossak crafts wines with a focus on good acidity and balance, making them versatile companions for food. This emphasis on balance ensures that the terroir's expression is not overwhelmed by excessive fruit or oak, notes The Prince of Pinot.
A St. Innocent Winery wine Pinot Noir be one of the 6 wines that Annette Schiller Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours will pour at her Pinot Noir tasting "Bourgogne, Oregon, Germany" at the forthcoming National Convention of the American Wine Society.
See: Announcement: The 58th American Wine Society (AWS) National Conference, November 6-8, 2025, Chantilly, Virginia, will include 3 Tasting led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours: (1) The Terroir Expressive Riesling Grape: A
Deep Dive (2) Georgia: The Cradle of Wine (3) Pinot Noir: A Comparison
of the Top Three Pinot Noir Regions in the World
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Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023
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