Panther Creek Cellars

Founded in: 1986
Website: panthercreekcellars.com
Specialties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay
What is an example of a small change we could all make to make the planet a better place? More and more recycling. And composting…
What was the biggest revelation about sustainable practices? There are so many techniques and philosophies used to farm for quality. Each style has strengths and weaknesses unique to the site and results may be very different from one year to the next. Sustainable practices are not black and white. There are a lot of trade-offs to consider…

---

Urban Winery Continually Evolves Sustainable Winemaking Practices

Panther Creek has been making high quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay since 1986. Located in McMinnville, Oregon, they’ve earned accolades from wine critics all over the world, including Robert Parker, who raved about the age-worthiness and consistency of Panther Creek Pinot Noir in The Wine Advocate.

Panther Creek has been using sustainable winemaking practices and sustainably grown grapes for years, and decided last summer to pursue OCSW certification. For them, says Panther Creek Director Of Marketing, Bill Hanson, the transitions were minor.

“We think that people who farm for high quality are already farming sustainably…as opposed to farming for high yield, which can typically require fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals. It’s better for the long term health of the vines not to do that.”

Asked about how sustainable practices affect taste, Hanson says better taste is usually just a byproduct of the kind of high-quality, smaller yield farming that OCSW-certifed wineries practice. “We aim for about 7500 cases, maximum,” he adds.
Panther Creek has also started another venture, Verde Vineyards, that will take its employees’ love of responsible practices to even higher levels.

Verde Vineyards will use lighter glass, labels made from treeless paper, and may even experiment with non-glass containers.

“I think that consumers are expecting a higher standard across the board with the products they purchase. They want to know that the companies they are supporting are thinking globally; that they are acting responsibly and respecting our natural resources. If they’re not looking for organic wines, I think they are definitely looking for something that is grown and made sustainably.”

Talking to Bill Hanson about OCSW certification, one begins to anticipate that a lot of other wineries will soon follow suit.

“It’s been fun,” he says, “it’s been educational, and we’re doing the right thing for our grandkids.”

Order Oregon Certified Sustainable Wines

2008 Panther Creek Cellars Chardonnay Elton Vineyard
2008 Panther Creek Cellars Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir
2008 Panther Creek Cellars Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
2008 Panther Creek Cellars Verde Vineyards Pinot Noir
2008 Panther Creek Cellars Vista Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir

2009 Panther Creek Cellars Lazy River Pinot Noir
2009 Panther Creek Cellars Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir
2009 Panther Creek Cellars Vista Hills ¡Salud! Pinot Noir
2009 Panther Creek Cellars Elton Vineyard Chardonnay
2009 Panther Creek Cellars Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
2009 Panther Creek Cellars Verde Vineyards Pinot Noir
2009 Panther Creek Cellars Vista Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir