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  • TORII MOR WINERY

Founded in: 1993
Website: toriimorwinery.com
Specialty: Pinot Noir
What is the biggest revelation about sustainable winegrowing? The biggest revelation about sustainable practices is that this is truly the way we have been farming for years. The utility of recycling and conserving is really quite natural.
What’s growing in your garden? Strawberries, thyme, lavendar, mint and chives.
OCSW is a movement. In a few words, how would you define a movement? A movement is grouping of people around a single idea to promote it until it becomes mainstream.

Gateway to the Earth Created Through Environmental Stewardship

“I chose the name TORII MOR because it conjured a feeling of unique elegance,” said Torii Mor founder, Dr. Donald Olson. “The Japanese word “Torii” is the name for the ornate gates most often seen at the entrances to Japanese gardens. “Mor” is a word in ancient Scandinavian that means “earth”. By integrating these two distinct languages, the romantic image of a gate to an earth space, or passageway to beautiful things, is formed. We believe that Pinot noir, more than any other varietal, is that beautiful gateway to the earth.”

With the commitment to preserving the environment and Earth, Torii Mor is making ecologically smart choices and farming sustainably, while continuing to craft high quality, complex wines that possess a quiet elegance. The Olsons are cultivating a sustainable business that respects the environment by assessing the overall carbon and energy usage. The solar array, gravity flow winery in the Dundee Hills, erected in 2007, LEED Gold status and LIVE vineyard and winery certifications are a testimonial to this commitment. Having wines certified by the Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine program is a natural extension of the Olson’s environmental stewardship.

Other efforts to minimize the environmental impact include:

  • - Sustainable site development – the roof of the winery has a low Heat Island Effect impact in part due to the photovoltaic system and, in part, because the metal roofing has a low Solar Reflectance IndeToriiMor_033110_225x
  • - Energy Efficiency – a 47.5kW Photovoltaic System was installed to optimize energy performance and create on-site renewable energy – earning them exemplary performance
  • - Water Savings – installation of aerators with a low gpm (gallon per minute) to reduce overall water use by 30%
  • - Planted native plants that eliminate the need for frequent watering and an irrigation system
  • - Materials Selection and Resources – materials used contained recycled content in the construction of the winery while diverting over 60% of the construction waste
  • - Indoor Environmental Quality – use only low emitting paints and coatings as well as meeting Indoor Air Quality Performance during construction and after
  • - Gravity-Flow Winemaking

Torii Mor continues its dedication to the practice of sustainable living in the winery and tasting room by:

  • - Using recycled products in the tasting room as well as the winery when possible – boxes and bottle shippers are all recycleable or made from recycled products
  • - Green Housekeeping products and policy used in the offices and winery
  • - Recycling of bottles, corks and wine foil in the tasting room
Order Oregon Certified Sustainable Wines

2009 Torii Mor Dundee Hills Reserve Pinot Gris
2009 Torii Mor Olson Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir