The Story

Domaine Loubejac

In the south of France lies the historical town of Loubejac. It was the summer escape for Owner & Winemaker, Laurent Montalieu during his childhood. His first steps were taken in his grandfather’s vineyard outside of the town. The area had such an impact on his path that when he purchased these rolling hills in the central Willamette Valley he was taken back to his childhood summers.

 

 

Across the ocean on the forty-fifth parallel Domaine Loubejac was born.  These windswept rolling hills lying seventy miles south of Portland and forty miles east of the Pacific coastline bring The cooler climate and Burgundian similarities make the vineyard ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Both varietals display crisp, clean fruit on the palate backed by classically fragrant aromatics.

 

The Willamette Valley

Risen from the depths of the sea over 40 million years, it has been transformed by the earth and its elements. This fertile valley is uniquely positioned between two protecting mountain ranges and is home to valleys and streams and soil diversoty. Frankly, the reason there is an Oregon Wine industry. 

Grapevines are scavengers. Of both the sky and the soil searching for sunlight and nutrients respectively. The Domaine sits on top of a geological collision, millions of years in the making. 

The base of our soil profile is marine sedimentary. This is ancient seafloor that was pushed form the depths of the sea over 40 million years ago. It is flaky soil that holds little water and nutrients. 

The rest of our profile is Missoula Flood soil. This is an alluvial (meaning “water moved” in soil speak) clay that was swept down the Columbia River basin and subsequently the Willamette Valley at the end of the last ice age, around 14,000 years ago. This soil is what helps to make the Willamette Valley a fertile agricultural basket, by holding onto nutrients and inputs well. 

Our combination of soils feeds and supports our vines, while also stressing them just enough to forge their own path. Vines that encounter adversity develop complexity and distinction in their fruit. 

 

Missoula

Flood

Marine

Sedimentary

Our Vines

Domaine Loubejac is planted to a variety of clones of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling.

Cool-climate varieties that have a strong acid backbone and delicate aromatics.

 

Our goal every vintage is to farm our vines to balance their crop with the climate. We want wines that are young, fresh, vibrant and ageable. 

Learn more about those that bring fruit to bottle.