November 6, 2025 / News Introducing Evenstad Estates

Our Journey from Oregon to Burgundy

We are honored to share a new chapter in our story with the introduction of Evenstad Estates, recently featured by Forbes in “Oregon’s Domaine Serene Launches Burgundy Portfolio in U.S.—Evenstad Estates.”

The article marks the first public introduction of Evenstad Estates: our family of wine estates spanning Oregon’s Willamette Valley and Burgundy, France.

Evenstad Estates brings together Domaine Serene, Château de la Crée, Maison Evenstad and Domaine Evenstad. While each estate possesses its own identity, vineyards and expression of place, all are connected by Grace and Ken Evenstad’s enduring vision: to produce world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from exceptional terroirs.

For our founders, Burgundy was never simply a destination. It was the inspiration that started the journey.

A Dream That Began with Burgundy

Long before founding Domaine Serene, Grace and Ken Evenstad were inspired by the wines of Burgundy and their ability to communicate the character of an individual vineyard.

That inspiration led them to Oregon’s Dundee Hills, where they recognized the potential to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of extraordinary quality. In 1989, they founded Domaine Serene with a commitment to excellence, continuous improvement and the belief that Oregon could stand among the world’s finest wine regions.

Over the decades that followed, Domaine Serene helped advance the international reputation of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Yet the family’s connection to Burgundy remained an important part of its vision.

In 2015, the journey came full circle when Grace and Ken were invited to acquire Château de la Crée, a historic wine estate in Santenay. Their presence in Burgundy later expanded through Maison Evenstad and, most recently, Domaine Evenstad in the Côte de Nuits.

Today, that shared history has a name: Evenstad Estates.

The portfolio includes:

• Domaine Serene, our original estate in Oregon’s Willamette Valley
• Château de la Crée, our historic Côte de Beaune estate based in Santenay
• Maison Evenstad, our Burgundy collection created through trusted vineyard partnerships
• Domaine Evenstad, our estate-grown Côte de Nuits portfolio

Together, these four collections offer an uncommon opportunity to explore Pinot Noir and Chardonnay across two renowned wine regions through one connected family of estates.

Domaine Serene: The Beginning of the Journey

Founded in Oregon’s Dundee Hills in 1989, Domaine Serene represents the foundation of the Evenstad family’s winemaking story.

Its estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reflect the diversity of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where variations in elevation, soil, exposure and microclimate give each vineyard its own identity.

Domaine Serene was founded upon the belief that Oregon could produce wines of international distinction. More than three decades later, that pursuit continues to guide every vintage.

Château de la Crée: A Historic Estate in the Côte de Beaune

Located in Santenay, Château de la Crée connects the Evenstad family to nearly six centuries of Burgundian history.

The estate’s vineyards extend across the Côte de Beaune and produce both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, including village and Premier Cru expressions. Each wine is crafted to preserve the character of its appellation and vineyard.

Maison Evenstad: A Broader Exploration of Burgundy

Maison Evenstad expands the family’s Burgundy portfolio through carefully developed relationships with growers and vineyard partners.

This approach allows the collection to explore additional appellations and terroirs beyond the family’s estate-owned vineyards while maintaining dedicated oversight of grape growing, sourcing and winemaking.

Domaine Evenstad: A New Chapter in the Côte de Nuits

Domaine Evenstad represents the newest chapter in the family’s journey and its first estate-grown collection centered in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits.

The domaine encompasses vineyard sites across celebrated appellations including Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vougeot, with wines extending from regional and village bottlings to Premier Cru and Grand Cru expressions.

Produced in limited quantities, the wines of Domaine Evenstad offer a highly focused exploration of place and the distinctive character of individual Côte de Nuits vineyards.

What began with Domaine Serene in Oregon has grown into a family of estates connected by shared ownership, values and vision—but never by a desire to make the wines taste the same.

Oregon and Burgundy each possess their own history, culture, climate and terroir. Even within Burgundy, Santenay, Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges offer distinctly different expressions.

Evenstad Estates allows us to share those differences more clearly while illuminating the philosophy that connects them: respect for place, uncompromising standards and the continual pursuit of excellence.

The introduction of Evenstad Estates creates new opportunities for American collectors and wine enthusiasts to experience the family’s Burgundy portfolio alongside the wines of Domaine Serene.

Select wines from Château de la Crée, Maison Evenstad and Domaine Evenstad will become available through future releases, tastings and events, offering guests the opportunity to explore Oregon and Burgundy within one connected portfolio.

These experiences will also provide greater context for understanding Burgundy’s appellations, vineyard classifications and individual terroirs—along with the similarities and differences between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in Oregon and France.

The Next Chapter of Our Story

The introduction of Evenstad Estates is both a culmination and a beginning.

It represents the journey from an ambitious vineyard in Oregon’s Dundee Hills to a family of estates spanning the Willamette Valley, Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. More importantly, it provides a foundation for sharing these wines and their stories in a more meaningful way.

We are grateful to Forbes and Dr. Liz Thach, MW, for sharing this milestone and the vision behind it.

We invite you to continue the journey with us as we introduce new wines, experiences and opportunities to discover Evenstad Estates in 2026 and beyond.