Founded in 1983 by Oregon native, Jim Bernau, with the dream of creating world-class Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Vineyards has grown from a bold idea into one of the regions leading wineries, earning the title "One of Americas Great Pinot Noir Producers," from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Willamette Valley Vineyards approach is to grow, by hand, the highest quality fruit to produce wines of distinction, that are truly expressive of the varietal and the place where they are grown. All the vineyards, the Estate Vineyard, Tualatin Estate, and Elton vineyard, have been certified sustainable through LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon Safe programs since 1997. In 2007, Willamette Valley Vineyards became the first winery in the world to use sustainable cork stoppers certified by the Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. Willamette Valley Vineyards commitment to sustainable practices in the vineyard and winery is based on the convictions that as stewards of the land they have an obligation to walk as softly as possible, and that winegrapes grown naturally in healthy soils produce superior quality wines. Willamette Valley Vineyards also produces wines under the Griffin Creek and Tualatin Estate labels.