Jay Summers founded J. Christopher in 1996 and served as winemaker for many years, but since stepping down in 2019 he has devoted himself entirely to this personal project.
He currently continues to make wine from Pinot Noir grapes from vineyards in the Dundee Hills region of the Willamette Valley that he has been working with for decades, and says he would like to limit production to around 1,500 cases, a much smaller amount than before.
Abbey Ridge Vineyards I had the opportunity to use Abbey Ridge grapes in 1993 when I was working at Adelsheim and in 1994 when I was at Cameron Winery.
In 2001, I was fortunate enough to be given some Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir, and I have been making wine from these grapes ever since.
Abbey Ridge is the cornerstone of our Pinot Noir program and we believe it is the premier Pinot Noir site in the Willamette Valley.
They have always made elegant yet powerful wines and my job is not to ruin it.
Owned by my friends Bill and Julia Wayne, this vineyard represents the epitome of Dundee Hills AVA elegance.
1ha Corey Clone Pinot Noir.
The 2021 vintage was very warm, resulting in a very uniform harvest.
Good rainfall occurred just before harvest began, which was very helpful in bringing balance to the wines after a long, hot, dry growing season.
Aged in barrels for 20 months, using wild yeast for both primary and malolactic fermentation.
25% new barrels (Gillette and Rousseau).
JC Summers is a collaboration between Jay Christopher Summers and his longtime partner and wife, Rhonda Newell Summers.
The label features a new moon, signifying a new phase in their winemaking adventure.
Owner and native Oregonian Jay Summers has been making wine in the Willamette Valley for over 30 years and launched the J. Christopher brand in 1996.
Jay Summers, who gained winemaking experience under great winemakers such as his mentor John Paul and Adelsheim of Cameron Winery and Dry River in New Zealand, produces small-lot, handcrafted wines using only the best grapes from the Willamette Valley's finest vineyards.
JC Summers’ philosophy is to make Old World style wines – ones that emphasize focus, length and balance.
Jay says, "We don't make fruit bombs.
I want to create wines that have a perfect balance of fruit, acidity and texture.
We want to create a complete wine that goes beyond an explosive mid-palate flavor.
The key is not to rush it and let the wine develop naturally.
To allow the wines to develop at their own pace, human intervention must be kept to a minimum.
" He takes inspiration from Old World wines and applies it to the Willamette Valley terroir.
When Jay isn't busy making wine, he can be found playing guitar and writing new songs for his band, Portland Cement.
Be sure to check out their new album, "The Road to El Groove."