Karl Weichold is the estate winemaker for Stoller Family Estate in Willamette Valley. He has over a decade of winemaking and enology experience, working with large and boutique wineries. A graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in biochemistry, he began his career working with several wineries in the Texas Hill Country before relocating to Oregon in 2009 as enologist at 12th & Maple. In 2015, Karl joined Erath Winery as assistant winemaker, where he helped create and implement novel approaches to winemaking across different modes of production in the pursuit of crafting fine Oregon wines. Ready for a new challenge, Karl joined the Stoller Wine Group team in fall 2020 as production winemaker. When not busy making wine, he enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors with his dog, Louie. Media Inquiries: Hannah Guth HannahG@StollerWineGroup.com | https://www.stollerfamilyestate.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
What stands out most about this brand is its ability to embrace innovation and creativity. Stoller Family Estate empowers its teams with confidence and support, allowing us to be industry leaders. Even as a new staff member, I had the opportunity to create and pitch a novel spritz wine cocktail that has gone to launch on a national scale. Few brands place this level of trust in their people, encouraging them to take risks and create exceptional products.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
With consumer trends shifting towards subscription-based models, there’s so much room to reach wine drinkers where they’re at in innovative ways. The alternative packaging space has so much potential that it offers exciting ways to serve delicious wines.
I’d love to develop an in-home wine dispensation system that allows consumers to subscribe to a service that delivers smaller, lighter packaging that could be stored in shelf-stable dispensation systems. Consumers could access a more diverse and interesting variety of wines tailored to their individual tastes and consumption patterns. Imagine a countertop unit that learns your preferences and automatically orders wine with that in mind. Just as we’ve moved away from owning physical media like CDs and DVDs, why couldn’t the wine bottle be next?
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
Unquestionably, it would be our Dundee Hills Estate Pinot Noir. It’s the perfect combination of approachability and a sense of place. It’s never out of place whether I’m bringing it to a casual gathering or formal event.
When creating a wine that reflects a single hillside and the thoughtful, responsible farming required to produce world-class wine, there’s an honesty that resonates with all levels of wine drinkers. It’s a testament to the connection between the land, the craft, and the people who enjoy it. Click here to read this Wines of Character wine review.
Bonus Question: What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
Get your pitchforks ready: I’ve been known to put an ice cube (or four) in a glass of wine on a hot day.