“In numerology, 0 is the number of potential,” says Kathrynn Hermann, who co-founded 00 Wines with her husband, Chris. “When you start from zero, you can go anywhere!” Hermann explained that the two zeroes stand for the potential of the winery’s pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, respectively.
100% family-owned and operated, 00 Wines started in the back room of a family friend’s winery in 2015. In a few short years, the winery went from a modest 7 pinot noir barrels to a full-blown winery with sold-out allocations of pinot noir and chardonnay.
They attribute much of their success to their attention to detail and surrounding themselves with winemaking talent. 00 consists solely of microlot wines, a clear indication of their focus on all the little things that make them pioneers and innovators in winemaking.
“We don’t craft wine every year to be commercial; it’s really an artistic endeavor,” claims Hermann. “We never start the growing season thinking ‘this is what we did last year and everyone liked it, so let’s just keep doing that.'”
They enlisted the help of a renowned Burgundy winemaker, Pierre Millemann, to bring the coveted Burgundy style to the pacific northwest.
“In the wine business, we have the opportunity to push the potential forward every year,” says Hermann.
00 Wines features blends from vineyards around Willamette Valley each year, including VGW (Very Good White) and VGR (Very Good Red) which are both a part of their flagship brand.
Also featured annually is the Hermann Family Series.
“We name our top wines every year after different people in the family,” shares Hermann. The customer favorites have been the Richard Hermann Cuvée named after her father-in-law, and the Freya Hermann Cuvée after her mother-in-law.
Her personal favorite? The Kathryn Hermann Cuvée, of course.
The chardonnay clone used to make this particular wine is a wente clone from California and is the only New World clone 00 Wines uses.
“It doesn’t taste like a California chardonnay, it’s very distinctly Oregon but because that clone came from California it has like a youthful energy to it. And it has the New World vivacious energy and flavor.”
00 Wines are currently crafted at the Carlton Winemakers Studio alongside 15 other wine projects under the same roof. “It’s kind of like a coworking space for wineries,” says Hermann.
Carlton is the first green, eco-friendly winery built in the United States, focusing on energy and water conservation. While the studio has its own winery license, each brand sharing the space also has its own license as well. The tasting room is operated by the studio, which purchases wines from each brand and features them on a rotating wine list.
“It really is a great place that allows people to be experimental. We wouldn’t be able to still be family-owned and operated without a place like this,” Hermann says.
00 has plenty in store for 2022, according to Hermann. What’s on the agenda? Burgundy and Champagne projects in France.
“In 2022, the champagnes will be imported into the US for the very first time,” shares Hermann.
“Our goal is to really showcase that Willamette Valley in Oregon can and should make some of the finest pinot noir and chardonnay in the world.”
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