“Voix de la Vigne started as a natural next step for me in the wine business. In addition to my distribution company, Authentic Wine Selections, I have sold wine nationally for Laurent Montalieu (founding winemaker at Willakensie Estate).
Laurent, in a very short amount of time after leaving Willakensie, has grown to be among the largest growers of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley. He farms over 700 acres of vines, including the venerable Hyland Vineyard which he owns and is farmed using Biodynamic methods.
In California, I have been distributing Laurent’s three brands since 2009: Solena Estate, Hyland Estate, and Brella. Based on my close working relationship with Laurent and his team, we decided to collaborate on a new Pinot Noir for the National and international markets.
It was my desire to create a brand that is eye-candy for the Francophile—it looks like an old bottle of Burgundy, yet it is domestic and affordable. The concept of the label tells the buyer what to expect from the wine. I wanted a wine that was low alcohol, and light-medium bodied, without lacking flavor—a wine that is more suited to those who appreciate elegance and finesse. My good friend Christophe Hedges of Hedges Family Estate designed a label that is striking, appealing to the eye, and hits the mark completely.
Based on the large volume of grapes that Laurent controls, Voix de la Vigne is destined to be a consistently well-made Pinot Noir at the entry level. The vineyard sources for Voix de la Vigne will change with each vintage, but usually will include all or some of the following sites: Hyland, Elvenglade, Kliewer, Olsen, Kramer, Wildewood, and Domaine Loubejac.”
-Robert Morrison