Inside Willamette Valley Wine: Chehalem Winemaker Katie Santora

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her Treasures of Tuscany Wine Tour this October.Join us for a conversation with Katie Santora, head winemaker at Chehalem Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Katie shares her journey from Utah to wine country, how she blends science with intuition in the cellar, and her approach to crafting balanced, food-friendly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Along the way, we explore Oregon’s unique terroir, the evolution of winemaking techniques, and what’s next for the industry.In this episode: Katie’s unexpected path into wine and what sparked her passion  Why real-world experience often trumps textbook winemaking The story behind Chehalem and its role in shaping Oregon wine How Willamette Valley soils influence Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Crafting expressive, single-vineyard wines and finding the right balance with oak Rethinking Oregon Pinot Noir—structure, versatility, and common misconceptionsWines Tasted:Chehalem Estate ChardonnayChehalem Pinot Noir Rose Chehalem Estate Pinot NoirSupport the showFollow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!Subscribe to our YouTube channel @thewinecoach to get video footage of the podcasts an more.Let's Stay Connected:Instagram @thewinecoachFacebook @winecoachTikTok @LaurieForster