It is in the Eola-Amity Hills wine region within the Willamette Valley AVA, about 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Keizer.

Paul Gerrie, an engineer based in Pittsburgh, was searching for suitable land in North and South America to open a winery.

Trips to France to pursue his passion for wine had exposed him to the French concept of terroir and its importance in Burgundy.

[4] In 1992, Paul and Eileen Gerrie purchased the abandoned Pellier Winery site in the Spring Valley region of Polk County and established Cristom Vineyards.

[6] Doerner graduated in 1978 from the University of California, Davis with a degree in biochemistry and had spent 14 years at the Californian Calera Wine Company, specializing in working with Pinot noir, as well as studying under Jacques Seysses, owner and winemaker at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy before being appointed winemaker at Cristom in 1992.

[10][3][8] Louise is named after Paul Gerrie's maternal grandmother and was the first vineyard to finish being replanted with 9 acres (3.6 ha) of Pinot noir.

[10][3][8] Two other vineyards are planted at the estate with Northern Rhone varieties that are unusual for the Willamette Valley region which is primarily known for Pinot noir.

[4][12] Cristom also produces a Pinot noir blends, the Mount Jefferson Cuvee named after a mountain visible from the winery.