Meet Pattie & Mark Björnson
An Oregon Family Winery
Pattie and Mark met at the University of Minnesota in 1985. They married, raised four children, and worked in the Twin Cities until moving to Oregon in 2005. Their dream was simple: find a vineyard site surrounded by forests and streams. Within months, they purchased a scenic 107-acre farm in the Eola-Amity Hills and set to work.
They cleared and planted 28 acres of vineyard, built a winery, and began producing award-winning wines. To prepare, both studied viticulture and winemaking at Chemeketa Community College. Pattie also interned at Bethel Heights Vineyard, learning directly from Ben Casteel.
From Minnesota to Oregon
The DreamTakes Root
The idea for Björnson Vineyard began during business school at the University of Minnesota. When Pattie asked Mark about his long-term goals, he replied, “I want to live in the country, plant an orchard and garden, and raise a big family.” Pattie laughed and said, “Look me up when you want to get married.”
That vision grew into a vineyard after a tandem bicycle trip with 2-year-old Kaitlyn through Europe in 1993. Inspired by small wineries along the way, they fell in love with winemaking. Oregon’s beauty and potential made it the natural choice for their vineyard.
Our Estate Vineyard in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills
Pinot Noir...And more!
Wine became part of their lives early on. While buying wine for their 1989 wedding, a helpful steward suggested offering a variety of wines instead of just White Zinfandel. The leftover bottles became the start of their cellar.
Over time, Pinot Noir became their favorite variety, though they still love exploring unique grapes.
And today, they craft terroir-driven Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay, Rosé, and Auxerrois. Moreover, they’re the only winery in the Western Hemisphere producing Gouais Blanc, a rare and historic variety.
Meet the Björnson Vineyard Team
Our Team
Behind every bottle of Björnson wine is the passionate Björnson Vineyard team. From the vineyard to the tasting room, meet the people who bring our Willamette Valley wines to life.
