Winemaking with a Global Perspective

For nearly two decades, Trevor Chlanda has crafted wines in New Zealand, Oregon, California, and Washington. The core of his winemaking philosophy stems from his plant science and research background:

Methodical yet practical and adaptive work in both the vineyard and winery, often with very little intervention, results in the most authentic, compelling, and site-driven wines.

Trevor was born and raised in Amherst, Massachussetts, and is a graduate of Cornell University. It was there that a course covering the world of wine sparked his initial interest in viticulture and oenology. It was not until a few years later as a graduate student at N.C. State that he found himself fully pulled into the world of wine, and ultimately moved to New Zealand, where he co-led the red winemaking cellar team at Oyster Bay.

From Oyster Bay, Trevor moved to Williams Selyem in Sonoma, where he was the Assistant Winemaker until 2012. There, he refined his skills producing vineyard-driven styles of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Trevor’s passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay led him to his role as Head Winemaker at Duck Pond Cellars in Dundee, Oregon, where he developed a new portfolio that included 30 unique Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gamay, Chardonnay, as well as sparkling wine.

A defining part of Trevor’s experience since then is his ability to craft world-class wines on both the boutique and large scale. While he remains inspired by classic Burgundian varieties, he has experience producing exceptional wines from over 60 different varieties.

Trevor has served as the Bordeaux winemaker at Gallo in Sonoma, where he specialized in producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel. His experience there allowed him to manage both quality and high production while simultaneously preserving the integrity of site for each bottling.

Prior to private consulting for clients, Trevor most recently served as the Director of Winemaking and Production at Bin to Bottle in Napa. There, he oversaw winemaking for over 30 wine producers, and tailored his expertise to their specific needs and visions. Clients included Pilcrow, Juslyn Vineyards, Naggiar Vineyards, and Grindstone Wines.

Trevor’s winemaking experience is tempered with his knowledge of the world of wine. Frequent visits to Burgundy, Rhone, and Bordeaux combined with his studies as a Master of Wine student give him a unique perspective on how practices in the vineyard and cellar translate into the bottle from regions across the world.

Recognition

Nobody becomes a winemaker to chase points. Sometimes, though, it’s a nice reminder of the hard work and vision. Below are a selection of scores that reflect Trevor’s breadth of work as a winemaker, both in leadership and collaboration.

2021 Pilcrow Archer and Byrd – Mt Veeder – 95+ points Wine Independent

2021 Pilcrow Ghost Block – Yountville – 96 points Wine Independent

2021 Pilcrow Granite Lake – Howell Mountain – 97+ points Wine Independent

2019 Frei Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon – 93 points Wine Enthusiast *Editor’s Choice*

2017 Duck Pond Cellars – Chardonnay – Umpqua Reserve – 90 points Wine Enthusiast

2016 Duck Pond Cellars - Pinot Noir - Back Yard - 93 points Wine Enthusiast

2016 Great Oregon Wine Company – Blanc de Noirs Sparkling – 90 points Wine Enthusiast

2016 Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Gris - Wine Enthusiast *Best Buy*

2017 Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Gris - 91 points Wine Enthusiast (#3 top 100 value wine 2018)

2017 Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Gris ‘25th Anniversary’ - 91 points Wine Enthusiast

2007 Williams Selyem Litton Estate Pinot noir – 100 points Wine Enthusiast

2008 Williams Selyem Blanc de Blancs- 90 points Wine Spectator

2009 and 2011 Williams Selyem Late Harvest Gewurztraminer- 93 points Wine Enthusiast

2013 Hertelendy Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – 95 points Robert Parker

2014 Hertelendy Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 points Robert Parker

2014 Hertelendy Vineyards Signature Mountain Blend – 94 points Robert Parker