Lingua Franca

Lingua Franca in Oregon is the fruition of Master Sommelier Larry Stone's lifelong ambition. In 2012, Larry acquired a site in the Eola-Amity Hills, partnering with David Honig and Dominique Lafon to craft expressive, nuanced wines. Winemaker Thomas Savre, a protégé of Lafon, brings experience from renowned Burgundian wineries and the Evening Land Vineyards in Seven Springs, Oregon.
The project's ethos emphasises creating wines with a sense of place, driven by the passion and expertise of its founders. The 27-ha vineyard, surrounded by notable neighbours like Seven Springs and Lone Star Vineyards, benefits from ideal easterly exposure.
Larry planted exclusively Dijon and heritage clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, sourced from esteemed vineyards like Le Montrachet. The Chardonnay grows in stony soils for distinctive minerality, while the Pinot thrives in silty loam "Jory" and marine fossil Nekia soils.
An organic and biodynamic approach guides the meticulous vineyard management at Lingua Franca, promoting biodiversity and vine health. The environmentally conscious winery reduces energy consumption and reuses water and CO2.
In the winery, grapes are carefully sorted, and whole clusters are used to enhance complexity. Traditional pigéage (foot punching) is employed for better results. The range includes estate wines and fruit from single sites, embodying classic Oregon elegance with pure fruit, spice, and earthy notes.