Welcome to Bella Vida

Located in the beautiful Dundee Hills and nestled between the historic vineyards of the Maresh and Knudsen families, our picturesque 36-acre estate has offered unparalleled views and expertly crafted Pinot Noir since the late 90's. 

In late 2020, the Bella Vida estate was purchased by Blair Nicholas, and renamed Nicholas Family Vineyards. While the vineyard and tasting room are changing hands, the remaining Bella Vida wine will be available for purchase online and at the tasting room through March 28, 2021. After that date, all remaining stock can be purchased online.  

Our Winemakers

Jay Somers, Founder of J. Christopher

Jay's Bella Vida wines reflect his passion for Burgundy, and a style honed through many years of thoughtful approaches to learning from some of the world's best winemakers. Prior to launching his signature J. Christopher brand, he worked with Dry River Vineyard in New Zealand, Adelsheim, and Cameron in Oregon, and spent a harvest in the Mosel Valley with the Dr. Loosen winery made famous for their exceptional Rieslings. 

Brian O'Donnell, Founder of Belle Pente

Vintage after vintage, Brian has consistently delivered an end product that reflects the richest elements at play in the Bella Vida vineyard. A New Yorker who began his wine career in the sixth grade with some homemade concord wine, Brian found his way to Oregon by way of California, where he started crafting wine for family and friends. Smitten with Pinot Noir, Brian and his wife Jill founded Belle Pente in 1992 with the goal of creating old world-style wines with impeccable balance and seductive complexity that represent a strong sense of place. 

Jacques Tardy, Winemaker with Torii Mor

Jacques's bottling for Bella Vida evolves gracefully, and while enjoyable at release, they easily cellar for at least five years. Steady evolution is a hallmark of a Tardy wine, with each vintage to date improving year after year. Currently the winemaker at Torii Mor, Jacques has been a pillar in the Oregon wine community for many years.

Patrick Reuter, Co-owner of Dominio IV

Patrick Reuter, co-owner of Dominio IV, learned about winemaking while working harvests in Chile, New Zealand, Napa, Burgundy, and Oregon. His expertise can be experienced through our Two Row Proprietor's Cuvee, a delightful balance of our soil, vintage, and nature's quirky variations.