Torii Mor Winery was founded in 1993 by Donald Olson, MD, who remains owner to this day with his wife, Margie. The winery was initially a small project that was intended to showcase the fruit from his vineyard. Olson Vineyard was planted in 1972 and is one of the oldest vineyards in the Dundee Hills. Since its modest beginnings in 1993, with just over 1,000 cases, Torii Mor has blossomed into a small, super-premium winery that focuses on small lots of handcrafted, vineyard designated Pinot Noir. The name Torii Mor was chosen by Dr. Olson as he felt it conjured a feeling of unique elegance. Borrowing from the Japanese, the word "Torii" refers to the ornate gates most often seen at entrances to Japanese gardens. "Mor" is a word in ancient Scandinavian that means "earth". By integrating these two distinct languages, the romantic image of a gate to an earth space or passageway to beautiful things is formed. We believe that Pinot noir, more than any other varietal, is that beautiful gateway to the earth.
