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Knostman Family Winery 2022 Malbec
Working, Loving, and Laughing Hard
Chuck Knostman has traded a long career in software development and telecommunications for a new life in winemaking in Douglas County. Today, he and his wife, Joni, own and operate Knostman Family Winery, just seven minutes from downtown Roseburg.
Their passion for wine began years ago during frequent business trips to Healdsburg and Sonoma, California. What started as an interest soon became a calling. The couple began searching for vineyard property in Oregon, and during a hiking trip to Bend, they learned of a winery for sale in Roseburg. Curiosity led to a visit—and ultimately, a new chapter.
“This region reminded us of Sonoma—rolling fields and a great community. But the Umpqua River gives Roseburg and the Umpqua Valley their own special character,” Joni recalls.
High school sweethearts who went on to marry and raise three children, the Knostmans launched their winery in 2019. Anyone who meets Chuck—standing well over six feet tall—quickly notices that his stature matches his personality: big-hearted, friendly, and full of laughter.
Now that their children, Courtney, Hanna, and Jake, are grown, the whole family embraces a shared philosophy of working hard, loving deeply, and laughing often—and of always taking time to enjoy one another, along with the friends and guests who stop by to share a glass.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Knostman Family Winery, Roseburg, Oregon
2022 Malbec
Aromas of black fruit, plum blossoms, and hints of sweet tobacco. Tastes of blackberry, boysenberry, vanilla and hints of cocoa. Subtle tannins give a long finish.
We have been working hard on our 4 acre vineyard and now have it planted with whites Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc and reds Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Syrah.
We make small lots of wine from these estate grapes ranging from 25 cases to 125 cases depending on varietal and the years production. All of our wines are made in a fruit forward style with slow, cool fermentations and with as little interference as possible.
Production Notes:
We have approximately 0.5 acre of Malbec Clone 9 that was planted in 2010. Its has been organically dry farmed since 2021 utilizing the Scott Henry trellising method.
In 2022 we hand picked approximately 2 tons the morning of October 5th just before the rains hit our area.
The fruit was destemmed then pumped into half ton bins where it fermented dry in about 10 days then we waited until the cap sank trying to extract as much flavor as possible. After extraction we pressed gently with our basket press and moved free run and press fraction into a settling tank.
After settling for a day the Malbec was aged for 18 months in a combination of new American oak, once filled French Oak, and neutral French Oak. After aging we picked our final blend of Malbec which ended up being 10% American Oak, 25% once filled French, and 65% neutral French.
Bottling produced 80 cases.
A Cellar 503 selection in May 2026, Magnificent Malbec Umpqua Valley | Malbec
