Bill Stoller, founder of Stoller Wine Group, passed away Wednesday evening in his sleep. He was 74.

“Bill was more than a remarkable entrepreneur—he was a generous mentor, a steadfast friend, and a passionate advocate for connecting people with opportunity,” said Stoller president Gary Mortensen. “His bold 200-year vision and unwavering belief in the potential of the Oregon wine industry is the cornerstone of everything we do at the Stoller Wine Group. He would want us to continue pushing forward to realize his dream.”

Earlier this year, Stoller received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Wine Board. Stoller was recognized for his commitment to sustainability, which included Stoller Family Estate becoming the world’s first LEED Gold-certified winery in 2006, being an early adopter of B Corp certification, and leading on other initiatives. Stoller was involved in the Oregon wine industry for more than 35 years.

“Being a part of the Oregon wine story has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Stoller said at the time.

William H. Stoller was born March 19, 1951 and was a native of Dayton, Oregon. He co-founded Express Employment Professionals in 1983. The company has reportedly helped more than 11M people find employment. Stoller remained CEO and chairman of the company at the time of his passing.

Stoller first became involved in the wine industry in the late 1980s, investing in Ridgecrest Vineyards. He subsequently invested in Chehalem Winery.

In 1993, Stoller purchased his family’s second generation farm. On the property, Stoller planted 10 acres each of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 1995 – 30 years ago this year. Stoller launched Stoller Family in 2001. Stoller Family’s estate property now spans 225 acres. It is the largest contiguous vineyard in the Dundee Hills appellation.

In 2018, Stoller purchased Chehalem Winery. Stoller had partnered in the winery with Harry Peterson-Nedry for 24 years. Chehalem opened a tasting room on its estate property earlier this year.

Other brands under the Stoller Wine Group umbrella include Chemistry, Stoller Swing, History, and Canned Oregon. The company produces approximately 149,000 case annually.

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