Bernard and Ronni Lacroute purchased a 430-acre ranch in the hills of the Chehalem Valley (Yamhill-Carlton District AVA) in 1991. The site reminded Bernard of his Burgundy origins. They began a programmed planting of the property that same year under the direction of Joel Myers and released their first wines in 1995 after completion of a modern gravity flow winery which was built into a hillside. The name WillKenzie was chosen from the name of the sedimentary soils common to the Yamhill-Carlton area.

104.5 acres are now planted on hilltops to the Pinot family of grapes and in the mid-2000s the Estate vineyard was supplemented by the 25-acre Jory Vineyard on Red Hills Road in the Dundee Hills. At a combined 130 acres, WillaKenzie is now the largest family vineyard holding in northwestern Oregon. There are a total of 68 acres of Pinot Noir, all planted on Willakenzie soil trained into an upright, double guyot trellising system.The vineyards have been farmed organically since their origins.

WillaKenzie Estate emphasises sustainable viticulture, clonal and rootstock diversity, estate-grown fruit, and gentle winemaking practices.