What Makes Oregon Special as a Wine Growing Region?

The Willamette Valley is an ideal environment for cool climate grapes such as Pinot Noir. The moderating influence of the Pacific contributes ocean breezes that wind their way through the coastal hills to temper the long dry sunny days of the growing season with cool nights. The valley also has a rich geographic history due to the historic Missoula Flood, which has deposited layers of of soil from as far away as Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The lasagna like layering of deposits range from Jory (reddish volcanic soil; rich in clay content, iron and other nutrients perfect for Pinot Noir) to limestone from ancient ocean sediment to more than 2,000 other soil types making the valley one of the most vibrant agricultural areas in the United States. Pinot Noir is transparent, it readily incorporates mineral uptake from the soil layers the roots grow through. This adds savory complexity to the wine which makes each boutique vineyard offering a distinct and nuanced representation of the place it was grown.

It’s about as close to perfect a place to have a vineyard for Pinot Noir as exists in the United States. The extraordinary microclimate of the Willamette Valley vineyards produces light bodied fruit with good acidity and phenolic aromas that conjure visions of blackberry or currants and leave a sense of place on the palette.

Winemaking is as much science as it is art, it is subtle - not revealing everything in a single impression. Every season is an experiment which requires a straightforwardness in grasping what the vines give you and acting on it. This is a place where great wines can be made, and that is what we are striving to do.