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Willamette Valley

Oregon is a world-class wine region famed for exceptional Pinot Noir. Unpredictable weather and extremely varied terrain make this region exciting and complex.

Pastoral and Wild

The Willamette Valley is Oregon’s largest winegrowing region.

The valley follows the Willamette River north to south for more than a hundred miles from the Columbia River near Portland to just south of Eugene.

It is bordered by the Coast Range Mountains to the west with the Cascade Range to the east.

The Willamette Valley contains six sub-AVAs, each with distinct weather or geographic features – Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill-Carlton.

Vineyards are a relatively new feature to this landscape – grapes were first planted in the 1960s and 70s.

Soil Diversity is Key

Willamette Valley sits on the 45th parallel

Just like the famed Burgundy region in France, with a mix of soils.

Soils here are a mix of Marine Sedimentary, Volcanic (Basalt) and Windblown Loess.

The maritime climate is characterized by warm summers and cool winters, but weather can be temperamental and challenging.

Fall rains can come early

Often leaving winemakers fraught with worry as they try to balance the benefits of long hang time with wet conditions that can diminish quality or lead to rot.

Working in this uncertainty leads to a kind of excitement and pride when wine is safely in barrel.

Willamette Pinot Noir

Sophisticated and sincere

with earthy and savory notes

Acidity is bright. Delicate floral aromas – like rose – compliment notes of tobacco.
Fruit flavors include cranberry and brambly raspberry.

Pinot Noir produced in Willamette Valley is available now.

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