24 - Oregon

Question 1

Describe Oregon’s climate and explain why it is suited to grapes such as Pinot Noir. (4)

Answer 1

• More N latitude + coastal influence → cool-moderate climate
• Coast Range → protection from cooling Pacific winds
• Long daylight hours → aid rip
• High levels of winter rainfall

Question 2

Why is sustainable viticulture popular in Oregon?

Answer 2

• Wind + dry summers → less disease pressure
• 52% Demeter certified vines found in Oregon

Question 3

What are the most widely planted grape varieties in Oregon?

Explain the importance of clonal selection for Chard and P.N using 2 examples.

Answer 3

• P.N - 57% of plantings
• P.G
• Chard
• Also: Syrah, Cab, Merlot, Riesling

P.N:

• 1st Wedanswil & Pommard
• then Dijon → increased diversity
• enabled matching of clonal type to site conditions

Chard:

• Wente + 108 → difficulty rip
• → Dijon clones rip earlier
• → some ripen 2 early given climate change
• → producers switching back to heritage clones

Question 4

Describe winemaking choices popular with producers of Pinot Noir.

Answer 4

• Whole bunch → increasingly popular
• Ambient yeast →. some
• Alt storage vessels → new oak usage is falling

Question 5

Describe the typical style of Pinot Noir produced in Oregon.

Answer 5

• Red cherry, raspberry, plum
• Med(+) acid, med-med(+) tannin, high abv
• Good-outst / prem-SP

Question 6

Describe the style of and winemaking used to produce Pinot Gris.

Answer 6

• whole-bunch, SST protective → skin-contact, barrel ferment, lees-ageing
• Pear, peach, melon → nutty, honey
• Dry/off-dry (trend towards off-dry), med-med(+) acid, med-full bodied
• Good-VG; mid-priced

Question 7

Describe the style of and winemaking used to produce Chardonnay.

Answer 7

• whole-bunch pressed, ferment + mat in oak (lots of old oak), full malo, lees contact
• Lees often not stirred → accumulation of sulfur compounds → struck match
• Good-VG / mid-priced-prem

Question 8

Describe the growing environment of Willamette AVA.

Answer 8

Coast Ranges protect from Pacific → warm, dry summers

Pacific influence via gaps in Coast Range = coolest, wettest part of Oregon

Northerly latitude → long daylight hours during growing season

High diurnal range → warm air rising in Oregon interior pulling cold air from the coast + lack of humidity

Question 9

Describe how differences in soil type within Willamette Valley influence planting and training decisions (2)

Answer 9

Fertile loam → valley floor

• best for P.G
• P.N → large vine training systems to managed vigour

Higher altitude:

• marine sedimentary soils (e.g. sandstone)
• volcanic basalt
• loess → lower in fertility
• Here, smaller cordon-trained/RCP + VSP

Question 10

Using two AVAs, explain the range of growing environments within Willamette.

Answer 10

Dundee Hills

• protected from Pacific by Coast Range = warmer/drier
• variation in altitude
• red clay soils retain water during summers (no access to irrigation)
• volcanic hills → higher altitudes than rest of Valley→retain acid

Van Duzer Corridor

• break in Coast Range
• → afternoon breezes
• → cools but can also impact flowering/fruit set + rip (stomata)
• → impact on style + disease pressure

Question 11

Compare and contrast the growing environment in southern Oregon to the Willamette Valley.

How do plantings differ?

Answer 11

Latitude more S → warmth

Cooling influences from river valleys channelling in sea breezes (like Will) + mountains (altitude and cool air, unlike Will)

Rainfall mainly in winter like Will but added temp means summer irrigation essential

Plantings wider array of varieties

• PN, PG 2nd
• Syrah, Tempranillo

Question 12

Contrast the AVAs of Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley.

Answer 12

Umpqua

• mix of altitude, aspect, soil
• relatively cool due to latitude/breezes via Umpqua River gorge
• PN, PG, Gewurz, Riesling

Rogue Valley

• furthest S
• warmest/driest
• altitude 250-950m
• Merlot, Cab, Syrah, Temp